PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rob Elsworth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DAngelo Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Rob Elsworth has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Elsworth
vs
Barksdale

190 cm
18
209 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

193 cm
22
216 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Elsworth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, DAngelo Barksdale!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Donald Grub and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elsworth bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rob Elsworth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barksdale showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Elsworth.
Elsworth is looking to clinch but Barksdale is avoiding it.

Barksdale drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barksdale trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Elsworth wants to stand and escape but Barksdale is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barksdale lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Barksdale scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elsworth is breathing heavily.
Barksdale missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barksdale postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barksdale is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Barksdale's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Elsworth is looking to stand up but Barksdale isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Elsworth works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Elsworth preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barksdale with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barksdale pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Elsworth is keeping the position for now.
Barksdale trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Barksdale darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Barksdale wants to work for an arm triangle but Elsworth is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Still in half guard, Barksdale seems content to control.
Barksdale throwing shots but Elsworth is blocking nicely.
Barksdale has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Barksdale perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Elsworth won't allow Barksdale to pass to mount.
Elsworth is refusing to be controlled, as Barksdale sits in half guard.
Barksdale missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Still in half guard, Barksdale seems content to control.
Barksdale thows a huge punch but Elsworth dodges it nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Barksdale misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Elsworth scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Elsworth chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Elsworth moves into the clinch.

Elsworth breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barksdale has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elsworth tries to clinch but Barksdale moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Elsworth misses with a knee to the head.
Elsworth comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Elsworth trying to land knees to the body.
Elsworth wants to break the clinch but can't.
Barksdale wants to stall.
Elsworth tries to land a knee to the head but Barksdale blocks with his arms.
Barksdale tries for a takedown. No joy.

Elsworth breaks the clinch.
Barksdale has a takedown stuffed.
Elsworth throws a sloppy head kick and Barksdale moves out of range easily.
Elsworth displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barksdale throws out the jab.

Barksdale closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Barksdale throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Barksdale.
Barksdale scoring with punches from side control.
Barksdale misses with the ground and pound.
Barksdale works to advance to full mount. Elsworth defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Barksdale tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Barksdale looking to finish with strikes here!
Barksdale sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Barksdale unloads with some shots from mount but Elsworth bucks and avoids them well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barksdale trying to control but Elsworth is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DAngelo Barksdale dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Barksdale throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Barksdale thows a left - swing and a miss!
Elsworth tries to clinch up but Barksdale circles away and keeps his distance.
Elsworth fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barksdale manages to avoid it.
Elsworth throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Elsworth blocks a head kick by Barksdale.
Barksdale tries a head kick but it misses.
Barksdale digs a good body shot into Elsworth's ribs.
Barksdale lands a jab to Elsworth's midsection.
Barksdale misses with an uppercut. Elsworth saw that one coming.

Barksdale fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Elsworth sprawls well initially but Barksdale persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Elsworth looks like he's trying to stand up.
Barksdale not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barksdale sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Elsworth defending well though.
Barksdale trying to control the action but Elsworth is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elsworth is looking to get back to is feet but Barksdale passes into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Barksdale tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Elsworth knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barksdale on the ground.
Barksdale tries to score with some ground and pound. Elsworth controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Elsworth is trying to get back to his feet.
Elsworth stops Barksdale from passing to mount.
Barksdale misses with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale wants to lay and pray for a moment but Elsworth keeps working.
Elsworth tries to escape but Barksdale is in control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Barksdale blocks a head kick by Elsworth.
Barksdale moves in looking to clinch but Elsworth pushes him off.
Elsworth tries to clinch there but Barksdale circles away.
Elsworth moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Elsworth lands a nice looking body shot.
Rob Elsworth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barksdale pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Elsworth misses the shot to the body.
Elsworth connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elsworth doesn't manage to clinch there - Barksdale circles away.

Elsworth closes the distance and clinches.
Elsworth gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Elsworth is leaning against Barksdale and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Barksdale wants a takedown.
Elsworth lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Elsworth is looking to break free of the clinch but Barksdale has double underhooks.
Barksdale goes for a takedown attempt but Elsworth pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Elsworth closes the distance looking to clinch

and Barksdale counters with a shoot takedown. Elsworth fights it but they end up in guard.
Barksdale postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barksdale is looking to work some ground and pound but Elsworth has wrist control.
Barksdale pushes down on Elsworth's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Elsworth looks like he's trying to stand up.
Barksdale throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale works his way into side control.
Barksdale is looking to take a break and control but Elsworth is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barksdale throws a strike aimed at the side of Elsworth's head but Elsworth avoids it well.
Barksdale tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Barksdale has an Americana. Elsworth didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Barksdale is delighted and gyrates infront of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Barksdale hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). DAngelo Barksdale!