PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Avon Barksdale (ranked 2738 p4p, 2044 weight class) and Hector Garcia (ranked 157 p4p, 122 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barksdale
vs
Garcia

165 cm
20
140
2 - 4 - 0

175 cm
21
144
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Warrior Fight Store

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Avon Barksdale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hector Garcia!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jonathan Paton and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barksdale bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Garcia is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Barksdale creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Barksdale thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Barksdale 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.
Garcia wants to control but Barksdale postures up.
Barksdale working the head and body with strikes.
Barksdale lands a few punches from side control.
Barksdale working the body and head with strikes.

Barksdale is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Garcia knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Garcia can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barksdale is working Garcia over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale working away.
Barksdale scoring with punches and elbows.
Garcia struggling a bit here.
Barksdale is putting a hurting on Garcia here, landing some big shots from side control.
Barksdale in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Garcia manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Barksdale is defending against the submission attempts here by Garcia.
Barksdale makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Barksdale.

Barksdale has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Garcia can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Garcia tries to free his leg and advance position but Barksdale is retaining full guard.

Barksdale looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Garcia has picked Barksdale up and slammed him! Barksdale can't keep hold of the triangle and Garcia manages to pass to side control!
Barksdale's coaches at Kalashnikov ELITE MMA Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Garcia wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Barksdale is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Garcia off and has taken his back!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garcia covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Garcia trying to control the position but Barksdale manages to sink in the hooks.
Garcia rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Barksdale wants to free his trapped foot but Garcia is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Barksdale works his foot free and advances to mount.
Garcia is trying to escape the mount.
Garcia takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Garcia tries to hold on but Barksdale postures up.
Garcia is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Barksdale is staying active.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale unloading with bombs!
Garcia is working to get back to half guard.
Barksdale fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Barksdale has hold of Garcia's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Garcia manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Barksdale landing shots from mount.
Barksdale scoring with strikes but Garcia is staying in there.
Barksdale raining down hammerfists from mount.
Barksdale is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garcia is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale breaks from Garcia's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barksdale scoring with strikes but Garcia is staying in there.
Barksdale connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Barksdale avoids the attempt from Garcia to control.
Garcia is looking to improve his position but Barksdale isn't that keen on the idea.
Garcia tries to hold on but Barksdale postures up.
Barksdale trying to control but Garcia is having none of it.
Garcia is in all sorts of trouble here.
Barksdale lands a nice shot to the head.
Barksdale with good strikes from the mount here!
Barksdale content just to control the position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Avon Barksdale dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Garcia. No joy for Barksdale on that attempt.
Barksdale fails to land the takedown.
A little jabbing left from Garcia on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Barksdale closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Garcia quickly recovers to half guard.
Barksdale scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Barksdale is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Garcia is just riding it out for now. Barksdale eventually gives up the hold.
Barksdale is nestled in close to Garcia, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barksdale is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Avon Barksdale overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Barksdale is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Barksdale wants to control but Garcia is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia is looking to improve his position.
Garcia has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barksdale is working away from the top position though.
Barksdale looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Garcia with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Barksdale is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Garcia doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Barksdale.
Barksdale scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barksdale looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Garcia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Garcia trying to control from the bottom.

Garcia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Barksdale is trying to work for a kimura but Garcia is defending well.
Garcia keeping hold of Barksdale's head, controlling as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Barksdale landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Garcia gets full guard.
Garcia trying to keep a closed guard but Barksdale is proving a slippery customer.
Barksdale's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Garcia trying to keep a closed guard but Barksdale is proving a slippery customer.
Barksdale is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Barksdale avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Garcia keeping moving, preventing Barksdale from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garcia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Barksdale cracks Garcia with a solid left hand.
Barksdale scoring with punches to the head and body.
Barksdale with a nice head shot there.
Garcia trying to control the position.
Barksdale scoring with some ground and pound.
Barksdale content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Barksdale avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Barksdale postures up and lands a big shot to Garcia's brow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Avon Barksdale 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!

Barksdale scores with a takedown into Garcia's guard.
Garcia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Garcia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Barksdale lands a couple of digs.

Garcia looking for a guillotine here but Barksdale defends easily.

Garcia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barksdale lands a couple of digs.

Barksdale got a little sloppy there for a moment and Garcia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barksdale has managed to get both his arms back between Garcia's legs - danger averted.
Barksdale keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Garcia's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale scoring with some ground and pound.
Barksdale stands up over Garcia, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Barksdale wants to control from the top but Garcia keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barksdale's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barksdale tries to free his leg and advance position but Garcia is retaining full guard.
Barksdale scoring with punches to the head and body.

Garcia working for a triangle but Barksdale defends it easily.
Barksdale is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Garcia can do to turn this around?
Barksdale slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Barksdale lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Barksdale keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Garcia's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Garcia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barksdale defends well.
Garcia keeping moving, preventing Barksdale from controlling successfully.
Barksdale lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Barksdale content to stall in guard here.
Garcia is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Garcia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barksdale is aware though and is defending well.
Barksdale preventing the sweep.
Barksdale lands a couple of digs.
Barksdale stands up over Garcia, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Garcia holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale scoring with punches to the head and body.

Garcia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barksdale is aware though and is defending well.
Garcia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barksdale works over Garcia with some ground and pound from guard.
Barksdale trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.
Garcia is trying to control the position but Barksdale postures up.
Barksdale is working Garcia over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hector Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barksdale wants to pass the guard but Garcia is keeping the position.
Barksdale wants to control from the top but Garcia keeps moving.

Barksdale is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Garcia is trying to keep Barksdale in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garcia working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barksdale doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barksdale manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Barksdale postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Garcia has momentary wrist control but Barksdale slips an elbow through the middle.
Barksdale scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Garcia working a defensive guard but Barksdale manages to pass into side control anyway.
You can see the frustration on Garcia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Barksdale cracks Garcia with a big right hand but Garcia just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Barksdale has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Garcia is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Barksdale yanks on the arm and Garcia is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Barksdale.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Avon Barksdale!
An out of breath Avon Barksdale thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.