PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Knight Wren (ranked 25419 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tristan Barolo (ranked 23754 p4p, 0 weight class). Barolo has chosen Waltz as his entrance music. Knight Wren could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tristan Barolo's chin.

Wren
vs
Barolo

185 cm
18
235 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
220 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Knight Wren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tristan Barolo!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wren throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Wren bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barolo misses with a low kick.
Wren looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barolo is fending him off so far but Wren persists. Nope, Barolo circles away and we're back to standing.
A good leg kick by Barolo.
Nice takedown defense from Barolo. No joy for Wren on that attempt.
Wren shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barolo as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Knight Wren. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Wren gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Barolo to score an easy takedown into full 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.
Wren seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wren could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wren throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Barolo distracts Wren with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Barolo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Wren has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barolo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barolo trying to control but Wren is working from the bottom.

Barolo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Wren, up you get!
Wren is looking to clinch.
Wren fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barolo throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Wren tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Barolo is in Wren's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Barolo gets to his feet - Wren follows without any prompting.
Wren shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wren is breathing heavily.
Wren tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barolo defends well and Wren ends up having to push Barolo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Barolo or perhaps it was just good defense by Wren, which made it look bad.
Barolo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barolo stuffs the takedown.
Wren tries to clinch but Barolo moves away
and Barolo counters with a straight right hand.
Barolo has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

Barolo feints and as Wren raises his hands in defense, Barolo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barolo postures up in Wren's guard and throws a big left but Wren blocks it.
Barolo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barolo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barolo trying to control but Wren is working from the bottom.

Barolo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Wren is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Barolo is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barolo desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Wren controlling the pace.
Wren prevents Barolo from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wren passes the guard and advances to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tristan Barolo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Wren tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barolo defends well and Wren ends up having to push Barolo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Tristan Barolo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Wren enables Barolo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Wren manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Wren scrambles and gets back to his feet.
No luck for Wren with that takedown attempt.
Barolo slaps away a takedown attempt from Wren, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Knight Wren. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barolo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wren connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A head kick misses from Barolo.
Barolo fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wren clinches up against the cage.

Barolo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Wren gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Wren shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barolo as he jumps to the side.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barolo is defended easily by Wren.
Wren throws a quick counter head kick but Barolo was just out of range.

Wren closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Wren.
Barolo is trying to drag Wren to the mat but Wren just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Wren tries to stall but Barolo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Barolo gets control of Wren's arms and successfully pulls guard. Barolo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Wren trying to control the position from guard on top but Barolo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Wren decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Barolo, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wren closes the distance and clinches up with Barolo, looking for a takedown. Wren pushes Barolo against the cage but Barolo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barolo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Wren sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Barolo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wren is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barolo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wren slaps away a takedown attempt from Barolo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Barolo swats away the attempt to clinch by Wren.
Wren shoots in for a takedown but Barolo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wren tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barolo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Wren doesn't seem bothered though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wren gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Barolo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Barolo trying to control the position from guard on top but Wren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barolo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Barolo stands and steps away. Wren gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Wren changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barolo tries to avoid it but Wren manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barolo to the ground. Barolo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Barolo closes the distance and clinches up with Wren, looking for a takedown. Barolo pushes Wren against the cage but Wren circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barolo throws a right hand that Wren ducks under and follows up with a left that Wren also avoids with ease.

Barolo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tristan Barolo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Barolo is looking to clinch.
Wren lands with a nice combination. Barolo backs away looking to recover.
Tristan Barolo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wren checks the leg kick nicely there.
Barolo lands with a good body shot.
Barolo goes for a double leg but Wren avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Wren continues to drive forward.
It looked like Wren wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wren tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barolo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barolo works over Wren's head and body with a nice combination.
Wren shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Barolo defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barolo misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barolo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barolo wants it to stay on the feet.
Wren fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Knight Wren. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Barolo!
Wren displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barolo.
A combination from Barolo does no damage.

Barolo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Wren to the mat! Wren manages to get full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Wren manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Barolo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Barolo manages to break the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Barolo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wren closes the distance and clinches up with Barolo, looking for a takedown. Wren pushes Barolo against the cage but Barolo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A nice combination there by Barolo.
Knight Wren is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wren looks for a takedown but Barolo sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Barolo.
Wren tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barolo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wren is looking to clinch.
Wren keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Barolo gets tackled into the cage by Wren. Wren maintains the clinch.
Wren pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barolo working aggressively here.
Barolo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Wren's efforts to push away.
Wren fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Wren tries to pull guard but Barolo holds him up against the cage and eventually Wren drops back down to his feet.
Barolo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Wren just leaning against Barolo, taking a breather.

Barolo breaks from the clinch.
Barolo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Wren looks for a takedown but Barolo sprawls well.
Barolo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wren as he avoids it easily.
Barolo connects with a body shot that sends Wren's belly button to the back.

Barolo 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.

Barolo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Wren has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barolo has managed to get both his arms back between Wren's legs - danger averted.
Wren is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tristan Barolo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Barolo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Knight Wren has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wren takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tristan Barolo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barolo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tristan Barolo!
In his post fight interview, Tristan Barolo started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.