PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Micah Barber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nam Le (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Barber
vs
Le

188 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

167 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 1, 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, Nam Le!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barber fails with an attempt to clinch.
Le defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Barber.
Barber misses with a takedown attempt - Le sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Barber scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Barber misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barber will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Micah Barber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barber is looking to clinch.
Barber misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barber dives in for a single leg takedown but Le sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Le escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Le keeps the fight on the outside.
Barber lands a nice looking body kick.

Barber has closed the distance and engaged Le in a clinch.

Le manages to break the clinch.
Barber misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barber lands with a nice body kick.
Barber shoots in for a takedown but Le shows good takedown defense.
Le leaves Barber with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Barber throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barber fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barber shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Le pinned against the cage. Le gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Le stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Le wants it to stay on the feet.
Barber scores with a jab.
Micah Barber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barber tries to clinch there but Le circles away.
Barber shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Le defends it nicely.
No luck for Barber with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Le defending well as Barber loads up on a big left hand.
Le circles away from the clinch attempt
and Le counters with a left to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Micah Barber will probably get the nod.
That's time! Barber's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Le avoids a punch combination nicely.

Barber closes the distance and clinches.

Le escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horrible takedown attempt by Barber or perhaps it was just good defense by Le, which made it look bad.
Le uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barber.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barber shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Le steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barber.
Nam Le is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice sprawl there from Le as Barber shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Micah Barber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barber shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Le as he avoids it easily.
Barber throws a jab but it's blocked by Le.
Barber throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barber tries to score a power double leg takedown but Le sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barber somewhat.
Barber is looking to clinch but Le is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barber moves to clinch but Le breaks away
and Le counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
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.
Barber fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Le circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barber is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barber throws a combination. Le tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Barber wants to clinch up but Le keeps it at a distance.
Barber shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Le as he jumps to the side.
Barber looks to land a combination but Le avoids it well.
Barber will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barber shoots in for a double leg but Le sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barber throws a head kick but Le moves out of range.
Barber looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Barber swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barber looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barber throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micah Barber dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Le slips a jab and a cross from Barber.
Barber swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barber tries to clinch there but Le circles away.
Le showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barber.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barber. Le does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Barber.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barber misses with a jab, cross combination.
Barber throws a series of punches but Le moves out of range.
Barber darts in trying to clinch
and Le counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barber fails with the takedown.
Le ducks under a wild hook from Barber.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Barber
and Le counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barber misses with a hook. Le ducked under it nicely.
A nice combination there by Barber.
Donk. Barber catches Le right on the button with a cross.
A punch combination from Barber misses.
Barber tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Le was well out of range. Poor timing from Barber.
Micah Barber is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barber goes for a double leg but Le avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Le continues to drive forward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Le lands a shot to the body.
Le lands a right hand.

Le breaks from the clinch.
Barber misses with a double jab.
A leg kick checked by Le.
Barber misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barber moves in looking to clinch but Le pushes him off.
Le circles away from the clinch attempt.
Micah Barber is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barber misses with a straight right.
Barber will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barber swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Le counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nam Le has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barber jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Barber throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Le counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barber tries to clinch but Le moves away
and Le scores with a counter punch that sends Barber to the canvas! Le smells blood - he's punishing Barber with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Barber has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nam Le!