PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frank Barba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Harrison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frank Barba could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to William Harrison's chin.

Barba
vs
Harrison

188 cm
34
203 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

186 cm
32
195 lbs
22 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Tokyo United Fightwear

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Barba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 23 - 0, fighting out of London, William Harrison!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Chris Edwards and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harrison shoots for a takedown but Barba saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Barba rushes Harrison and presses him up against the cage.

Barba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barba lands with an overhand left.
Barba lands a jab to Harrison's midsection.
Harrison tries for a takedown but Barba sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Barba stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barba wants it to stay on the feet.
Frank Barba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Harrison.
Harrison slips a straight right by Barba.
Barba throws a big shot that misses.
Harrison avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Harrison dodges the punch combination from Barba.
Nice sprawl there from Barba as Harrison shoots in.
Barba stalks Harrison and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Harrison's face. Harrison staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like William Harrison has been cut.
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!
Barba stuffs the takedown.
Barba keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Barba.
Harrison closes the distance and clinches up with Barba, looking for a takedown. Harrison pushes Barba against the cage but Barba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barba darts in and clinches Harrison up against the cage.

Barba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barba swinging wildly here.
Barba stuffs the takedown attempt from Harrison. Harrison gets slowly back to his feet.
Barba wants to clinch.
Barba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Harrison looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Harrison trying to control but Barba is working from the bottom.
Barba avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Harrison trying to control the position from guard on top but Barba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrison is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Barba keeping moving, preventing Harrison from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. William Harrison wasn't active enough on the ground.
Barba scores with a three punch combo!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barba misses with a hook. Harrison ducked under it nicely.
Barba stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barba wants it to stay on the feet.
Harrison takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Harrison.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Harrison.
Barba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Harrison darts in looking for a takedown but Barba gets double underhooks and turns Harrison into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barba tries to work over Harrison's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Harrison is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Barba scores with a shoulder strike.
Barba dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Barba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barba throws a head kick but Harrison moves out of range.

Harrison bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Barba explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Harrison shoots in for a double leg but Barba sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Barba throws a series of punches but Harrison moves out of range.

Barba clinches up against the cage.
Harrison is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Barba gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A head punch on the inside from Barba fails to land.
Barba lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Barba.
A short left from Barba.
Barba doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Harrison has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Barba after a bit of a struggle.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Barba lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Harrison has Barba pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Barba manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Barba scores with a shot to the side of Harrison's head.
Barba pushes Harrison back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barba is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Barba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Harrison shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Barba dominated that round.
The cut man is working on William Harrison's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Barba clinches.
Barba is pressed up against the cage. Harrison has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Barba down to the mat. Barba avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Barba clinches up against the cage.
Barba taking a breather.
Barba lands with a left to the head.

Barba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Harrison slips a jab from Barba.

Barba gets caught flat footed, as Harrison shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Harrison won't allow Barba to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harrison pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barba is keeping the position for now.
Harrison won't allow Barba to get back to his feet.
Harrison forces his way into half guard.
Barba is trying to stand up here but Harrison is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrison is looking to stall here but Barba recovers full guard.

Harrison stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Harrison shoots in but no luck this time.
Harrison shoots for a double leg takedown but Barba sprawls well. He's pushed Harrison's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Frank Barba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Harrison.
Harrison looks for a takedown but Barba sprawls well.
Frank Barba is winning the standup battle so far.
Barba missing with a left hand there. Harrison was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barba fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barba shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Harrison eats them both and turns towards Barba to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Harrison shoots for a takedown but Barba saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Harrison needs to keep his hands up - Barba had a free shot at his head there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barba misses with a series of wild punches.
Frank Barba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Harrison goes for a double leg but Barba avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barba continues to drive forward.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

Harrison looking to score a takedown here. Barba is defending well but Harrison drives through and ends up in Barba's guard.
Harrison pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barba is keeping the position for now.
Harrison prevents Barba from getting back to his feet.
Barba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barba keeping moving, preventing Harrison from controlling successfully.
Harrison landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrison looking to sit in guard and control but Barba gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Barba keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Harrison's head.
Barba won't allow Harrison to sweep him here.
Barba forces his way into half guard.
Barba 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.
Barba is thwarting Harrison's attempts to control the position.
Barba seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Harrison does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Harrison is doing well to control the position and prevent Barba from advancing to side control.
Barba 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Barba lands with a punch from half guard.

Barba seems to be looking for submissions.
Harrison is trying to maintain the position but Barba is very close to passing his half guard.
Harrison is trying is best to control the position here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Harrison is not content to let Barba control the position.
Barba thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Harrison's head.
Barba 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.
Harrison is looking to control Barba's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Harrison avoid being mounted?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harrison misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Harrison looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
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 Frank Barba will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on William Harrison's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Barba throws a series of punches but Harrison avoids them all with ease.
Harrison takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Barba misses with a head kick.
Harrison ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Harrison fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Barba tries to bum rush Harrison with a series of wild strikes but Harrison uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Harrison shoots in and gets a takedown into Barba's guard.
Harrison throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Harrison showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Barba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Harrison's guard.

Harrison is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harrison swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Harrison looking for a sweep. Not yet Harrison, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Harrison is on top in guard.
Harrison throws a big elbow that misses.
Harrison throws a big elbow that misses.
Harrison prevents Barba from getting back to his feet.
Harrison showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Barba keeping full guard, as Harrison tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrison sitting in guard here, content to control.
Barba wants to stand up but Harrison is controlling him.
Harrison advances to half guard.
Harrison looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Barba with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Harrison is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Harrison not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrison with the ground and pound but Barba uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Barba keeping moving, preventing Harrison from controlling successfully.
Barba pulls Harrison in close to prevent any damage.
Harrison 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.
Frank Barba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Harrison looking to sit in guard and control but Barba gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harrison striking off his back but it's not causing Barba any problems.
Barba trying to control but Harrison is working from the bottom.
Barba cracks Harrison with a solid left hand.
Barba throws a big elbow that misses.
William Harrison has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barba stands up over Harrison, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Barba tries to stand but Harrison is controlling from the bottom.
Harrison lands with a heel strike from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Harrison throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barba throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Harrison comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barba 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Frank Barba!