PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Will Barrett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edgars Liepins (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.

Barrett
vs
Liepins

186 cm
21
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Will Barrett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Edgars Liepins!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liepins misses with a kick to the body.
Liepins changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barrett tries to avoid it but Liepins manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barrett to the ground. Barrett escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Barrett misses the target.

Liepins closes the distance and pushes Barrett back into the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Liepins.
Barrett wants a takedown.
Barrett drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Liepins gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Liepins has Barrett pressed against the cage.
Barrett tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Liepins smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Will Barrett. 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.

Liepins drives through and clinches with Barrett against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liepins gets underhooks to prevent Barrett's takedown attempt.
Barrett trying to stall but Liepins improves his position.

Liepins jumps guard and drags Barrett to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Barrett is looking to work some ground and pound but Liepins has wrist control.
Liepins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Liepins has Barrett pulled in close to control his posture.
Barrett postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Barrett throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Liepins works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Liepins throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Liepins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Liepins manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barrett manages to get himself to full guard.

Liepins works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liepins performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Barrett wants to control but Liepins is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Liepins keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Barrett has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Liepins is working away from the top position though.

Liepins stands up out of the half guard.
Liepins throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Will Barrett has been cut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Liepins is defended easily by Barrett.
Barrett tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Liepins manages to circle out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liepins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Liepins tries for a takedown but Barrett circles away easily
and Barrett counters with a one-two to the body.
Liepins tries to clinch there but Barrett circles away.
Barrett appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Liepins lands with an uppercut that bounces Barrett off the cage and back into range.
Liepins shoots in but Barrett avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Edgars Liepins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Liepins shoots for a double leg takedown but Barrett sprawls well. He's pushed Liepins's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Liepins looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Liepins as Barrett shoots in.
Liepins misses with a takedown attempt
and Barrett counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Liepins throws a head kick that half lands.

Barrett feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barrett would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Liepins escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barrett gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Barrett gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Barrett slaps away a takedown attempt from Liepins, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Barrett half committed to a counter leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edgars Liepins dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Will Barrett's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Barrett avoids a punch combination nicely.
Liepins rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barrett moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Liepins fails to land with a series of punches.
Barrett seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A clash of legs there as Barrett blocks the low kick.
Barrett went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Liepins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barrett pinned against the cage. Barrett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liepins lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barrett circles away quickly and effectively.
Liepins moves in looking to clinch but Barrett pushes him off.
Barrett throws a big counter combination but Liepins scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liepins tries to clinch but Barrett is having none of it.
Barrett is looking for a counter combo.
Will Barrett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Liepins moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Barrett closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Barrett lands in his opponent's guard.

Liepins is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barrett defends well.
Liepins is breathing heavily.
Liepins working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barrett.
Edgars Liepins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Liepins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Liepins not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liepins wants to stand up but Barrett is controlling the position.
Barrett is doing well to control the position and prevent Liepins from advancing to side control.
Liepins seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barrett does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Barrett wants to improve his position but Liepins is controlling well.
Barrett trying to hold on to Liepins's head to control him but Liepins postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Barrett manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Barrett looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Liepins passes into side control.

Liepins decides to stand back up. Liepins steps back and let's Barrett get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liepins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barrett pinned against the cage. Barrett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Liepins with a lazy takedown attempt

and Barrett counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Barrett.
Will Barrett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edgars Liepins.

Liepins manages to break the clinch.
Barrett keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Barrett scores with a takedown into Liepins's guard.

Liepins pushes Barrett off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrett stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barrett wants it to stay on the feet.
Liepins shoots in but no luck this time.
Barrett seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Barrett throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Liepins tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Barrett is in Liepins's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barrett missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Liepins looking to control.
Barrett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barrett is looking to work some ground and pound but Liepins has wrist control.

Liepins is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barrett is aware though and is defending well.
Barrett keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Liepins's head.
Barrett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Liepins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Edgars Liepins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Will Barrett's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Liepins tries to clinch
and Barrett counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Liepins shoots for a double leg takedown but Barrett sprawls well. He's pushed Liepins's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
It looked like Barrett wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Liepins tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barrett defends well and Liepins ends up having to push Barrett into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Liepins falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barrett counters with a nice leg kick.
Liepins tries to clinch but Barrett is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liepins tries to clinch but Barrett moves out of range.
Liepins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Liepins misses with a jab, cross combination.
Will Barrett is winning the standup battle so far.
Liepins fails with the takedown
and Barrett counters with a one-two to the body.
Will Barrett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edgars Liepins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrett looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Liepins is fending him off so far but Barrett persists. Nope, Liepins circles away and we're back to standing.
Liepins misses with a takedown attempt

and Barrett holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Barrett is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Barrett has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Liepins is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Barrett blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Liepins is pressed up against the cage. Barrett has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Liepins down to the mat. Liepins avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Barrett clinches up against the cage.
Barrett is looking to break free of the clinch but Liepins has double underhooks.
Barrett is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Liepins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Barrett drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Liepins gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrett is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Liepins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Liepins throws a one two combo.
Liepins lands a jab to the nose.
Liepins goes for a double leg but Barrett avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barrett continues to drive forward.
Barrett wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Barrett tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Liepins defends well and Barrett ends up having to push Liepins into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Barrett slaps away a takedown attempt from Liepins, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liepins misses with the combination.
Barrett changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Liepins takes one to the chin there.

Liepins moves into range and clinches up with Barrett.
Barrett drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barrett tries for a takedown but Liepins manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Liepins pulls guard successfully.
Barrett preventing the sweep.
Liepins is pulling down on Barrett's head. It's preventing any offense from Barrett, at least for the moment.
Liepins throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Liepins is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barrett is controlling him.
Barrett postures up and lands a big shot to Liepins's brow.
Liepins looking for a sweep. Not yet Liepins, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barrett is looking to work some ground and pound but Liepins has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barrett working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Liepins is on top in guard.

Will Barrett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edgars Liepins is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Liepins trying to control the position from guard on top but Barrett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Edgars Liepins.
Well Liepins has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edgars Liepins!