PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antony Hulk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Barnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hulk is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Josh Barnett acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Hulk
vs
Barnett

225 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

198 cm
24
280 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antony Hulk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Josh Barnett!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnett shoots in for a double leg but Hulk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Barnett should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Hulk looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Barnett shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hulk but Hulk pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Barnett shoots in and drives through. Hulk sprawls well.
Antony Hulk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Barnett.
No luck for Barnett with that takedown attempt.
Hulk is looking to clinch.
Barnett moves in looking to clinch but Hulk pushes him off.
Barnett shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hulk pinned against the cage. Hulk gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Barnett wants to clinch.

Barnett drives through and clinches with Hulk against the cage.
Hulk prevents a takedown attempt there.
Barnett tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hulk just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnett jumps guard but Hulk stands there with Barnett around his waist. Barnett gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Barnett wants to get back to striking at distance but Hulk won't allow it.
Barnett swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hulk blocks an elbow strike.
Barnett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hulk blocks it with crossed arms.
Barnett is trying to force a seperation but Hulk has the dominant position.

Hulk pulls guard effortlessly.
Barnett must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Barnett postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Barnett controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hulk is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barnett is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnett engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Antony Hulk wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hulk slaps away a takedown attempt from Barnett, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnett fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Barnett looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hulk is fending him off so far but Barnett persists. Nope, Hulk circles away and we're back to standing.
Barnett closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hulk circles away.
Hulk misses with a few strikes there.
Barnett swats away the attempt to clinch by Hulk.
Barnett shoots for a double leg takedown but Hulk sprawls well. He's pushed Barnett's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Barnett drives through with a takedown into Hulk's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Barnett gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Barnett looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hulk moves in looking to clinch but Barnett pushes him off.
Hulk is looking to clinch but Barnett is avoiding it.
Hulk throws a series of punches but Barnett moves out of range.
Barnett dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hulk motions for Barnett to come forward. Hulk throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sloppy strikes from Hulk. Those never looked like landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hulk just misses with a punch to the body.
Hulk throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barnett.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnett circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hulk tries to clinch there but Barnett circles away.
Barnett changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hulk tries to avoid it but Barnett manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hulk to the ground. Hulk escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Barnett shoots in for a double leg but Hulk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Barnett dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Barnett is looking to clinch.
Barnett tries to clinch but Hulk moves out of range.
Hulk swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnett.
Barnett throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hulk's waist but Hulk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barnett off to one side.
Barnett has a takedown stuffed.
Barnett jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hulk stuffs the takedown attempt from Barnett. Barnett gets slowly back to his feet.
Antony Hulk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Barnett.
Barnett dives in and grabs Hulk's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hulk pushes down on Barnett's head and hops out.

Hulk bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Barnett tries to buck Hulk off but Hulk is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hulk stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnett shoots in looking for a takedown but Hulk manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Barnett's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Barnett dives in and grabs Hulk's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hulk pushes down on Barnett's head and hops out.
Nice takedown defense from Barnett. No joy for Hulk on that attempt.
Barnett is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hulk sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hulk tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnett swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barnett shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hulk pinned against the cage. Hulk gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Barnett keeps the fight on the outside.
Hulk throws a wild body kick that Barnett sees coming a mile off.
No luck for Barnett with that takedown attempt.
Hulk tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnett shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hulk sprawls well. Hulk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barnett gets slowly back to his feet.
Hulk fails with the takedown.
Hulk tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Barnett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barnett shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hulk as he jumps to the side.
Hulk tries to clinch up.
Hulk will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hulk is looking to clinch but Barnett is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hulk tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Barnett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hulk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hulk fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Barnett, pushing him back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Hulk manages to pull guard.
Barnett wants to control from the top but Hulk keeps moving.
Hulk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barnett's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hulk wants to stand but Barnett is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hulk trying to control but Barnett is working from the bottom.
Barnett is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hulk wants to control from the top but Barnett keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Hulk decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antony Hulk dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Barnett throws a body kick that misses.
Barnett is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Antony Hulk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnett scores with a one two! Hulk had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hulk avoids a kick to the body.
Hulk moves forwards but Barnett connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Barnett fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hulk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hulk tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnett swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barnett is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hulk sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hulk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hulk rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barnett moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnett throws a right and a left that Hulk avoids nicely.
Barnett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hulk paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hulk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barnett tries for a takedown but Hulk sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Antony Hulk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Barnett.
Hulk stuffs the takedown.
Barnett has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hulk.
Antony Hulk is winning the standup battle so far.
Hulk swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnett.
Barnett shoots in looking for a takedown but Hulk manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Barnett's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Barnett tries for a takedown but Hulk sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Barnett tries to bum rush Hulk with a series of wild strikes but Hulk uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hulk tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnett swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnett avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hulk fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hulk wants to clinch up but Barnett keeps it at a distance.
Hulk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hulk thows a body shot but no joy.

Hulk moves into the clinch.
Hulk is looking to control Barnett's arms but Barnett gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hulk has his back to the cage.

Hulk jumps guard.

Hulk pushes Barnett off and scrambles back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hulk slaps away a takedown attempt from Barnett, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hulk throws a right and a left that Barnett avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hulk swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnett.
Barnett keeps the fight on the outside.
Barnett shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hulk as he avoids it easily.
Barnett tries to clinch but Hulk moves out of range.
Barnett changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hulk tries to avoid it but Barnett manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hulk to the ground. Hulk escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hulk tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Barnett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barnett avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barnett looks for a takedown but Hulk sprawls well.
Hulk fails to land the takedown.
Barnett lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hulk circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett shoots in looking for a takedown but Hulk manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Barnett's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hulk tries to clinch up.
Hulk tries to bum rush Barnett with a series of wild strikes but Barnett uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barnett fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Antony Hulk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hulk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hulk fails with the takedown.
Hulk throws a left and a right that both miss
and Barnett counters with a three punch combo that has Hulk backing up. Hulk nods at Barnett to acknowledge the strikes.
Barnett tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hulk sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barnett somewhat.

Barnett clinches up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hulk lands an elbow that stopped Barnett in his tracks for a moment.
Barnett is trying to maintain a safe position but Hulk gets an underhook and turns Barnett into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antony Hulk showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hulk 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antony Hulk!