PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tony Kazarian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Bariles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kazarian might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Limp Bizkit - My Way. Bariles has chosen Thriller by Michael Jackson as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kazarian
vs
Bariles

165 cm
30
140 lbs
17 - 3 - 0

170 cm
27
135 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Condemned

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tony Kazarian!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Erik Bariles!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kazarian throws a sloppy head kick and Bariles moves out of range easily.
Kazarian throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kazarian takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bariles moves away from the strike by Kazarian.
Kazarian loads up on a big right hand but Bariles slips the punch.
Kazarian avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Kazarian blocks a jab.
Bariles keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kazarian throws a right hand that Bariles ducks under and follows up with a left that Bariles also avoids with ease.
Bariles throws a hook but Kazarian avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bariles slips under a jab.
Kazarian misses with a body punch
and Bariles counters with a nice uppercut.
Kazarian tries for a takedown but Bariles sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kazarian shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Kazarian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bariles lands a jab to the nose.
Bariles misses with a lunging right hand
and Kazarian counters with a two punch combo.
Kazarian misses with a takedown attempt - Bariles sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A left lands for Bariles.
Bariles misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bariles misses with a looping left.
Kazarian slips a jab from Bariles.
Bariles keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kazarian.
Kazarian shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bariles but Bariles pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kazarian pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bariles is out of range and Kazarian settles back down.
Bariles just misses with a punch to the body.
Bariles uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kazarian.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bariles connects with a jab.

Kazarian closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kazarian lands in his opponent's guard.
Bariles keeping moving, preventing Kazarian from controlling successfully.
Bariles not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kazarian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kazarian advances to half guard.
Bariles makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bariles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kazarian prevents Bariles from getting back to his feet.
Bariles keeping moving, preventing Kazarian from controlling successfully.
Kazarian postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kazarian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bariles is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kazarian 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.
Kazarian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Kazarian dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A jab from Bariles misses.
Kazarian fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bariles avoids it really well and circles away.
Kazarian looks to score with a jab to the body but Bariles is just out of range.
Kazarian throws a right hand that Bariles ducks under and follows up with a left that Bariles also avoids with ease.
Bariles throws out a loose jab but Kazarian uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kazarian avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bariles throws a right hand that Kazarian ducks under and follows up with a left that Kazarian also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kazarian. Bariles does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kazarian fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bariles manages to avoid it.
Kazarian shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bariles eats them both and turns towards Kazarian to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kazarian attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Bariles misses with a body shot
and Kazarian counters with a nice leg kick.
Bariles throws a body punch but Kazarian moves out of range.
Kazarian lands a slapping body shot.
Erik Bariles is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bariles checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kazarian avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bariles looks to score with a jab to the body but Kazarian is just out of range.
Kazarian ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kazarian fails to land the takedown.
Kazarian fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bariles manages to avoid it.
Bariles moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Bariles ducks under a wild hook from Kazarian.
Erik Bariles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bariles darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bariles.
Bariles misses with a two punch combination.
Kazarian takes a swing at Bariles's ribcage but misses.

Kazarian closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bariles to the mat! Bariles manages to get full guard.
Kazarian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kazarian throwing strikes but missing.
Kazarian working some strikes from top position.
Kazarian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kazarian is looking to work some ground and pound but Bariles has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kazarian postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kazarian with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kazarian postures up in Bariles's guard and throws a big left but Bariles blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kazarian accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kazarian in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kazarian scoring with punches to the head and body.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kazarian accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kazarian passes Bariles's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kazarian wants to take a breather but Bariles is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Kazarian dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A chopping leg kick lands by Kazarian.
Kazarian just misses with a punch to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kazarian, right into the meat.
Bariles throws a jab but it's blocked by Kazarian.
Kazarian misses with a jab to the body
and Bariles counters with a nice body shot.
Kazarian takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kazarian shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bariles defends it nicely.
Kazarian goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bariles lands with a nice body punch.
Bariles pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kazarian blocks a jab.
Kazarian takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kazarian misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kazarian. Bariles does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bariles just misses with a punch to the body.
Bariles thows a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian slips under a jab.
Kazarian misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kazarian misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kazarian shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bariles throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bariles checks a leg kick.
Kazarian throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kazarian gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Bariles throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kazarian sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian shoots in looking for a takedown but Bariles manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kazarian's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Kazarian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kazarian displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bariles throws out the jab.
Bariles misses with a body shot
and Kazarian counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kazarian thows a body shot but no joy.
Bariles checks the leg kick nicely there.
Bariles misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kazarian misses with a wild body shot.
Tony Kazarian is winning the standup battle so far.
Bariles misses with a shot to the body
and Kazarian counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A big right from Kazarian misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bariles misses with a wild combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kazarian.
Bariles throws a one two combo.
Bariles throws a nice looking combination but Kazarian bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bariles throws a series of punches but Kazarian avoids them all with ease.
Kazarian is looking to wear down Bariles with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bariles misses with a double jab.
Kazarian tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bariles was well out of range. Poor timing from Kazarian.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Erik Bariles just about did enough to take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bariles on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Bariles misses with an uppercut.

