PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger Oswald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Avon Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Oswald comes to the cage accompanied by Bathory-Blood, Fire, Death. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Oswald
vs
Barksdale

185 cm
19
195 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Lightning Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roger Oswald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Avon Barksdale!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Reed Andrews and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oswald tries to clinch there but Barksdale circles away.
Barksdale stuffs the takedown attempt from Oswald. Oswald gets slowly back to his feet.
Barksdale will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A combination from Barksdale does no damage.
Barksdale throws a series of punches but Oswald moves out of range.
Oswald tries to clinch up but Barksdale circles away and keeps his distance.
Oswald tries to clinch but Barksdale is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oswald fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Barksdale!
Barksdale rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Oswald moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Oswald looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oswald stuffs the takedown.
Oswald tries to clinch but Barksdale moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Oswald.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Oswald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barksdale looks to land a combination but Oswald avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from Barksdale.
Oswald tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barksdale paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Oswald rushes Barksdale and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Oswald tries to land a knee to the head but Barksdale blocks with his arms.
Oswald tries to land knees in the clinch but Barksdale avoids the damage to the body.
Oswald stalling in the clinch.
Oswald seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Oswald tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Oswald misses with a knee to the head.
Oswald with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Oswald trying to land knees to the body.
Barksdale wants to break free but Oswald has control.
Oswald holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Roger Oswald.
Oswald blocks a leg kick.
Barksdale avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Oswald tries to clinch but Barksdale moves out of range.

Barksdale fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Oswald sprawls well initially but Barksdale persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Oswald controlling the position well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Oswald manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oswald working a defensive guard here.

Oswald has his feet on Barksdale's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Oswald rushes Barksdale and presses him up against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Oswald just misses with a elbow thrown towards Barksdale's brow.
Oswald throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Oswald slows down the pace here.
Barksdale wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Avon Barksdale will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barksdale avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Oswald tries to clinch up but Barksdale circles away and keeps his distance.
Oswald misses with a takedown attempt - Barksdale sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Oswald tries to clinch but Barksdale is having none of it.
Oswald tries for a takedown but Barksdale sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Oswald shoots in and drives through. Barksdale sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Oswald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oswald is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Oswald tries to clinch up.
Oswald tries to clinch there but Barksdale circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oswald gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Oswald pressing his opponent against the cage.
Oswald throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barksdale blocks it with crossed arms.
Oswald with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Oswald's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Barksdale avoids the elbow strike from Oswald, against the cage.
Barksdale wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Oswald misses with a knee to the head.
Oswald's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Barksdale is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Oswald pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Barksdale blocks an elbow strike.
Barksdale tries to break the clinch but Oswald is controlling the position.
Oswald with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The referee calls for Oswald to work.
Barksdale blocks an elbow strike from Oswald.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Barksdale wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale wants to break free but Oswald has control.
Oswald leaning his opponent against the cage.
Oswald tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Oswald stalls.
Oswald trying to land knees to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Oswald takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Roger Oswald.
Oswald shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barksdale as he jumps to the side.

Oswald shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Oswald was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Oswald gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Barksdale closes this distance looking for a takedown but Oswald circles away.
Oswald shoots for a takedown but Barksdale saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No joy there for Barksdale, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Barksdale gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Oswald tries to stall but Barksdale uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Come on Oswald - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Barksdale has had enough of the clinch but Oswald keeps him there for the moment.
A short uppercut from Barksdale.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Oswald dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Oswald is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barksdale keeps the fight on the outside.
Oswald fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Barksdale wants to clinch.
Barksdale swinging wilding here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oswald tries to clinch but Barksdale moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oswald shoots in but no luck this time.
Oswald clinches but Barksdale breaks the clinch
and Barksdale counters with a series of strikes. Oswald will be more careful next time no doubt.
Barksdale misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Oswald tries to clinch

so Barksdale counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Oswald controls Barksdale momentarily but Barksdale frees himself.
Barksdale won't allow Oswald to get back to his feet.
Oswald working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Oswald has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barksdale can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Oswald wants to get back to his feet but Barksdale is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Oswald scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Oswald misses with a takedown
and Barksdale counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Oswald. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barksdale scores a takedown into full mount!
Barksdale looking to finish with strikes here!
Oswald sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Oswald trying to hold on to Barksdale's head to control him but Barksdale postures up.
Oswald is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barksdale's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barksdale's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Oswald has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Barksdale has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Oswald looking to break Barksdale's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Barksdale remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Oswald will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Barksdale controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Oswald controlling well, preventing Barksdale from escaping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Avon Barksdale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barksdale 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Avon Barksdale!