PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Avon Barksdale (ranked 24499 p4p, 24835 weight class) and Keishin Smith (ranked 371 p4p, 352 weight class). Smith is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 極主夫道 Gukushufudo- Way of the Househusband OST. Avon Barksdale has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barksdale
vs
Smith

165 cm
19
140
0 - 4 - 0

169 cm
20
138
3 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Avon Barksdale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Keishin Smith!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barksdale shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Barksdale stops Smith from standing up.
Barksdale engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Barksdale postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Barksdale is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Barksdale thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Barksdale passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Smith is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Barksdale asserts his dominance and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barksdale working the ground and pound.

Smith bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Barksdale shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
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!
Barksdale working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Smith tries to kick Barksdale off in order to stand up. Barksdale Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Smith is pushing Barksdale's head away, looking to escape. Barksdale manages to hold on to the position though.
Smith on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Barksdale lands a decent elbow from side control.
Smith is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Barksdale has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Barksdale lands a decent elbow from side control.

Smith is rocked!
Smith is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Smith is still in real trouble! Can Barksdale finish him?
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barksdale. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Barksdale lands an elbow.
Barksdale looks up at the clock and then as Smith takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Barksdale smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Smith is pushing Barksdale's head away, looking to escape. Barksdale manages to hold on to the position though.
Smith seems to have recovered his senses.
Barksdale trying to control the position but Smith is working away.

Barksdale tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Smith is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Barksdale is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale cracks Smith with a big elbow.
Smith is pushing Barksdale's head away, looking to escape. Barksdale manages to hold on to the position though.
Barksdale lands an elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Barksdale asserts his dominance and retains side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smith can do anything to dispel that myth.

Barksdale is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smith is working to avoid the ground and pound but Barksdale connects with a decent elbow.
Barksdale controls the position from side control.
Barksdale scores with punches from side control.
Smith is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale scores with a couple of short elbows.
Smith felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Smith is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Barksdale has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Smith taking punishment in the form of punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Barksdale tries for a kimura but Smith is defending well.

Barksdale thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Barksdale has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Barksdale is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.

Barksdale tries for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Smith tries to escape but Barksdale is in control.
A lull in the action here.
Barksdale scores with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith bucks up and tries to throw Barksdale off but instead Barksdale has got his back!
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

Smith won't enjoy being in this position. Barksdale looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Smith is tapping - it's over boys! Barksdale picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Avon Barksdale!
A very excited looking Avon Barksdale made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.