PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleks Kuznetsov (ranked 2498 p4p, 1407 weight class) and Abraham Barnes (ranked 328 p4p, 196 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Kuznetsov
vs
Barnes

182 cm
25
203
7 - 6 - 0

185 cm
24
210
7 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleks Kuznetsov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abraham Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuznetsov throws a low kick but Barnes avoids it.
Kuznetsov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Barnes counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Barnes working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Barnes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Barnes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kuznetsov's head.
Barnes misses with a head shot. Kuznetsov uses the momentum to regain guard.
Barnes won't allow Kuznetsov to get back to his feet.
Kuznetsov has momentary wrist control but Barnes slips an elbow through the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuznetsov wants to stand and escape but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes throws a strike but Kuznetsov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Barnes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Barnes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kuznetsov's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes distracts Kuznetsov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kuznetsov is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Doom's Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Barnes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barnes trying to control but Kuznetsov is working from the bottom.
Barnes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kuznetsov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barnes stays in close to Kuznetsov's body and controls the position.
Kuznetsov has momentary wrist control but Barnes slips an elbow through the middle.
Barnes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Barnes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuznetsov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes pushes down on Kuznetsov's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes lands strikes from half guard.
Barnes moves into full mount! Kuznetsov won't be happy about that!
Kuznetsov is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Barnes scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Barnes lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Kuznetsov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuznetsov keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barnes is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Kuznetsov manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Barnes keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Kuznetsov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kuznetsov throws a hook to the side of Barnes's head but Barnes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Kuznetsov.
And Barnes tries to counter it with a takedown but Kuznetsov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Barnes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Kuznetsov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuznetsov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kuznetsov throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
Kuznetsov throws an off balance right hand

and Barnes counters with a single leg into guard. Kuznetsov didn't expect that.
Kuznetsov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barnes is controlling him.
Barnes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kuznetsov's head.
Kuznetsov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuznetsov wants to stand up but Barnes is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov prevents Barnes from improving his position.
Kuznetsov seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Barnes wants to get back to full guard.
It looks like Kuznetsov is going to stand back up.

Barnes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barnes gets full guard.
Kuznetsov wants to stand and escape but instead Barnes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

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

Abraham Barnes dominated that round.
That's time! Kuznetsov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kuznetsov works the jab nicely.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.
Kuznetsov sizes up Barnes with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kuznetsov misses with a hook. Barnes ducked under it nicely.
Kuznetsov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Barnes drops his hands momentarily and Kuznetsov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kuznetsov throws a front kick aimed at Barnes's knee but Barnes avoids it well.
Barnes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kuznetsov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kuznetsov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barnes tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuznetsov lands a jab to the head.
Kuznetsov loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.
Kuznetsov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Barnes on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuznetsov throws a looping overhand right but Barnes ducks down to avoid it.
Barnes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznetsov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kuznetsov fails to land with a series of punches.
Barnes feints the counter takedown.
Kuznetsov misses with a right hand

and Barnes counters with a single leg into guard. Kuznetsov didn't expect that.

Kuznetsov has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Barnes has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Kuznetsov works on Barnes's body with a couple of short punches.

Kuznetsov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kuznetsov scores with a nice head shot.
Kuznetsov throws a jab when Barnes was well out of range.
Kuznetsov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes slips a jab from Kuznetsov.
Barnes goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Barnes throws a low kick but Kuznetsov avoids it.
Barnes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kuznetsov to score with a decent uppercut.

Kuznetsov has Barnes up against the cage in a clinch.

Kuznetsov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A big right from Kuznetsov misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Kuznetsov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kuznetsov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Aleks Kuznetsov is winning the standup battle so far.
Kuznetsov lands with a straight right. Barnes didn't see that one coming.
Kuznetsov walks into a stiff left hand from Barnes.
Kuznetsov throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
A slow jab from Kuznetsov misses its intended target.
Barnes misses with an uppercut. Kuznetsov saw that one coming.
Kuznetsov throws a quick counter head kick but Barnes was just out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Kuznetsov misses the target.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kuznetsov manages to avoid it.
Barnes scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Barnes tries a low kick but Kuznetsov avoids it.
Barnes stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kuznetsov misses with a hook.
And Barnes tries to counter it with a takedown but Kuznetsov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Kuznetsov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kuznetsov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Kuznetsov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov misses with an uppercut.
Kuznetsov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kuznetsov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Barnes stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Barnes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kuznetsov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barnes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A left and a right from Barnes both land. Nice combination.
Kuznetsov shoots for a double leg takedown but Barnes sprawls well. He's pushed Kuznetsov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kuznetsov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aleks Kuznetsov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuznetsov throws a big shot that misses.
Nice defenses there by Kuznetsov.
Abraham Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kuznetsov defends it well.
Kuznetsov looks to land a right hand but Barnes moved out of range.
Kuznetsov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barnes blocks a jab.
Kuznetsov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kuznetsov looks to throw the jab but Barnes is out of range.
And Barnes tries to counter it with a takedown but Kuznetsov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kuznetsov loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov misses with a left hand

