PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oakley Bark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bark comes to the ring accompanied by RUN DMC its like that. Barker has chosen The Way of the Fist - Five Finger Death Punch as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Bark
vs
Barker

190 cm
41
235 lbs
43 - 23 - 0

180 cm
36
182 lbs
30 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Project Mayhem

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 43 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Oakley Bark!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, William Barker!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barker ducks under a wild hook from Bark.
William Barker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bark blocks a head kick by Barker.
Bark looks to clinch

and Barker counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bark won't be happy with that.
Barker misses with the ground and pound.
Bark is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
We've been hearing good reports from Bark's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Barker working the ground and pound.
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.
Bark managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Barker.
Barker sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bark is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bark can't do much from the bottom here.
The ground and pound from Barker seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bark tries to escape but Barker is in control.

Barker goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Bark rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Barker's guard! Nice work there by Bark!
Bark pushes down on Barker's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bark uses his free foot to push down on Barker's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Barker.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Barker regains half guard.
Bark prevents Barker from improving his position.

Bark is working for a submission of some sort.

Bark is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barker is just riding it out for now. Bark eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bark is pressing down on Barker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Barker is holding on for now.
Barker is staying active underneath Bark, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Barker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Oakley Bark.
Barker throws a head kick but Bark moves out of range.
Barker throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Bark is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Barker's half guard.
Bark uses his free foot to push down on Barker's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Barker.
Bark wants to control the pace but Barker is squirming around nicely.

Bark is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Barker has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Barker!
Bark utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barker is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bark trying to control the position.
Bark wants to sweep but no luck.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Barker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bark looking for a sweep. Not yet Bark, not yet.

Bark had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barker defends it easily.
Barker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Barker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barker throwing strikes from guard but Bark blocks nicely.
Barker is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Bark has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Barker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Bark is looking for a triangle but Barker pushes his legs off easily.
Barker distracts Bark with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bark is trying to keep Barker in close.
Barker wants to control from the top but Bark keeps moving.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Barker with a nice head shot there.
Barker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bark trying to control the position.
Barker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bark is keeping the position for now.
Barker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barker is looking to work some ground and pound but Bark has wrist control.
Barker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Bark has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the ropes to get back to his feet. Barker has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the ropes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barker tries to throw a body punch but Bark avoids it by throwing Barker back against the ropes.

Bark tightens his grip and picks Barker up, before dumping him to the ground. Barker manages to land in guard.

Barker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bark defends it easily.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Bark's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bark passes Barker's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bark is stalling here. Barker is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Bark seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Barker has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Barker tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Barker misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Barker tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Barker has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bark manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Bark is trying to stand.
Barker scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Bark looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Barker controlling the action here.
Barker drops an elbow to the side of Bark's head.
Barker sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bark defending well though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bark desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Bark is staying active underneath Barker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Barker missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Bark manages to get to full guard.
Barker distracts Bark with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bark working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barker.
Bark manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Bark wants to finish this one by submission but Barker is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Bark.
Barker is in all sorts of trouble here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bark trying to control but Barker is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but William Barker will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bark shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Barker's guard.
Bark slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Barker is trying to improve his position.

Bark goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Barker has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bark but great work by Barker.
Barker passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Bark!
Bark is looking to get to half guard.
Barker looking to finish Bark with some ground and pound. This is bad for Bark!
Barker scoring with strikes but Bark is staying in there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bark wants to hold on but Barker pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barker pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Barker in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Barker working Bark over with strikes here.
Bark tries to hold on but Barker pushes him away.
Bark is desperately trying to improve his position but Barker has a good base and remains in mount.
Barker lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Bark is rocked!
William Barker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barker postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Bark badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Barker around the waist but Barker pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Barker is the winner by TKO! Barker jumps onto the ropes and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). William Barker! William Barker retains his super heavyweight title!
William Barker decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.