PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Avon Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Natt Huges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Barksdale
vs
Huges

180 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

184 cm
19
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Avon Barksdale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Natt Huges!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Barksdale misses.
Barksdale throws a right hand that Huges ducks under and follows up with a left that Huges also avoids with ease.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barksdale.
Barksdale misses with a leg kick.
Barksdale throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barksdale thows a body kick. Huges tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Some wild striking there from Barksdale.
Barksdale tries to clinch up but Huges circles away and keeps his distance.
Barksdale stalks Huges and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Huges's face. Huges staggers backwards, shaken.

Barksdale closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Huges to the mat! Huges manages to get full guard.
Barksdale preventing the sweep.
Huges managing to control the position.
Barksdale preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huges pulls Barksdale in close to prevent any damage.
Barksdale has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Huges's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Barksdale wants to get up but he can't break Huges's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Huges has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Barksdale throws a big right hand that misses.
Huges trying to keep a closed guard but Barksdale is proving a slippery customer.

Despite being in the dominant position, Natt Huges just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barksdale fails to land with a series of punches.
Barksdale scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Barksdale slow jab from Huges misses its intended target.
Barksdale changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Huges tries to avoid it but Barksdale manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Huges to the ground. Huges escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Barksdale is breathing heavily.
Barksdale misses with the combination.

Huges drives through with a takedown into guard.
Huges controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Barksdale is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huges is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Barksdale has his feet on Huges's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barksdale gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Huges counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Huges slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Huges trying to control the position from guard on top but Barksdale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Despite being in the dominant position, Natt Huges just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Huges circles away from the clinch attempt

and Huges counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barksdale won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barksdale is looking to get back to his feet here but Huges is keeping cool and he's managed to take Barksdale's back.
Barksdale is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Huges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Natt Huges dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Barksdale falls off balance throwing a combination

and Huges counters with a shoot takedown. Barksdale fights it but they end up in guard.
Huges showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Huges decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Barksdale, up you get!
Barksdale misses with a double jab

and Huges decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barksdale's guard.
Barksdale wants to sweep but no luck.
Barksdale can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Huges controls the pace.
Barksdale wants to sweep here but Huges controlling him for the moment.
Barksdale trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Huges not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Huges controlling from the top position.
Huges stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barksdale swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Huges postures up in Barksdale's guard and throws a big left but Barksdale blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Huges trying to control but Barksdale is working from the bottom.
Huges content to stall in guard here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Natt Huges just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barksdale tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Huges counters with a shoot takedown. Barksdale fights it but they end up in guard.
Barksdale working a defensive guard here.
Huges trying to control but Barksdale is working from the bottom.
Barksdale tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barksdale is working hard here to advance position.
Huges looking to pass the guard.

Barksdale manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Barksdale.
Huges avoids a punch combination nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Huges.
Huges landing a few strikes.
Barksdale tries to buck Huges off but Huges is having none of it.
Huges tries to move to mount but Barksdale blocks the move with his legs.
Barksdale is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
You can see the frustration on Barksdale's face as Huges controls the position.
Barksdale is looking to reverse the position.
Natt Huges has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee asks Huges politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Huges prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Barksdale's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Huges slows the pace down.
Huges lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Barksdale down.
Huges creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Barksdale is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here as Huges stalls from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barksdale tries to improve position but can't.
Barksdale manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Natt Huges showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Barksdale tries to clinch up

and Huges holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Huges turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Huges is working Barksdale over with some ground and pound from side control.
Barksdale is not content to let Huges control the position.
Barksdale is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Huges is looking to take a break and control but Barksdale is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Huges happy to just control the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Huges controlling from the full mount.
Huges takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barksdale keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Barksdale is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Barksdale manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Huges moves into full mount! Barksdale won't be happy about that!
Huges controlling his opponent.

Despite being in the dominant position, Natt Huges just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barksdale throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Huges counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Huges sitting in guard here, content to control.
Barksdale wants to get back to his feet but Huges is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Barksdale being controlled here, momentarily.
Huges trying to control the position from guard on top but Barksdale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Barksdale has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Huges can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barksdale looking for a sweep. Not yet Barksdale, not yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Huges shoots in but no luck this time.
Barksdale throws a left and a right that both miss

and Huges counters with a takedown into side control.
Barksdale is looking to regain half guard here but Huges keeps moving and retains side control.
Barksdale regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale tries to roll over but Huges keeps him under control.
Barksdale slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Huges preventing the sweep.
Avon Barksdale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Huges wants to control from the top but Barksdale keeps moving.

Barksdale is looking for a triangle but Huges pushes his legs off easily.
Huges seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Huges has gone for a leg lock! Barksdale slips out almost immediately though and dives into Huges's guard.
Barksdale lands a couple of decent looking shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Natt Huges comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Huges 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Natt Huges!