and Barnes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kuznetsov won't be happy with that.
Kuznetsov defending against the ground and pound.
Kuznetsov tries to buck Barnes off but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes taking a breather here.
Kuznetsov takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Barnes lands some shots froms side control.

Barnes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kuznetsov regains half guard there - taking advantage of Barnes's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aleks Kuznetsov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kuznetsov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barnes.
Kuznetsov connects with a solid leg kick.
Kuznetsov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Barnes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kuznetsov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kuznetsov stalks Barnes and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Barnes's face. Barnes staggers backwards, shaken.
Kuznetsov checks a low kick from Barnes.
Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
Kuznetsov throws a jab but it's blocked by Barnes.
Kuznetsov is looking to score with low kicks.
Barnes slips under a jab.
Barnes with the counter takedown but Kuznetsov avoids it easily.
Barnes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Some wild striking there from Kuznetsov.
Barnes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kuznetsov defends it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes throws a hook but Kuznetsov avoids it easily.
Barnes slips a jab from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov throws a hook but Barnes avoids it easily.
A big left from Kuznetsov misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes tried to score with a low kick but Kuznetsov checks it.
Barnes cracks Kuznetsov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Kuznetsov.
Barnes throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kuznetsov.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kuznetsov.
Barnes scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Barnes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Barnes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kuznetsov cracks a nice hook into Barnes's ribs.
Kuznetsov's corner calls for a 1-2. Kuznetsov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A jab from Kuznetsov finds it's way through Barnes's defenses.
Kuznetsov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barnes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kuznetsov somewhat.
Barnes lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kuznetsov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov throws a shot from downtown. Barnes moves away and avoids it.
Kuznetsov loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.
Barnes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kuznetsov.
Barnes looks to throw the jab but Kuznetsov is out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kuznetsov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleks Kuznetsov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnes thows a leg kick but Kuznetsov checks it
and Kuznetsov counters with a straight right hand.
Kuznetsov throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
Kuznetsov missing with a left hand there. Barnes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kuznetsov.
Barnes changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kuznetsov misses with an uppercut. Barnes saw that one coming.
Kuznetsov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Barnes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kuznetsov defends it well.
Kuznetsov misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov looks to throw the jab but Barnes is out of range.
Kuznetsov ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
Kuznetsov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Barnes to score with a decent uppercut.
Barnes dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kuznetsov. That did some damage!
A swing and a miss from Kuznetsov.
Barnes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kuznetsov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barnes.
Kuznetsov throws a lazy right hand but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barnes with the counter takedown but Kuznetsov avoids it easily.
Kuznetsov scores with a punch to the head.
Kuznetsov loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.
Barnes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kuznetsov defends it well.
Kuznetsov misses with a two punch combination.
Kuznetsov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Barnes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barnes takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Kuznetsov throws a jab but it's blocked by Barnes.
Barnes tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Barnes staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov misses with an uppercut. Barnes saw that one coming.
Barnes feints the counter takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuznetsov throws out a powerful jab.
Kuznetsov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Barnes to score with a decent uppercut.
Barnes thuds a left hand into Kuznetsov's body.
Kuznetsov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Barnes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes throws a leg kick
and Kuznetsov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice straight punches there by Kuznetsov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kuznetsov.
Barnes takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kuznetsov looks to throw the jab but Barnes is out of range.
Kuznetsov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barnes.
Barnes has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kuznetsov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barnes misses with a hook.
It looked like Kuznetsov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kuznetsov is looking to clinch but Barnes is avoiding it.
Kuznetsov thows a left - swing and a miss!

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleks Kuznetsov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kuznetsov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Topper Green scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleks Kuznetsov!
During a confident post fight interview, Aleks Kuznetsov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.