PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dongs McCracken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Antonio Barrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marco Antonio Barrera has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McCracken
vs
Antonio Barrera

173 cm
22
137 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dongs McCracken!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marco Antonio Barrera!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barrera throws a right and a left that McCracken avoids nicely.
Barrera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

McCracken clinches.
McCracken is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Barrera pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nice body punch from McCracken.

McCracken manages to break the clinch.
Barrera rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McCracken moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McCracken.
McCracken closes the distance and clinches up with Barrera, looking for a takedown. McCracken pushes Barrera against the cage but Barrera circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dongs McCracken. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barrera darts in trying to clinch

and McCracken counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McCracken.

McCracken breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barrera with a hook.
A combination from Barrera does no damage.
Barrera throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Barrera tests McCracken's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McCracken throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barrera's waist but Barrera gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McCracken off to one side.
Barrera throws a series of punches but McCracken moves out of range.

McCracken decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Barrera is trying to stand up here but McCracken is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCracken moves into full mount! Barrera won't be happy about that!
Barrera in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
McCracken working the ground and pound effectively.
McCracken scores with a couple of good head shots there.
McCracken looking to control but Barrera is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCracken postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Barrera looks a forlorn figure.
Barrera is working to get back to half guard.
Barrera is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
McCracken lands a heavy elbow.
McCracken looking to finish Barrera with some ground and pound. This is bad for Barrera!
McCracken trying to control but Barrera is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrera's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Barrera looks gassed!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCracken unloading with bombs!
Barrera is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Barrera wants to get back to his feet.
McCracken controlling his opponent.
McCracken's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Barrera is squirming around, avoiding McCracken's attempts to control the action.
McCracken controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Barrera really doesn't like being in this position too much.
McCracken with the ground and pound from mount.

McCracken is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Barrera has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Barrera is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
McCracken postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Barrera looks a forlorn figure.
Barrera tries to buck McCracken off but he can't manage it.
Barrera swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Barrera is trying to stand up.
Barrera keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Barrera is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Barrera keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
McCracken landing strikes from the mount and Barrera is in trouble!
Barrera is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
McCracken looking to control and managing it successfully.
McCracken lands with some strikes.
Barrera is trying to stand up.
Barrera regains half guard.
McCracken working over Barrera with some ground and pound. Barrera looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCracken prevents Barrera from standing back up.
McCracken landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dongs McCracken dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nice jab there from Barrera.
McCracken fails to land the takedown.
McCracken fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Barrera throws a nice looking combination but McCracken bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marco Antonio Barrera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCracken moves in looking to clinch but Barrera pushes him off.
McCracken shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barrera pinned against the cage. Barrera gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dongs McCracken. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCracken throws a left and a right that both miss
and Barrera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McCracken tries for a takedown but Barrera sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
McCracken takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

McCracken closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McCracken lands in his opponent's guard.
McCracken scoring with some ground and pound.
McCracken slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Barrera is breathing heavily.

McCracken stands up and beckons Barrera to his feet.

McCracken changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Barrera looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
McCracken is putting a hurting on Barrera here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrera taking a bit of punishment here - McCracken scoring with strikes.
Barrera is trying to get back to his feet.
Dongs McCracken overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McCracken trying to control the action but Barrera is working from the bottom.

McCracken stands up and beckons Barrera to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McCracken.
McCracken controls the position.

Barrera throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Dongs McCracken is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCracken shoots in and drives through. Barrera sprawls well.
Barrera works over McCracken's head and body with a nice combination.
A punch lands to the side of McCracken 's head but he takes it in his stride.

McCracken is rocked!
Barrera rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McCracken moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Oh McCracken is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Barrera misses with a few strikes there.
Barrera swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McCracken seems to have got his legs back now.
McCracken with a poor takedown
and Barrera counters with a low kick, right behind McCracken 's knee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCracken gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Barrera.
Barrera lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
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!
McCracken tries to clinch but Barrera moves out of range.
McCracken tries for a takedown but Barrera circles away easily
and Barrera makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
McCracken avoids a punch combination nicely.
Barrera moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
McCracken misses with a body shot.
Marco Antonio Barrera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barrera moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

McCracken closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
McCracken controlling the action here.
McCracken passes the guard and advances to mount!
Barrera taking shots to the head.
McCracken with the ground and pound from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McCracken jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Barrera is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Barrera and McCracken has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Barrera is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

McCracken decides to stand back up.
Barrera looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

McCracken moves into the clinch.
Barrera is trying to break free.
Barrera wants to break the clinch but can't.

Barrera breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McCracken fails with an attempt to clinch.

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

McCracken is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Barrera is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Barrera throws McCracken to one side and escapes!
Barrera will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

McCracken drives through and clinches with Barrera against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrera wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McCracken has him pressed against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for McCracken.
Barrera has had enough of the clinch but McCracken keeps him there for the moment.

McCracken escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barrera misses with a few strikes there.
McCracken looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barrera is fending him off so far but McCracken persists. Nope, Barrera circles away and we're back to standing.

McCracken shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, McCracken cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Barrera really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

McCracken goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Barrera is on top in guard.
Barrera wants to stand but McCracken is controlling his posture from full guard.

Barrera stands up from McCracken's guard - Barrera perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barrera falls off balance throwing a combination

and McCracken counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Barrera!
McCracken landing shots from mount.
The referee warns Barrera that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dongs McCracken dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thud! ouch! good body kick from Barrera - that will leave a mark!
Barrera works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Barrera lands a lovely overhand right.
Barrera misses with a two punch combination.
Barrera lands with a nice combination. McCracken backs away looking to recover.
A jab lands there for Barrera.
McCracken fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Barrera scores with a three punch combo!
Barrera lands with a right that hurts McCracken. McCracken looks to clinch but Barrera throws a short knee that drops McCracken. This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch and Knee). Marco Antonio Barrera!