PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lenny Butler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrew Barker has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Butler
vs
Barker

190 cm
18
213 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
216 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Nature's Edge Nutrition

Saving Grace Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lenny Butler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrew Barker!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Bruno Hogan and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Butler as he avoids it easily.

Butler closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Butler stalling in the clinch.
Barker is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Butler to keep the fight standing.

Barker gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Butler regains guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Barker wants to get up but he can't break Butler's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Butler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barker.
Butler is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barker is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Barker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Butler is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Butler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barker is one step ahead there.
Butler manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barker manages to get himself to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barker striking off his back but it's not causing Butler any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Butler drops back looking for a leg! Barker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Barker manages to kick Butler off! Butler jumps back into Barker's guard.
Barker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barker pulls Butler in close to prevent any damage.
Barker controls Butler momentarily but Butler frees himself.

Butler drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Butler jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Barker trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Butler advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker trying to control but Butler postures up.
Butler is trying to control the action in half guard but Barker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barker is trying to stand up here but Butler is controlling him well.
Barker is not content to let Butler control the position.
Barker blocking the ground and pound attempt from Butler.
Butler seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barker does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lenny Butler just wasn't active enough.
Barker doesn't manage to clinch there - Butler circles away.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Barker.
Lenny Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Barker.
Butler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Barker counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Butler is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Barker wants to work for an arm triangle but Butler is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Barker content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barker stands up from half guard.

Barker gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Butler has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Barker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Butler is one step ahead there.
Barker keeping moving, preventing Butler from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker trying to keep a closed guard but Butler is proving a slippery customer.

Barker isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Butler stacks Barker on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Butler!
Butler has knee on belly momentarily but Barker bucks him off and regains half guard.
Butler scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Butler winds up and cracks Barker with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Butler is working away from the top position though.
Butler stops Barker from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andrew Barker will probably get the nod.
That's time! Butler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Butler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Butler closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Andrew Barker has been cut.
Butler misses with a head kick.
Barker closes the distance and clinches up with Butler, looking for a takedown. Barker pushes Butler against the cage but Butler circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Butler with that takedown attempt.
Barker looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Butler is fending him off so far but Barker persists. Nope, Butler circles away and we're back to standing.
Butler throws a wild body kick that Barker sees coming a mile off.
Barker leaves Butler with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Barker should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Nice takedown defense from Butler. No joy for Barker on that attempt.
Lenny Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Barker.
Horrible takedown by Barker or perhaps it was just good defense by Butler which made him look bad.
Barker is breathing heavily.

Butler closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barker is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Butler stands up and beckons Barker to his feet.
Butler looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Barker throws a left and a right that both miss

and Butler holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Butler jumps guard and drags Barker to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Butler is working an open guard so Barker takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Butler clinches.
The referee calls for Butler to work.

Butler's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker wants to clinch up but Butler keeps it at a distance.
Barker shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Butler pinned against the cage. Butler gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Butler misses with a head kick.
Butler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Barker closes the distance and pushes Butler back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barker fails to pull guard.
Butler managing to block the knees to the body from Barker.
Barker is trying to break free.
Butler is leaning against Barker and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Butler has hold of one of Barker's legs. Barker is fighting the takedown attempt but Butler gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Butler knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barker on the ground.
Barker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Butler trying to control but Barker is working from the bottom.
Barker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barker keeping full guard, as Butler tries to pass.

Barker looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Barker is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Butler wants to control from the top but Barker keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Barker pulls Butler in close to his closed guard and prevents Butler from doing any damage or advancing position.

Butler stands up from Barker's guard - Butler perhaps looking for a knockout.
Horrible takedown by Butler or perhaps it was just good defense by Barker which made him look bad.
Barker looks to clinch

and Butler moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Butler is trying to pull guard but Barker turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Barker is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Barker has Butler pressed against the cage, preventing Butler from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenny Butler dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Andrew Barker's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Barker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Butler as he jumps to the side.

