|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Merritt Barlow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barlow comes to the cage accompanied by Intro - DMX. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.
 |
|
 |
| 190 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
|
180 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart |
|
Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Intelligent |
|
| |
|
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 Sydney, Merritt Barlow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Frank Williams!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Donatello Bradman and Damien Edna.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Williams closes the distance and pushes Barlow back into the cage.
Williams landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Barlow working hard to break the clinch.
Williams has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Barlow clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Barlow just trying to survive but Williams is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Barlow is having to fend off submission attempts from Williams, who is looking to sink in the choke. Williams doesn't have the hooks in though and Barlow manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Barlow trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Barlow showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Barlow seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Williams for as long as he can get away with.
Barlow thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Barlow is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Barlow working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Williams's head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Barlow stopping the sweep attempt from Williams.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Williams wants to control the position but Barlow says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Barlow content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Barlow is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Williams is just riding it out for now. Barlow eventually gives up the hold.
Williams trying to control from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams tries to get to full guard but Barlow has control of the leg.
Williams trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Barlow manages to pass to mount!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Williams is desperately trying to improve his position but Barlow has a good base and remains in mount.
Barlow can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Williams is looking to escape.
Barlow avoids the attempt from Williams to control.
Williams really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Williams tries to lock up and control but Barlow gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Merritt Barlow 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.
Williams moves out of range of the leg kick from Barlow.
Williams shoots in but no luck this time.
Williams lands with a slapping head kick.
Williams attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Barlow doesn't manage to clinch there - Williams circles away.
Barlow changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Williams looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Barlow working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Williams can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barlow is looking to take a break and control but Williams is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Williams looking for a sweep but Barlow has passed into full mount! Oh no!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Barlow working the ground and pound effectively.
Barlow is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Williams has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Williams!
Barlow keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.
Barlow is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Williams defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams tries to free his leg and advance position but Barlow is retaining full guard.
Barlow has control of Williams's left arm, preventing Williams from doing any damage.
Williams throws a strike but Barlow rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Barlow preventing the sweep.
Barlow postures up.
Williams trying to control the position here.
Barlow stopping the sweep attempt from Williams.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barlow wants to stand but Williams is controlling his posture from full guard.
Barlow trying to control the position from guard on top but Williams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Williams is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Williams might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Barlow haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Williams pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barlow moves out of range of the leg kick from Williams.
Barlow gets tackled into the cage by Williams. Williams maintains the clinch.
Williams escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barlow is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Williams's half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williams wants to improve his position but Barlow is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Merritt Barlow dominated that second 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. This is the final round!
Williams checks a low kick from Barlow.
Barlow drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Barlow works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Barlow working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Williams tries to bench press Barlow off him but Barlow keeps the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams trying his best to control but Barlow has mounted him.
Barlow in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Williams tries to lock up and control but Barlow gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Barlow content just to control the position here.
Merritt Barlow overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barlow swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Williams is now in Barlow's guard. A big mistake from Barlow there, giving up the dominant position!
Williams must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Williams postures up.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Barlow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barlow wants to stand up but Williams is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Williams throws a big right hand that misses.
Williams trying to control but Barlow is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Barlow looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Williams is pushing down on Barlow's leg trying to pass to half guard. Barlow is fighting to maintain full guard but Williams has managed to sneak the leg through.
Barlow looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Williams is looking for a kimura here.
Williams throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Williams trying to mount his opponent but Barlow defends it.
Ground and pound from Williams.
Williams not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Williams looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Barlow with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Frank Williams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Williams performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Williams throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Williams is trying to control the action in half guard but Barlow is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Williams looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barlow trying to keep a closed guard but Williams is proving a slippery customer.
Williams wants to pass the guard but Barlow is keeping the position.
Barlow working for a triangle but Williams defends it easily.
Williams connects with a couple of short punches.
Merritt Barlow is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Williams really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barlow. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barlow keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Frank Williams.
I think Barlow 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Merritt Barlow!
A relieved looking Merritt Barlow thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Frank Williams spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back better than ever'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
27% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
