PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dmitri Povetkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nykeem Barton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dmitri Povetkin has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Povetkin
vs
Barton

201 cm
28
201 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Dead Orbit (Laundry out of stock)

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitri Povetkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nykeem Barton!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Povetkin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Povetkin wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Barton wants to clinch up but Povetkin keeps it at a distance.
Povetkin fails with a takedown attempt.
Barton is looking to clinch but Povetkin is avoiding it.
Povetkin shoots in but Barton avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Povetkin shoots in for a takedown but Barton shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dmitri Povetkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Barton fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Povetkin sprawls well initially but Barton persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barton trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Povetkin is trying to stand up here but Barton is controlling him well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Barton lands a nice short elbow.
Povetkin wants to get back to his feet.
Barton sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Povetkin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Barton sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Barton slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Barton lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Povetkin down.
Barton working the ground and pound.
Povetkin trying to remain calm as Barton controls from the top position.
Povetkin is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Barton's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Povetkin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barton is pressing down on Povetkin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Povetkin is holding on for now.
Barton takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Povetkin wants to get back to full guard.
Barton lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Povetkin tries to get to full guard but Barton has control of the leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Povetkin works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Barton content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Barton throws a big elbow that misses.
Barton 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Povetkin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Povetkin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Povetkin is trying to get an arm triangle but Barton is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barton is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Povetkin rushes Barton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Barton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Povetkin manages to break the clinch.

Barton dives in and scores a takedown into Povetkin's guard.
Povetkin is trying to keep Barton in close.
Povetkin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Povetkin is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Barton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barton prevents Povetkin from getting back to his feet.

Barton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nykeem Barton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barton is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Barton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Barton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barton landing with the ground and pound.
Barton stands up over Povetkin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Barton slips nicely into half guard.
Barton winds up and cracks Povetkin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barton scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Povetkin wants to control but Barton is keeping busy.
Barton is taking a breather. Povetkin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Barton connects with a nice short shot to Povetkin's temple.
Povetkin is looking to control Barton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Povetkin avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Barton content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Povetkin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barton.
Barton is pressing down on Povetkin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Povetkin is holding on for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Povetkin keeps the fight on the outside.
Povetkin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Povetkin tries to clinch up.

Barton drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nykeem Barton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Povetkin goes for a double leg but Barton avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barton continues to drive forward.
Povetkin dives in for a single leg takedown but Barton sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Barton throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Povetkin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Barton is in Povetkin's guard.
Povetkin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barton controls from within his opponent's guard.
Barton tries to free his leg and advance position but Povetkin is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Povetkin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Barton slips nicely into half guard.
Povetkin is trying to stand back up but Barton is controlling him
Povetkin wants to control but Barton is keeping busy.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Povetkin keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Povetkin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dmitri Povetkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Barton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Barton controls the position.

Barton goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Povetkin rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Barton's guard! Nice work there by Povetkin!
Povetkin wants to control from the top but Barton keeps moving.
Barton wants to get back to his feet but Povetkin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barton keeping moving, preventing Povetkin from controlling successfully.
Povetkin stops Barton from standing up.
Barton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Povetkin is one step ahead there.
Povetkin trying to control but Barton is working from the bottom.
Povetkin wanted to stand there but Barton had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Barton has an active guard here but Povetkin has managed to pass into half guard.
Barton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barton wants to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Povetkin seems content to control.
Barton wants to control but Povetkin is keeping busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Povetkin wants to stand up but Barton has a hold of him and won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nykeem Barton.
I've got Barton winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nykeem Barton!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Nykeem Barton made sure he mentioned Dead Orbit (Laundry out of stock), along with how happy he was to win his fight.