Butler scores with a takedown into Barker's guard.
Butler throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Butler content to stall in guard here.
Butler postures up and lands a big shot to Barker's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Barker pushes Butler off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Butler shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Butler blocks the strikes from Barker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barker is looking to control Butler's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Barker avoid being mounted?
Barker wants to get back to full guard.
Butler content to control rather than advance.
Butler is trying to control the action in half guard but Barker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Butler blocks the strikes from Barker.
Butler wants to stand but Barker has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Butler scores with a takedown into Barker's guard.
Barker throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Barker wants to stand and escape but Butler is having none of it.

Barker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Butler's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barker is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Butler wants to stall.

Butler breaks the clinch.
Butler stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Butler wants it to stay on the feet.
Butler lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Barker misses with the body kick
and Butler counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Barker is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Barker tries for a takedown but Butler circles away easily

and Butler counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barker won't be happy with that.
Lenny Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Barker.

Butler decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Butler keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barker shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Butler defends it nicely.
Barker on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Barker rushes Butler and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Barker turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Barker in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Butler is not content to let Barker control the position.
Barker cracks Butler with a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenny Butler clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Andrew Barker's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Butler drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Barker tries to improve position but can't.
Barker is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Butler trying to control the position but Barker is working away.
Barker is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Butler is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Barker is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Barker is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Butler off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barker is punishing Butler with strikes - can he finish him?!
Butler wants to control his opponent's hands but Barker gets his hands free.

Barker is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Butler defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Butler defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Butler is trying to stand back up.

Barker is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Butler knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Butler for a finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Butler looking very determined here, making life difficult for Barker.

Barker is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Butler has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Butler trying to control but not successfully.
Barker scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Butler is looking for a way out.
I really don't envy Butler right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker missing with strikes from the back.
Barker is trying to stick to Butler's back but Butler is turning into Barker. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Barker's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Butler.
Butler wanted to stand there but Barker had control of the position.

Barker working for a triangle but Butler defends it easily.
Barker throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Butler slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Barker trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker tries to strike from the bottom.
Barker bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Butler's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Butler working for a triangle but Barker defends it easily.
Butler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barker is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Barker trying to control the position from guard on top but Butler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Barker dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Andrew Barker's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Butler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Butler moves away from the strike by Barker.

Barker instigates a clinch.
Barker has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Butler after a bit of a struggle.
Butler tries to pull guard but Barker won't allow it.
Barker trying to control the position but instead, Butler has worked for underhooks and has pushed Barker into the cage.

Butler pulls guard effortlessly.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Barker won't allow Butler to sweep him here.
Butler trying to control the position.
Butler on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Butler tries to get out of the position.
Barker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barker working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Butler's head.
Andrew Barker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Butler tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Butler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barker engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Butler has his foot on Barker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barker works his way back into a safe position though.
Butler utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Barker stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Barker takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Butler avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Butler is looking to take this one to the mat.
A frustrated look appears on Butler's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barker wants a takedown but no success here.
Lenny Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Barker.
Barker misses with an elbow over the top.
Butler has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Barker after a bit of a struggle.
Butler wants to stall.
Butler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Barker just stands there and leans against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barker stalling against the cage.
Butler blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butler wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Barker can't get the takedown.
Barker trying to land knees to the body.
Butler tries to land knees in the clinch but Barker avoids the damage to the body.
Butler wants a takedown.

Barker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Butler bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Barker manages to work his way to half guard, despite Butler's best efforts.
Barker manages to get to full guard.

Barker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Barker looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Butler prevents Barker from getting back to his feet.
Butler tries to stand but Barker is controlling from the bottom.
Barker tries to strike from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Butler trying to control but Barker is working from the bottom.
Barker looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrew Barker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barker has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 47:48
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 47:48
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrew Barker!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Andrew Barker waved his t-shirt featuring Saving Grace Clothing's logo in front of the cameras.