PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benji Bonanno (ranked 2873 p4p, 2428 weight class) and Derrick Barkley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bonanno
vs
Barkley

178 cm
23
175
3 - 0 - 0

189 cm
28
186
8 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Conquer
Conviction

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Benji Bonanno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derrick Barkley!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bonanno looking to score a takedown here. Barkley is defending well but Bonanno drives through and ends up in Barkley's guard.
Barkley wants to get back to his feet but Bonanno passes into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Bonanno prevents Barkley from standing back up.
Ground and pound from Bonanno.

Bonanno is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Barkley really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bonanno. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bonanno lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Bonanno is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Barkley has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bonanno looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Barkley with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Barkley wants to get back to his feet.

Bonanno is trying to work for a kimura but Barkley is defending well.
Barkley pushes Bonanno off looking to stand but Bonanno dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonanno seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Barkley wants to get back to his feet.

Bonanno is working for a kimura but Barkley is defending it quite comfortably.
Bonanno is looking to take a break and control but Barkley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bonanno 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.
Barkley wants to get back to his feet.
Bonanno trying to control the pace.
Bonanno lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bonanno stops Barkley from getting back to his feet.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bonanno lands a nice short elbow.

Bonanno is working for a kimura but Barkley is defending it quite comfortably.
Ground and pound from Bonanno.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonanno is trying to control. Barkley wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bonanno working the head and body with strikes.
Barkley is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bonanno scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bonanno is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Bonanno stops Barkley from getting back to his feet.

Bonanno is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Barkley wants to get back to his feet.
Bonanno slips a nice elbow through Barkley's hands, connecting with Barkley's forehead.
Bonanno drops an elbow to the side of Barkley's head.
Barkley wants to get back to his feet.
Bonanno content to control rather than advance.
Barkley is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonanno working the head and body with strikes.

Bonanno seems to be looking for submissions.
Barkley is not content to let Bonanno control the position.
Barkley looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bonanno working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Barkley is trying to stand.

Bonanno is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Barkley sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bonanno is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bonanno seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bonanno scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Bonanno is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Bonanno.
Barkley is trying to stand back up but Bonanno is controlling him
Bonanno takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bonanno is nestled in close to Barkley, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Bonanno 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.

Bonanno is working for a kimura but Barkley is defending it quite comfortably.
Bonanno is nestled in close to Barkley, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Bonanno takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Benji Bonanno dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bonanno shoots in and gets a takedown into Barkley's guard.
Barkley wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Bonanno manages to pass to side control.

Bonanno seems to be looking for submissions.
Bonanno is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bonanno wants to control but Barkley is keeping him busy.

Bonanno is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barkley is just riding it out for now. Bonanno eventually gives up the hold.
Bonanno trying to control the action but Barkley is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bonanno is looking for a kimura but Barkley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bonanno to get the leverage.
Benji Bonanno overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bonanno trying to control from half guard but Barkley is working away.
Barkley is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bonanno scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley tries to kick Bonanno off but Bonanno keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bonanno working Barkley over with strikes.
Bonanno lands with a punch from half guard.

Bonanno is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bonanno lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bonanno trying to control from half guard but Barkley is working away.
Barkley is trying to stand.
Bonanno controlling the action here.
Bonanno working over Barkley with some ground and pound. Barkley looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Barkley is trying to stand.
Bonanno stalling.
Ground and pound from Bonanno.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barkley wants to get back to his feet.
Barkley is trying to escape back to his feet but Bonanno uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Bonanno is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Barkley knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bonanno scores with punches from side control.
Bonanno wants to control but Barkley is keeping him busy.

Bonanno tries for a kimura but Barkley is defending well.
Barkley bucks up and tries to throw Bonanno off but instead Bonanno has got his back!
Barkley trying to get back to his feet but Bonanno is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is taking a good look at Barkley as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Bonanno!
Barkley is covering up but some of the strikes from Bonanno are getting through and doing damage.

Barkley defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Bonanno's arms.
Barkley is trying to stand back up.

Barkley won't enjoy being in this position. Bonanno looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Barkley is tapping - it's over boys! Bonanno picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Benji Bonanno!
Benji Bonanno decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.