PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Raval Bard (ranked 3822 p4p, 3801 weight class) and Michael Barnes (ranked 338 p4p, 336 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bard
vs
Barnes

174 cm
19
156
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
149
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raval Bard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Michael Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bard moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Barnes fails with a takedown attempt.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Barnes has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Barnes drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barnes looking to pass the guard.
Barnes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Barnes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Barnes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barnes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes passes into half guard.
Bard controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Barnes wants to control but Bard is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Barnes there.
Bard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes is just content to waste time from the top position. Bard takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Barnes is pushing down on Bard's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bard is fighting to maintain full guard but Barnes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Bard is trying to control but can't.
Bard's coaches at Marax MMA 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.
Bard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barnes.
Barnes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Barnes with the ground and pound but Bard uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Barnes lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes with a nice head shot there.
Bard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Barnes passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Barnes scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Bard to see if he's OK.

Barnes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sloppy strikes there by Barnes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The ground and pound from Barnes seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
An elbow from Barnes crashes against the mat.
Barnes taking a break here but Bard is having none of it and regains half guard.
Barnes wants to control but Bard is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes looks to land a strike but Bard avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Barnes wants to control from the top but Bard keeps moving.
Barnes looking to pass the guard.
Barnes trying to control but Bard is working from the bottom.
Barnes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barnes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bard is keeping the position for now.
Barnes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barnes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barnes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bard controlling Barnes's posture.
Barnes tries to free his leg and advance position but Bard is retaining full guard.
Barnes throwing strikes but missing.
Barnes is looking to work some ground and pound but Bard has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barnes throws a big right hand that misses.
Barnes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barnes looking to sit in guard and control but Bard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bard misses with a leg kick

and Barnes counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Bard!
You can see the frustration on Bard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Michael Barnes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bard parries the strikes from Barnes easily there. Barnes is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Bard to escape.
Barnes wants to control for a moment but Bard uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Barnes is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Barnes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Barnes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bard defending well though.
Bard is trying to maintain the position but Barnes is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barnes is working for a kimura here but Bard manages to reverse the position and he's now in Barnes's guard.
Bard trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.

Barnes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bard is aware though and is defending well.
Bard postures up.
Bard postures up and lands a big shot to Barnes's brow.
Bard throws a big elbow that misses.
Barnes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bard manages to get himself to full guard.

Bard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barnes with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bard pulls Barnes in to control the position.
Barnes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barnes looking to pass the guard.
Barnes trying to control but Bard is working from the bottom.
Barnes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Barnes looking to pass the guard.
Barnes landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bard has momentary wrist control but Barnes slips an elbow through the middle.
Barnes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Barnes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barnes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barnes is looking to work some ground and pound but Bard has wrist control.
Barnes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barnes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barnes trying to control but Bard is working from the bottom.
Barnes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barnes postures up in Bard's guard and throws a big left but Bard blocks it.
Barnes passes Bard's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Barnes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bard is trying to get back to full guard.
Barnes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barnes working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Bard's thigh. Bard counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Barnes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barnes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barnes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Barnes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bard throws a hook but Barnes avoids it easily.
Bard throws a head kick that Barnes semi-blocks.
Barnes looks to throw the jab but Bard is out of range.

Barnes closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bard's guard.
Barnes forces his way into half guard.
Barnes trying to pass the guard but Bard defending well.
Bard tries to get to full guard but Barnes has control of the leg.
Barnes thows a huge punch but Bard dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Barnes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Barnes.

Barnes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bard defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a head shot. Bard uses the momentum to regain guard.
Barnes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bard is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Barnes lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Bard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes is pushing down on Bard's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bard is fighting to maintain full guard but Barnes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Barnes throwing shots but Bard is blocking nicely.

Barnes is looking for a kimura but Bard is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Barnes to get the leverage.
Barnes tries to pass to full mount but Bard defends it.
Bard gets back to full guard.
Barnes pushes down on Bard's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barnes is trying to control the action in half guard but Bard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bard won't allow Barnes to pass to mount.
Bard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barnes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barnes's back!
Bard is landing with strikes. Barnes can't take much more of this.
Barnes trying to control the action but Bard just sinks the hooks in.
I really don't envy Barnes right now.
Barnes trying to control but not successfully.
Barnes tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The referee warns Barnes that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Raval Bard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to lock up and control but Bard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Barnes sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Bard trying to control from Barnes's half guard. Barnes has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Bard postures up in Barnes's guard and throws a big left but Barnes blocks it.

Barnes looking for a guillotine here but Bard defends easily.
Bard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Barnes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bard's guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barnes wants to control from the top but Bard keeps moving.
Barnes looking to sit in guard and control but Bard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Barnes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barnes 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Barnes!
A victorious Michael Barnes thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.