PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Israel Kirzner (ranked 1317 p4p, 2412 weight class) and Michael Barnes (ranked 139 p4p, 249 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.

Kirzner
vs
Barnes

170 cm
23
158
3 - 4 - 0

170 cm
23
149
7 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Israel Kirzner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirzner throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Kirzner checks a leg kick.
Michael Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Barnes misses.
Kirzner uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barnes.
Kirzner swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Barnes throws a poor cross that misses
and Kirzner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barnes slips under a jab from Kirzner.
Barnes misses with a body punch
and Kirzner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barnes throws a shot from downtown. Kirzner moves away and avoids it.
Kirzner swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kirzner checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
It looked like Kirzner wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kirzner appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes throws out a loose jab but Kirzner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Barnes looks to throw a body kick
and Kirzner counters with a two punch combo.
Kirzner throws a lazy right hand but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kirzner as he avoids it easily.
Barnes throws a push kick but Kirzner slaps the foot to one side.
Kirzner swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kirzner looks to land a left hand but Barnes moved out of range nicely.
A swing and a miss from Barnes.
Kirzner misses with a series of wild punches.
Danga de danga de dang - Kirzner scores with a four punch combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Kirzner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barnes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kirzner.
Barnes throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kirzner is looking to counter punch.
Barnes connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kirzner's hands.
Kirzner lands a jab to the head.
Barnes scores with a jab to the body.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Kirzner.
Kirzner misses with a wild body shot.
Barnes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kirzner defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes missing with a left hand there. Kirzner was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barnes misses with a combination
and Kirzner connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kirzner uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barnes.
Kirzner is looking for a counter combo.
Barnes takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Barnes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Barnes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Barnes lands some shots froms side control.
Kirzner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barnes on the ground.
Barnes trying to control the action but Kirzner is working from the bottom.
Barnes has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Mentor Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Barnes working the ground and pound but Kirzner is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes trying to control the action but Kirzner is working from the bottom.
Barnes throws a strike aimed at the side of Kirzner's head but Kirzner avoids it well.
Kirzner defending against the ground and pound.
Barnes controlling from side mount.
Kirzner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Barnes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kirzner managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Barnes.
Kirzner dodges the ground and pound from Barnes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Barnes will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A swing and a miss from Barnes.
As Barnes backs away, Kirzner returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Barnes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kirzner.
Kirzner is looking for a counter combo.
Barnes thows a left - swing and a miss!
As Barnes backs away, Kirzner returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
A big right from Barnes misses.
Barnes throws a leg kick but Kirzner checks it.
It looked like Kirzner was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Barnes.
Barnes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kirzner. Kirzner circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kirzner is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirzner lands a slapping body shot.
Barnes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kirzner was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kirzner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barnes with the counter takedown but Kirzner avoids it easily.
Barnes misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Barnes.
Kirzner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barnes moves away.
Kirzner throws a head kick that misses.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Kirzner throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kirzner misses with a hook

and Barnes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kirzner's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kirzner keeping full guard, as Barnes tries to pass.
Barnes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes scoring with punches to the head and body.
Barnes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kirzner keeping full guard, as Barnes tries to pass.
Barnes trying to control but Kirzner is working from the bottom.
Barnes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kirzner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barnes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barnes tries to free his leg and advance position but Kirzner is retaining full guard.
Barnes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirzner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barnes.
Barnes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barnes throws an elbow that misses. Kirzner uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barnes's guard. Nice move by Kirzner!

Kirzner looking to sit in guard and control but Barnes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Barnes wants to control from the top but Kirzner keeps moving.
Barnes works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Barnes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Barnes is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kirzner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Barnes looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kirzner with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Barnes tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kirzner knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Barnes wants to control but Kirzner is keeping him busy.
Kirzner on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kirzner tries to get out of the position.
Kirzner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kirzner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barnes looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Barnes is trying to work for a kimura but Kirzner is defending well.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Barnes uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kirzner has time to react.
Kirzner misses with a body shot.
Barnes's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kirzner under the eye.
Israel Kirzner is winning the standup battle so far.
Kirzner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes lands a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirzner tries to bum rush Barnes with a series of wild strikes but Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barnes feints the counter takedown.
Barnes throws an off balance right hand
and Kirzner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barnes avoids the body shot from Kirzner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes scores with a hook.
Barnes thows a leg kick but Kirzner checks it
and Kirzner counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kirzner avoids the body shot from Barnes.
Kirzner takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Israel Kirzner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kirzner manages to avoid it.
Kirzner ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
Barnes lands a jab to the nose.
Barnes connects with a body shot that sends Kirzner's belly button to the back.
Kirzner ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
Barnes throws an off balance right hand
and Kirzner counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirzner walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kirzner ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
Kirzner swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Barnes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Donk. Barnes catches Kirzner right on the button with a cross.
Kirzner lands a nice looking body shot.
Nice shot lands for Barnes.
Barnes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kirzner.
Barnes throws a solid leg kick but Kirzner takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barnes.
Barnes misses with a left hand
and Kirzner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Barnes throws out a leg kick but Kirzner moves out of range and Barnes only half commits.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Barnes thuds his right hand into Kirzner's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Barnes shoots in but Kirzner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
It looked like Kirzner was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Barnes.
Barnes throws a chopping leg kick but Kirzner manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Barnes misses with an uppercut
and Kirzner counters with a straight right hand.
A low kick from Kirzner is predictable there

so Barnes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirzner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirzner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barnes is one step ahead there.
Kirzner keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
Barnes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Israel Kirzner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Barnes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kirzner keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Barnes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barnes has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

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