PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mayo Kermode (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jermaine Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Barksdale's choice of entrance music: Ain't No Sunshine- DMX. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kermode
vs
Barksdale

185 cm
29
220 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

190 cm
31
211 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mayo Kermode!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jermaine Barksdale!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kermode takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Barksdale feints and then cracks Kermode's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kermode down.
Kermode takes a jab right on the kisser.

Kermode pushes Barksdale up against the cage in a clinch.
Barksdale avoiding damage as Kermode throws knees to the body.
Kermode avoids a wild elbow strike from Barksdale.
Barksdale pushes Kermode back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kermode.
Barksdale throws an elbow that misses.
Kermode scores with a shot to the side of Barksdale's head.
Kermode lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Barksdale backwards.
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!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Barksdale creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kermode fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kermode doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Barksdale fails to land.
Kermode blocks an uppercut.
Kermode utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Still in the clinch, Barksdale scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kermode landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Barksdale goes for a takedown attempt but Kermode pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kermode uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barksdale.
Kermode connects with a leg kick. Barksdale looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kermode checks the leg kick nicely there.
Barksdale feints and then cracks Kermode's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kermode down.
A swing and a miss from Kermode.
Kermode listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kermode on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Barksdale throws a hook to the side of Kermode's head but Kermode sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barksdale misses with an uppercut. Kermode saw that one coming.
Kermode bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Barksdale clinches.
Barksdale takes an elbow to the temple.
Kermode throws a punch but it's blocked by Barksdale.
Barksdale tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kermode's elbow.
Barksdale wants to take the fight to the mat but Kermode manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale throws a head punch that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Barksdale escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good leg kick by Kermode there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Barksdale - that will leave a mark!
Kermode connects with a right hand. Barksdale shakes it off.
Barksdale checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Kermode rushes Barksdale and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barksdale misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barksdale struggles to land a body shot inside as Kermode controls his hands.
Kermode misses with a knee strike.
Barksdale lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kermode backwards.
Barksdale misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice left hand lands by Barksdale.
Kermode throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barksdale blocks it with crossed arms.
Kermode doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Barksdale blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kermode on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barksdale is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kermode is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kermode tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Barksdale lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Barksdale tries to stall but Kermode uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Barksdale blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kermode takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Mayo Kermode has been cut.
Kermode avoids the elbow strike from Barksdale, against the cage.
Barksdale scores with a shot to the side of Kermode's head.
Barksdale tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Barksdale scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kermode tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Barksdale blocks an uppercut.
Barksdale blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barksdale.
A short uppercut from Barksdale.
Barksdale tries a body shot but Kermode blocks it.
Barksdale lands a shoulder strike.
Barksdale tries to stall but Kermode uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kermode blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale blocking some punches.
Kermode blocks an uppercut.
Kermode gets through Barksdale's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kermode tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Barksdale avoids it.
Barksdale tries to land knees in the clinch but Kermode avoids the damage to the body.
Barksdale misses with a punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Barksdale.
Kermode tries to land knees in the clinch but Barksdale avoids the damage to the body.
Kermode throws a punch but it's blocked by Barksdale.
Barksdale blocks an uppercut.
Barksdale makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right from Barksdale.
Barksdale misses with a punch to the body.
Barksdale pushes Kermode 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!
Kermode landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Barksdale throws a punch but it's blocked by Kermode.
Kermode tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kermode scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jermaine Barksdale will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mayo Kermode's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kermode fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barksdale manages to avoid it.
Barksdale is looking to score with low kicks.
Kermode feints and then cracks Barksdale's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Barksdale down.
Barksdale ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kermode misses with a hook.
Kermode has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barksdale.
Kermode throws a leg kick
and Barksdale counters with a slapping leg kick.
Barksdale lands a nice hook to Kermode's body. Kermode takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kermode lands the left hand.
Kermode fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barksdale slips a jab and a cross from Kermode.
Kermode moves out of range as Barksdale strikes.

Kermode clinches.
Barksdale with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kermode lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kermode blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kermode lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Barksdale fails to land.
Kermode landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Barksdale is breathing heavily.
Kermode scores with a knee to the head.
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!
Barksdale is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kermode fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kermode trying to land knees to the body.
Barksdale lands a shoulder strike.
Barksdale lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kermode backwards.
Kermode pushes Barksdale back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kermode is working Barksdale over against the cage.
Barksdale throws a head punch that misses.
Kermode lands a hook that snaps the head of Barksdale backwards.
Kermode lands a good knee to the midsection. Barksdale won't want to take too many of those.
Barksdale trying to control the position but instead, Kermode has worked for underhooks and has pushed Barksdale into the cage.
Kermode lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kermode's elbow.
Barksdale misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mayo Kermode has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Barksdale throws a head punch that misses.
Kermode misses with a punch to the body.
Barksdale misses with some punches.
Kermode lands with a left to the head.
Barksdale doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Barksdale fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kermode misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kermode misses with some punches.
Barksdale misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kermode lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barksdale backwards.
Kermode throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Barksdales head.
Kermode has a couple of punches blocked by Barksdale.
Barksdale is looking to control Kermode's arms but Kermode gets an underhook and turns him. Now Barksdale has his back to the cage.
Barksdale on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kermode misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kermode tries a knee to the head but Barksdale blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kermode is fighting off a takedown attempt but Barksdale is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Kermode to the mat. Kermode regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Barksdale throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kermode works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barksdale wants to pass the guard but Kermode is keeping the position.
Barksdale throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barksdale with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barksdale loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barksdale accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barksdale lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Barksdale trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barksdale trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale throwing strikes from guard but Kermode blocks nicely.
Barksdale landing some decent shots from guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barksdale working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Barksdale landing some decent shots from guard.
Barksdale postures up in Kermode's guard and throws a big left but Kermode blocks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barksdale trying to control the position from guard on top but Kermode is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barksdale throwing strikes but missing.
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 Mayo Kermode will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mayo Kermode's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kermode walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Barksdale is looking to land body kicks.
A big left from Kermode misses.
Kermode looks to land a left hand but Barksdale moved out of range nicely.
Kermode uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barksdale.
Barksdale lands a glancing blow to the side of Kermode's head.
Barksdale is looking to land body kicks.
Barksdale throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kermode tries to clinch but Barksdale moves out of range.
Barksdale scores with a shot to the body.
Kermode steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barksdale.
Barksdale misses with a wild body shot.
Kermode throws a series of strikes that have Barksdale backpedaling.
Barksdale moves out of range as Kermode strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale with a hook.
Mayo Kermode is winning the standup battle so far.

Barksdale shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kermode is refusing to be controlled, as Barksdale sits in half guard.
Kermode manages to get to full guard.
Barksdale in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barksdale postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Barksdale working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Barksdale missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barksdale is working Kermode over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barksdale wants to control from the top but Kermode keeps moving.
Barksdale postures up and lands a big shot to Kermode's brow.
Barksdale is looking to work some ground and pound but Kermode has wrist control.
Barksdale scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kermode looking to control.
Kermode keeping moving, preventing Barksdale from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kermode is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barksdale with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Barksdale pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kermode is keeping the position for now.
Barksdale trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kermode wants to sweep here but Barksdale controlling him for the moment.
Kermode is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barksdale accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barksdale throws a strike but Kermode rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Barksdale is pulling down on Kermode's head to control his posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barksdale lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kermode!
Barksdale unloads with some shots from mount but Kermode bucks and avoids them well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jermaine Barksdale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barksdale has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jermaine Barksdale!
An out of breath Jermaine Barksdale thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.