PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between William Barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Berik Yawoka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barker comes to the ring accompanied by The Way of the Fist - Five Finger Death Punch. The crowd seem to be enjoying Yawoka's choice of entrance music: keep running up that hill. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Barker
vs
Yawoka

180 cm
35
182 lbs
25 - 15 - 0

180 cm
36
187 lbs
16 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 15 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, William Barker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Berik Yawoka!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yawoka drives through with a takedown into Barker's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Yawoka trying to control the position from guard on top but Barker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yawoka might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Barker haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Barker keeping full guard, as Yawoka tries to pass.

Barker looking for a guillotine here but Yawoka defends easily.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Yawoka trying to control but Barker is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yawoka is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Yawoka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barker keeping moving, preventing Yawoka from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Berik Yawoka was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Yawoka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barker sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Yawoka gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Barker to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Barker trying to control but Yawoka is working from the bottom.
Yawoka trying to control the position.
Barker is in close to Yawoka's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker lands a couple of elbows.
Barker controlling from the top position.
Yawoka wants to stand up but Barker is controlling him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barker trying to control the position from guard on top but Yawoka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Yawoka is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barker defends well.
Barker landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

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

Yawoka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker scoring with some ground and pound.
Barker trying to control the position from guard on top but Yawoka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barker not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Yawoka is trying to control the position but Barker postures up.
Yawoka seems keen to control Barker's posture.

Yawoka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Barker is pushing down on Yawoka's leg trying to pass to half guard. Yawoka is fighting to maintain full guard but Barker has managed to sneak the leg through.
Yawoka tries to get to full guard but Barker has control of the leg.
Yawoka wants to control but Barker is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker working the head and body with strikes.
Barker prevents Yawoka from standing back up.

Barker is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
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!
Barker wants to control but Yawoka is keeping him busy.
Barker is looking to advance position but Yawoka won't allow it.

Yawoka pushes Barker off, looking to escape but Barker dives into side control. He's locked up a kimura now - that was fast! He's cranking on it and Yawoka is forced to tap! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). William Barker!
William Barker spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.