PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marlin McCann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannabil Barka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCann's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Highway to Hell (AC/DC). The key to victory for Marlin McCann has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

McCann
vs
Barka

167 cm
25
149 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

182 cm
20
150 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Marlin McCann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Hannabil Barka!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barka lands a head shot.
McCann looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Barka tries for a takedown but McCann circles away easily

and McCann counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Barka tries for a takedown but McCann manages to get underhooks.
McCann stops a takedown attempt from Barka.
Marlin McCann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hannabil Barka.
McCann wants to stall.
McCann has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Barka is trying to work for a single leg takedown but McCann pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barka looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

McCann breaks the clinch.
Barka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McCann as he avoids it easily.
Barka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McCann as he jumps to the side.
Barka gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McCann.
Barka shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McCann defends it nicely.
Barka leaves McCann with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Barka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Barka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCann swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barka sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCann keeping moving, preventing Barka from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hannabil Barka was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Barka closes the distance and clinches up with McCann, looking for a takedown. Barka pushes McCann against the cage but McCann circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McCann sprawls well. McCann wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barka gets slowly back to his feet.
Hannabil Barka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and McCann connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Left hook, right uppercut from Barka.
McCann stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McCann wants it to stay on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barka is defended easily by McCann.
McCann tries to clinch but Barka moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barka shoots in for a double leg but McCann sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McCann closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barka circles away.

McCann gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Barka is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Barka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barka trying to control but McCann is working from the bottom.
Barka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannabil Barka 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.

Barka closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into McCann's guard.
Barka's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Barka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barka trying to control the position from guard on top but McCann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCann might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Barka wants to pass the guard but McCann is keeping the position.
Barka trying to control but McCann is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hannabil Barka was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nice sprawl there from McCann as Barka shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCann misses with a straight left.
Barka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McCann avoids it really well and circles away.
Barka has a takedown stuffed.
Marlin McCann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hannabil Barka.
Barka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McCann as he avoids it easily.

Barka closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into McCann's guard.
Barka throws a strike but McCann rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barka wants to stand but McCann is controlling the position.

Barka uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Barka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barka fails to land the takedown.

Barka scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Barka wants to take a breather but McCann manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Barka.
Barka is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Let's hope that Barka has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Hannabil Barka has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barka trying to control the position from guard on top but McCann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hannabil Barka hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Barka closes this distance looking for a takedown but McCann circles away.
Barka dives in and grabs McCann's left leg, looking for a takedown. McCann pushes down on Barka's head and hops out.

Barka throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. McCann was covering up waiting for the punch and Barka finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barka's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCann keeping moving, preventing Barka from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannabil Barka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

McCann wants to clinch
and Barka counters with a nice uppercut.

Barka feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Barka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Barka trying to control but McCann is working from the bottom.
Barka slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
McCann utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barka is stalling in the full guard.
Barka trying to control but McCann is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hannabil Barka hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Barka fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Barka drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barka throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McCann works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCann swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barka trying to control but McCann is working from the bottom.
Barka postures up in McCann's guard and throws a big left but McCann blocks it.
McCann keeping moving, preventing Barka from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Barka engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Hannabil Barka has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Barka shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Barka showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barka missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Barka sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hannabil Barka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Barka trying to control from McCann's half guard. McCann has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barka trying to control but McCann is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hannabil Barka hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Barka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McCann swivels and escapes.
Horrible takedown by Barka or perhaps it was just good defense by McCann which made him look bad.
Marlin McCann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hannabil Barka.

Barka changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. McCann looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Marlin McCann has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barka remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hannabil Barka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barka 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hannabil Barka!