PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Barlow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Cool (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Cool is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Barlow
vs
Cool

195 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Barlow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Cool!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cool enables Barlow to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cool manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Barlow throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Barlow 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.
Cool looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barlow will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cool wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Barlow manages to pass to side control.
Cool looks like he's trying to stand up.
Cool is staying active underneath Barlow, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Barlow missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cool is trying to get back to full guard.
Barlow throwing shots but Cool is blocking nicely.
Cool tries to get to full guard but Barlow has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cool actively working from the bottom here.
Barlow wants to take a breather but Cool is having none of it.
Barlow is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Barlow is trying to control. Cool wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of John Barlow.
A right-left combo lands from Barlow.
Barlow tries a head kick but it misses.

Cool gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cool 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.
Cool digs a right hand into Barlow's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Barlow's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cool goes for a takedown attempt but Barlow pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Barlow shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Barlow showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barlow with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Cool is not content to let Barlow control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cool trying to hold on to Barlow's head to control him but Barlow postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cool might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Barlow kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of John Barlow.
Cool tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barlow swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barlow swats away the attempt to clinch by Cool.
Some wild striking there from Cool.
Cool connects with a body shot that sends Barlow's belly button to the back.
Cool is looking to clinch but Barlow is avoiding it.
Barlow shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barlow really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Cool closes the distance and pushes Barlow back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barlow can't get the takedown.
Barlow avoids the elbow strike from Cool, against the cage.

Cool jumps guard and drags Barlow to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cool is adopting a defensive guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barlow trying to control but Cool is working from the bottom.
Cool really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barlow. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Barlow is really struggling to control Cool but he's trying to hold on to the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cool wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Barlow is now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Barlow dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Barlow rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cool moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Cool instigates a clinch.
Barlow drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cool pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cool tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cool avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cool shoots for a takedown but Barlow saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Barlow keeps the fight on the outside.
Cool tries to close the distance and clinch but Barlow swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cool wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barlow throws a looping overhand right but Cool ducks down to avoid it.
Cool defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Barlow.
Barlow shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cool as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Barlow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barlow keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cool looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cool throws a head kick but Barlow moves out of range.
Barlow shoots in for a takedown but Cool shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Barlow slips a jab and a cross from Cool.

Cool has closed the distance and engaged Barlow in a clinch.

Barlow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cool ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barlow moves away.
Cool wants to clinch up but Barlow keeps it at a distance.
Cool wants to clinch

and Barlow counters with a single leg into guard. Cool didn't expect that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barlow stopping the sweep attempt from Cool.
Barlow trying to control the position from guard on top but Cool is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barlow preventing the sweep.
Barlow trying to control the position from guard on top but Cool is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barlow stands and steps away. Cool gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cool is looking to clinch.

Barlow closes the distance and clinches.
Cool is looking to control Barlow's arms but Barlow gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cool has his back to the cage.

Cool has clasped his hands together around Barlow's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Barlow sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Barlow tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Cool is looking to take a break and control but Barlow is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barlow slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barlow striking from the bottom here.
Cool stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barlow swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barlow working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cool 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.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Barlow will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cool plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Cool is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Barlow's half guard.
Cool throwing shots but Barlow is blocking nicely.
Barlow is not content to let Cool control the position.
Barlow regains full guard. Nicely done.
Barlow wants to stand up but Cool is controlling him.
Barlow tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barlow has control of Cool's left arm, preventing Cool from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barlow looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barlow keeping full guard, as Cool tries to pass.
Barlow has a closed guard, preventing Cool from standing up.
Barlow seems keen to control Cool's posture.
Cool pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barlow is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cool working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cool wants to control from the top but Barlow keeps moving.
Barlow wants to stand but Cool is controlling the position.
Cool must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barlow 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.
Barlow thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Cool.
Cool tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barlow paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No luck for Barlow with that takedown attempt.

Cool moves into the clinch.

Cool lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Barlow is staying active underneath Cool, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cool lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cool moves nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barlow manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Barlow decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barlow throws a lazy head kick
and Cool counters with a one-two to the body.
John Barlow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cool is looking to clinch but Barlow is avoiding it.
Cool closes the distance and clinches up with Barlow, looking for a takedown. Cool pushes Barlow against the cage but Barlow circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barlow throws a wild body kick that Cool sees coming a mile off.

Barlow takes the fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barlow tries to score a body lock takedown but Cool shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
John Cool has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Barlow is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cool tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Cool comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barlow 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Barlow!