PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gunnar Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phillip Barron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barron comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Dizzee Rascal - Bonkers kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Owens
vs
Barron

188 cm
21
170 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
185 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gunnar Owens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Phillip Barron!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barron misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Owens.
Owens slips a jab from Barron.
Barron waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Owens.
Barron lands a slapping body shot.
Owens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barron but Barron pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice defenses there by Owens.
Barron misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Barron misses the target.
Owens slips a straight right by Barron.
Barron misses the shot to the body.
Owens shoots for a double leg takedown but Barron sprawls well. He's pushed Owens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Barron missing with a left hand there. Owens was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Owens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barron as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gunnar Owens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Owens closes the distance and clinches up with Barron, looking for a takedown. Owens pushes Barron against the cage but Barron circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barron throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barron is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Owens lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Barron backs up against the cage.
Barron looks to score with a jab to the body but Owens is just out of range.
Owens lands with a slapping head kick.
Owens has a takedown stuffed.
Barron misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barron misses with a body shot.
Owens throws a head kick that half lands.
Owens misses with a body kick.
Owens looks for a takedown but Barron sprawls well.
Owens feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Barron's calf.
Barron swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Phillip Barron seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barron loads up on a big right hand but Owens slips the punch.
Owens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Owens staying out of range there.
Barron lands a lovely overhand right.

Barron fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Owens sprawls well initially but Barron persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Barron looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Owens wants to improve his position but Barron is controlling well.
Barron sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Owens defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barron tries to pass the half guard into mount. Owens knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Owens regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Barron.
Barron looks gassed!
Owens looking to control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Barron trying to control the position from guard on top but Owens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Owens working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barron doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barron manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Barron is pushing down on Owens's leg trying to pass to half guard. Owens is fighting to maintain full guard but Barron has managed to sneak the leg through.
Owens is looking to control Barron's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Owens avoid being mounted?
Owens wants to get back to full guard.
Barron looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barron perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Owens on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Barron passes to full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Owens is in a horrible position here. Barron smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Barron lands with some strikes.
Barron tries to control but Owens wriggling away.
Barron punishing his opponent with strikes.
Owens regains half guard.
Barron is looking to stall here but Owens recovers full guard.
Barron throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Owens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barron can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barron trying to control but Owens is working from the bottom.
Barron pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Owens is keeping the position for now.

Owens working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barron doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barron manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Barron tries to free his leg and advance position but Owens is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barron slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Owens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A nice combination there by Owens.
A combination from Owens does no damage.
Barron fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Owens shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Barron's guard.
Owens stands and throws Barron's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Barron prevents Owens from moving into mount.
Barron sneaks back into half guard.
Barron punching from the bottom.
Barron moves into full guard.
Barron is trying to keep Owens in close.
Barron is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barron tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barron is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Barron keeping moving, preventing Owens from controlling successfully.
Owens sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Barron's guard.

Owens is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Barron tries to get to full guard but Owens has control of the leg.
Owens not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barron is looking to improve his position.
Barron moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Barron not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Owens thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Owens trying to control the position from guard on top but Barron is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barron is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barron misses the shot to the body.
Owens tries for a takedown but Barron circles away easily
and Barron counters with a nice body shot.
Owens displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barron throws out the jab.
Barron just misses with a punch to the body.
Owens misses with a takedown attempt
and Barron counters with a nice uppercut.
Barron shoots in and drives through. Owens sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens misses with a takedown
and Barron counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gunnar Owens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Owens shoots for a double leg takedown but Barron sprawls well. He's pushed Owens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Owens moves out of range as Barron strikes.
Barron throws a jab but it's blocked by Owens.
Owens slips under a jab.
Owens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barron is fending him off so far but Owens persists. Nope, Barron circles away and we're back to standing.
Barron misses with an uppercut. Owens saw that one coming.
Owens thuds his shin into the meat of Barron's side.

Owens shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Owens showed some decent athleticism there.

Owens wants to work for an arm triangle but Barron is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Owens blocks the strikes from Barron.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barron punching from the bottom.
Barron slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Barron is looking to stand up but Owens isn't so interested in that idea.
Barron throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Owens won't allow Barron to sweep him here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A nice combination there by Owens.
Barron stuffs the takedown attempt from Owens. Owens gets slowly back to his feet.
Owens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barron pinned against the cage. Barron gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Barron missing with a left hand there. Owens was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunnar Owens dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Owens throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Barron throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A big left from Barron misses.
Owens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barron.
Owens avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barron takes a swing at Owens's ribcage but misses.
Owens changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barron tries to avoid it but Owens manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barron to the ground. Barron escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Owens fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barron.
Barron misses with a hook. Owens ducked under it nicely.

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

Owens looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Barron manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barron seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Barron takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Barron looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Owens with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barron prevents Owens from improving his position.
Owens is trying to maintain the position but Barron is very close to passing his half guard.
Barron seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Owens does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Owens looking for submissions off his back.
Barron is trying to control the action in half guard but Owens is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Owens looks for a takedown but Barron sprawls well.
Owens defending well as Barron loads up on a big left hand.
Barron thuds a left hand into Owens's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Barron tries for a takedown but Owens sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Owens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barron waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Owens.
Owens buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Owens shoots in and drives through. Barron sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gunnar Owens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barron has his takedown stuffed

and Owens counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Barron is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Owens's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Owens's back!
Owens tries to break free.
Owens tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Barron pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Barron avoids the attempt from Owens to control.
Owens regains half guard.
Barron scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barron is trying to control the action in half guard but Owens is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barron is stalling here. Owens is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Barron seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Owens has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Owens is looking to take a break and control but Barron is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Owens has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Barron is wriggling around trying to escape.

Owens is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Barron can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Owens misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Barron is trying desperately to improve position.

Barron defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Owens.
Barron keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Barron bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Barron working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Barron must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Barron has gone for a leg lock! Owens slips out almost immediately though and dives into Barron's guard.
Barron trying to strike off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gunnar Owens showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Owens 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gunnar Owens!