PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bjorn Akerfeldt (ranked 2724 p4p, 3383 weight class) and Abraham Barnes (ranked 355 p4p, 435 weight class). Bjorn Akerfeldt has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Akerfeldt
vs
Barnes

196 cm
25
224
8 - 10 - 0

185 cm
25
210
7 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bjorn Akerfeldt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abraham Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akerfeldt shoots in but no luck this time.

Barnes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Barnes lands in his opponent's guard.
Akerfeldt scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Barnes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Barnes postures up and lands a big shot to Akerfeldt's brow.
Akerfeldt seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Barnes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Akerfeldt's head.
Barnes looking to pass the guard.
Akerfeldt wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes is working Akerfeldt over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes distracts Akerfeldt with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Barnes is in close to Akerfeldt's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Akerfeldt working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barnes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barnes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Barnes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Akerfeldt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes is in close to Akerfeldt's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Akerfeldt will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes lands a couple of elbows.
Akerfeldt thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Barnes scoring with punches to the head and body.
Barnes passes Akerfeldt's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Barnes is nestled in close to Akerfeldt, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Akerfeldt tries to get to full guard but Barnes has control of the leg.
Akerfeldt regains full guard. Nicely done.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Akerfeldt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Barnes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akerfeldt is keeping the position for now.

Akerfeldt throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Akerfeldt manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barnes manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akerfeldt stopping the sweep attempt from Barnes.
Barnes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Akerfeldt's guard.

Barnes stopping the sweep attempt from Akerfeldt.
Barnes distracts Akerfeldt with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Barnes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes wants to control from the top but Akerfeldt keeps moving.
Barnes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Akerfeldt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Barnes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Barnes lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Barnes wants to pass the guard but Akerfeldt is keeping the position.
Barnes landing some decent shots from guard.
Barnes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akerfeldt is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes cracks Akerfeldt with a solid left hand.
Barnes scoring with punches to the head and body.
Akerfeldt bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barnes's guard.

Barnes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
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 is still trying to improve position.
Akerfeldt tries to free his leg and advance position but Barnes is retaining full guard.
Akerfeldt preventing the sweep.
Akerfeldt postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Barnes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Akerfeldt throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akerfeldt sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Barnes's guard.
Akerfeldt passes to side control.
Akerfeldt tries to score with some ground and pound. Barnes controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Barnes is trying to get back to half guard.
Barnes sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Akerfeldt lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Barnes wants to get back to full guard.
Barnes gets back to full guard.
Akerfeldt cracks Barnes with a solid left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akerfeldt throws a big right hand that misses.
Barnes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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

Abraham Barnes dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Akerfeldt moves out of range as Barnes strikes.
Akerfeldt fails to land the takedown.
Barnes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Akerfeldt defends it well.
Barnes takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Akerfeldt tries to clinch but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes stuffs the takedown.
Akerfeldt throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Barnes tries to counter by closing the distance.
Barnes scores with a push kick.
Barnes throws a quick inside leg kick.
Barnes lands a jab-cross combination.
Akerfeldt on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Barnes lands a leg kick that knocks Akerfeldt off balance momentarily.

Akerfeldt pushes Barnes up against the cage in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Akerfeldt to keep the fight standing.
Akerfeldt swings wildly with an uppercut but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a head kick.
Akerfeldt takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Akerfeldt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Abraham Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Akerfeldt is defended easily by Barnes.
Barnes tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bjorn Akerfeldt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akerfeldt misses with a takedown attempt - Barnes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Barnes slips a straight right by Akerfeldt.
Akerfeldt walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Barnes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barnes has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Akerfeldt shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Akerfeldt wants to clinch.
Barnes attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Barnes!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes moves out of range as Akerfeldt strikes.
Barnes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akerfeldt.
Akerfeldt throws a leg kick
and Barnes counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Akerfeldt is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Barnes. No joy for Akerfeldt on that attempt.
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!

Akerfeldt closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Barnes quickly recovers to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barnes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Akerfeldt's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Akerfeldt's back!
Barnes is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Akerfeldt is taking damage to the body and head.
Akerfeldt breaks Barnes's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Barnes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Akerfeldt working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Barnes's head.
Barnes wants to sweep but no luck.
Akerfeldt with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barnes wants to sweep here but Akerfeldt controlling him for the moment.
Akerfeldt scoring with punches to the head and body.
Barnes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Barnes has an active guard here but Akerfeldt has managed to pass into half guard.
Akerfeldt missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Barnes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Akerfeldt.
Akerfeldt thows a huge punch but Barnes dodges it nicely.
Barnes is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes regains full guard. Nicely done.
Barnes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Akerfeldt manages to get himself to full guard.

Akerfeldt wants to stand and escape but Barnes is having none of it.

Akerfeldt is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Akerfeldt has his foot on Barnes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barnes works his way back into a safe position though.
Barnes landing with the ground and pound.
Akerfeldt tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barnes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Barnes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Barnes works over Akerfeldt with some ground and pound from guard.
Akerfeldt wants to sweep here but Barnes controlling him for the moment.
Barnes stops Akerfeldt from standing up.
Barnes chips away with some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abraham Barnes 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A kick lands to the mid section there for Barnes.
Barnes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Akerfeldt moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Akerfeldt goes for a double leg but Barnes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barnes continues to drive forward.
A frustrated look appears on Akerfeldt's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Akerfeldt is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Barnes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Akerfeldt is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Akerfeldt decides to pull guard.
Barnes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barnes lands a couple of digs.
Barnes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Akerfeldt looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barnes cracks Akerfeldt with a solid left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes pushing down on Akerfeldt's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Barnes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Barnes moves nicely into side control.
Barnes working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnes working the ground and pound from side control.
Barnes is looking to take a break and control but Akerfeldt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akerfeldt regains half guard.
Akerfeldt is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Barnes scores with a couple of nice shots.
Barnes looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Akerfeldt with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Barnes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Barnes works his way into full mount!
Barnes lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Akerfeldt hang on?
Barnes lands a big shot there that rocks Akerfeldt but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Barnes scoring with strikes but Akerfeldt is staying in there.

Akerfeldt is rocked!
Akerfeldt tries to reverse the position but Barnes maintains control.
Oh Akerfeldt is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Barnes looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Akerfeldt covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Abraham Barnes!
Abraham Barnes was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.