PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Micah Barber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andreads Tom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Barber
vs
Tom

188 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Micah Barber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Andreads Tom!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tom shoots in for a double leg but Barber sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tom dives in and grabs Barber's left leg, looking for a takedown. Barber pushes down on Tom's head and hops out.
Barber slaps away a takedown attempt from Tom, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Micah Barber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andreads Tom.
Barber throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tom.
Barber defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tom.
Tom shoots in but Barber avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Barber dives in and scores a takedown into Tom's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Tom wants to sweep but no luck.
Barber postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Barber stands up from Tom's guard - Barber perhaps looking for a knockout.
Tom fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Andreads Tom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tom fails with a takedown attempt.
Tom throws a series of punches but Barber moves out of range.
Barber really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Tom clinches up with Barber and pushes him back against the cage.
Barber lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Barber trying to land knees to the body.

Tom successfully pulls guard.
Barber throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barber wants to stand but Tom has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Barber stopping the sweep attempt from Tom.

Tom working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barber doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barber manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Barber avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tom is looking to stand up but Barber isn't so interested in that idea.
Barber trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tom's guard.
Barber throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tom works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tom wants to stand up but Barber is controlling him.

Barber gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barber tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Tom counters by clinching up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barber misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knees to the body from Barber.
Tom is looking for a takedown.
Barber prevents Tom from breaking the clinch.
Tom tries to score a body lock takedown but Barber shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tom looks winded!
Barber misses with a body punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barber doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tom on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micah Barber dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Barber tries to bum rush Tom with a series of wild strikes but Tom uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barber is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tom.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barber is defended easily by Tom.
Tom shoots in for a double leg but Barber sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tom thows a body shot but no joy.
Barber misses with a right hand
and Tom counters with a straight right hand.
Tom shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Barber defends it nicely.
Barber avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barber stuffs the takedown attempt from Tom. Tom gets slowly back to his feet.
Micah Barber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andreads Tom.
Tom shoots and misses
and Barber counters with a three punch combo that has Tom backing up. Tom nods at Barber to acknowledge the strikes.
Tom is breathing heavily.
Tom connects with the punch.
Tom tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barber shoots for a takedown but Tom saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tom fails with a takedown attempt.
Barber looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tom is fending him off so far but Barber persists. Nope, Tom circles away and we're back to standing.
Barber lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tom shoots in but no luck this time.
Tom goes for a double leg but Barber avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barber continues to drive forward.
Barber tries to work over Tom's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barber digs a right hand into Tom's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tom's gas tank.
Tom tries to pull guard but Barber won't allow it.
Barber misses with a body punch.
Barber keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tom's efforts to push away.
Barber is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tom is defending well for now.
Tom is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tom tries to pull guard but Barber won't allow it.
Barber is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Barber tries to circle away but Tom has him pinned against the cage.
Barber crunches a lovely knee into Tom's ribcage.
Tom is working for takedown but Barber is calmly controlling the position for now.
Barber tries a body shot but Tom blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Barber fails to land.
Tom working hard to break the clinch.
Barber misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tom is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tom tries for a takedown. No joy.
Barber pressing his opponent against the cage.
Tom jumps guard but Barber turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Barber misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tom is trying to break free.
Barber misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tom avoiding damage as Barber throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Micah Barber will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Tom looks for the body kick but Barber saw that one coming.
Barber scores with a hook to the body. Tom takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Barber throws a series of punches but Tom avoids them all with ease.

Tom gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Tom jumps guard and drags Barber to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Tom has a closed guard, preventing Barber from standing up.
Tom is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tom trying to keep a closed guard but Barber is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barber throws a big elbow that misses.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Andreads Tom hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Tom pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barber looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tom shoots for a double leg takedown but Barber sprawls well. He's pushed Tom's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tom takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barber throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barber tries to clinch there but Tom circles away.
Barber misses with a double jab.
Tom stuffs the takedown attempt from Barber. Barber gets slowly back to his feet.
Tom tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barber lands with a kick to the ribs.
Barber misses with a hook. Tom ducked under it nicely.
Tom misses with a takedown attempt - Barber sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tom avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barber misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Tom scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Barber flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Tom trying to control from half guard but Barber is working away.
Barber trying to get back to full guard but Tom takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Barber wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Barber looking very determined here, making life difficult for Tom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barber tries to break free.
Tom has good solid back control here.
Barber staying busy and making it hard for Tom to control.
Tom controlling from the back.

Tom tightening his grip on Barber, looking for the choke.
Andreads Tom has got the better of the ground game so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tom struggling to land strikes to the head as Barber covers up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andreads Tom comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barber has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Micah Barber!