PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between William Barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Ribera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barker kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Way of the Fist - Five Finger Death Punch. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Barker
vs
Ribera

180 cm
37
182 lbs
32 - 18 - 0

180 cm
35
165 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 32 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, William Barker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Manny Ribera!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ribera paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Barker chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Barker looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ribera is trying to control the position but Barker postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ribera holds on and takes a little breather.
We've been hearing good reports from Barker'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.
Ribera wants to sweep here but Barker controlling him for the moment.
Barker is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ribera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ribera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ribera wants to control but Barker passes easily into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barker stops Ribera from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribera is trying to maintain the position but Barker is very close to passing his half guard.
Ribera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ribera is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Barker lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barker is looking to take a break and control but Ribera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barker is looking to stall here but Ribera recovers full guard.
Ribera has control of Barker's left arm, preventing Barker from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribera wants to sweep but no luck.
Barker trying to control the position from guard on top but Ribera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ribera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ribera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barker trying to control the position from guard on top but Ribera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barker throwing strikes from guard but Ribera blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker slips nicely into half guard.
Ribera is refusing to be controlled, as Barker sits in half guard.
Ribera wants to improve his position but Barker is controlling well.
Ribera is concentrating on defense, preventing Barker from advancing position.
Barker not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ribera wants to control but Barker is keeping busy.
Ribera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ribera makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ribera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker wants to control from the top but Ribera keeps moving.
Barker scoring with some ground and pound.
Barker looking to pass the guard.
Barker lands a couple of digs.
Barker stopping the sweep attempt from Ribera.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barker's corner is telling him to maintain position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ribera working a defensive guard here.
Ribera tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Barker dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Barker looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ribera is fending him off so far but Barker persists. Nope, Ribera circles away and we're back to standing.
Ribera swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ribera throws a shot to the body.
Barker connects with a solid leg kick.
Ribera tries to clinch up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ribera.

It looks like William Barker has been cut.
Ribera avoids a kick to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ribera.
William Barker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ribera drives through and clinches with Barker against the cage.
Barker is looking for a takedown.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Barker throws an elbow that misses.
Ribera misses with some punches.
Ribera is trying to maintain a safe position but Barker gets an underhook and turns Ribera into the cage.

Barker drags the fight down to the ground.
Barker lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ribera!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribera is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ribera holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Barker tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Barker throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ribera because Barker loaded up on that one.
William Barker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Barker looking to secure an arm triangle but Ribera defends it well.
Ribera tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Barker punching from mount but Ribera doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Ribera has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Barker lands with some strikes.
Barker with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barker is stalling here but it's allowed Ribera to get half guard.
Ribera has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barker is working away from the top position though.
Ribera won't allow Barker to pass to mount.
Ribera wants to control but Barker is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ribera wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribera keeps trying to improve his position.
Barker wants to pass the guard but Ribera is defending well.
Barker 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.
Ribera wants to control but Barker is keeping busy.
Barker throwing shots but Ribera is blocking nicely.
Ribera pushes Barker off looking to stand but Barker dives back in and keeps control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Manny Ribera was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Barker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ribera avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Barker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ribera blocks a head kick by Barker.
Ribera clobbers Barker with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Barker takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker fails to land the takedown.
Barker fails with a takedown attempt.
Manny Ribera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ribera catches Barker with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Barker fakes the leg kick and cracks Ribera in the body.
Ribera with a nice cross.
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!
Ribera stuffs the takedown.
Ribera dodges the punch combination from Barker.
Barker throws a body punch but Ribera moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barker takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Barker gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ribera swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
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 William Barker will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on William Barker's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ribera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barker manages to avoid it.
Barker on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ribera throws a series of punches but Barker avoids them all with ease.
Barker has a takedown stuffed.
William Barker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice combination there by Ribera.
Ribera showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barker.
Barker lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Manny Ribera has been cut.
Barker takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barker is defended easily by Ribera.
Manny Ribera seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ribera lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barker misses with a body punch

and Ribera counters with a shoot takedown. Barker fights it but they end up in guard.
Ribera seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Barker throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ribera escapes and throws Barker's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Ribera wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barker keeps working.
Ribera remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Barker tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ribera wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribera trying to control the action but Barker is working from the bottom.
Barker manages to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barker wants to improve his position but Ribera is controlling well.
Barker is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ribera is figuring out what he wants to do next.
William Barker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barker looking for submissions off his back.
Ribera is looking to take a break and control but Barker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Manny Ribera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Barker is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ribera pulls his head out easily.
Ribera is looking to take a break and control but Barker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ribera's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ribera's back!
Barker is looking to control Ribera but Ribera is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Ribera trying to control the hands but Barker won't let him.
Barker struggling to keep hold of the position.
Ribera trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Barker is persistently looking for the submission but Ribera is defending it well.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Barker's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Ribera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barker 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!