Kazarian scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
An elbow from Kazarian crashes against the mat.
The strikes coming from Kazarian are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The strikes coming from Kazarian are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Kazarian tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Bariles really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kazarian. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kazarian throws a strike aimed at the side of Bariles's head but Bariles avoids it well.
Bariles sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bariles is trying to escape back to his feet but Kazarian uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Kazarian in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bariles is not content to let Kazarian control the position.
An elbow from Kazarian crashes against the mat.
Bariles is being controlled here.
Kazarian throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Bariles wants to control but Kazarian postures up.

Kazarian tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bariles can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bariles can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian lands an elbow.
Kazarian lands some shots froms side control.

Kazarian is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bariles is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kazarian working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bariles is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kazarian is putting a hurting on Bariles here, landing some big shots from side control.
Bariles tries to escape but Kazarian is in control.
Kazarian working the ground and pound but Bariles is defending the strikes.
Tony Kazarian overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kazarian landing a few strikes.
Kazarian looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Bariles is avoiding damage well.
Kazarian grinds an elbow into Bariles's temple.
Kazarian lands some shots froms side control.
Bariles is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Kazarian controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kazarian prevents Bariles from escaping the position.
Bariles tries to bench press Kazarian off him but Kazarian keeps the position.
Bariles can't do much from the bottom here.
Kazarian fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kazarian working the body and head with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bariles managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kazarian.
Kazarian lands a decent elbow from side control.

Kazarian looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Kazarian had his way with Erik Bariles in that round.
That's time! Kazarian's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. 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.

Bariles is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kazarian.
Kazarian looks to land a body kick but Bariles moved away.
Bariles looks to land a right hand but Kazarian moved out of range.
Kazarian just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bariles lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A slow jab from Kazarian misses its intended target.
Horrible takedown by Kazarian or perhaps it was just good defense by Bariles which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bariles throws an overhand right that lands on Kazarian's shoulder, as Kazarian tries to avoid the shot.
Bariles rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kazarian moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bariles takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kazarian tries to land a leg kick but Bariles saw it coming and moves away.
Kazarian looks to score with a jab to the body but Bariles is just out of range.
Kazarian dodges the punch combination from Bariles.
Bariles misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kazarian.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kazarian gets a takedown into half guard.
Bariles blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kazarian.
Kazarian throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kazarian works his way into full mount!
Bariles is looking to improve his position but Kazarian isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian with the ground and pound from mount.
Kazarian punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kazarian looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kazarian landing punches.
Kazarian landing strikes, looking to finish!
Bariles tries to hold on but Kazarian pushes him away.
Kazarian with a couple of short strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kazarian lands with some strikes.
Kazarian is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bariles can do to turn this around?
Kazarian postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Bariles looks a forlorn figure.

Bariles is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian content just to control the position here.
Kazarian raining down shots from the mount!
Tony Kazarian is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kazarian wants to control the pace but Bariles is squirming around nicely.
Erik Bariles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kazarian lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Kazarian showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kazarian has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 49:46
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 49:46
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Kazarian!
Tony Kazarian retains his bantamweight title!
A victorious Tony Kazarian thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.