PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Don Barnes (ranked 601 p4p, 1859 weight class) and Michael Dunn (ranked 84 p4p, 238 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barnes
vs
Dunn

180 cm
26
176
16 - 10 - 1

179 cm
28
180
4 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Iraqi Steroids, Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Don Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Dunn!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Wagner Zegers and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dunn tries to clinch but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Dunn throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dunn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.
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 fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Dunn misses with a left hand

so Barnes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Barnes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barnes tries to free his leg and advance position but Dunn is retaining full guard.
Dunn preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barnes postures up and lands a big shot to Dunn's brow.
Dunn working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barnes.
Barnes tries to free his leg and advance position but Dunn is retaining full guard.
Barnes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barnes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dunn keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dunn pulls Barnes in close to prevent any damage.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Barnes postures up in Dunn's guard and throws a big left but Dunn blocks it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dunn wants to clinch up but Barnes keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Dunn moves out of range easily.

Dunn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barnes stalling the fight.
Dunn is trying to force a seperation but Barnes has the dominant position.
Barnes blocks an uppercut.
Barnes has Dunn pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dunn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dunn blocks an uppercut.
Barnes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dunn prevents it.
Dunn misses with the head strike.

Dunn manages to break the clinch.
Barnes throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Dunn pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Michael Dunn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dunn. Barnes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barnes does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Dunn throws a big shot that misses.

Dunn clinches up with Barnes and pushes him back against the cage.
Barnes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dunn's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dunn working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Dunn is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnes misses with a short punch on the inside.

Barnes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Barnes gets the takedown into side control.

Dunn bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Dunn throws a hook but Barnes avoids it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dunn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barnes was well out of range. Poor timing from Dunn.
Dunn looks to land a right hand but Barnes moved out of range.
Barnes shoots in looking for a takedown but Dunn manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Barnes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Dunn misses with a hook

and Barnes counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Barnes throws an elbow that misses. Dunn uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barnes's guard. Nice move by Dunn!

Barnes is trying to control the position but Dunn postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes wants to sweep but no luck.

Dunn decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Barnes, up you get!
Dunn lands an overhand right.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Dunn darts in and clinches Barnes up against the cage.
Barnes takes a shot to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Dunn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Barnes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Dunn misses with the head strike.
Barnes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dunn lands a nice uppercut.
Dunn misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Dunn will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dunn pushes Barnes up against the cage in a clinch.
Dunn lands a body shot.

Dunn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Dunn.
Dunn misses with a right hand

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

Dunn 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.
Dunn has a couple of punches blocked by Barnes.
Michael Dunn seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Barnes tries to throw a body punch but Dunn avoids it by throwing Barnes back against the cage.
Dunn tries to throw a body punch but Barnes avoids it by throwing Dunn back against the cage.
Barnes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Dunn avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Barnes has Dunn pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dunn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dunn.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barnes.
Dunn lands with a left to the head.
Barnes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barnes misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Dunn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Dunn.

Dunn breaks from the clinch.
Barnes avoids the body shot from Dunn.
Dunn looks to land a right hand but Barnes moved out of range.

Dunn has Barnes up against the cage in a clinch.
Barnes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dunn.
Dunn lands a left hand.
Barnes misses with some punches.
Barnes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barnes blocks a body shot from Dunn.
Dunn throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Dunn lands a left hand.
Dunn lands an uppercut.
Dunn blocks a body shot from Barnes.
Dunn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Dunn.
Barnes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Barnes tries to work over Dunn's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dunn has a couple of punches blocked by Barnes.
Dunn can't find room to land a body shot as Barnes controls the action.
Barnes takes a shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Dunn breaks from the clinch.
Dunn pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Don Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A thudding body kick lands there by Barnes!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Barnes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dunn scores with a shot to the side of Barnes's head.
Dunn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Barnes misses with a body punch.
Barnes swings wildly with an uppercut but Dunn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes cracks Dunn with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dunn lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Barnes backwards.
Dunn lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Barnes can't find room to land a body shot as Dunn controls the action.
Dunn lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Dunn can't find room to land a body shot as Barnes controls the action.
Barnes is struggling to control the position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barnes.
Dunn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Dunn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick
and Dunn counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Michael Dunn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dunn pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Dunn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dunn looks to land a left hand but Barnes moved out of range nicely.
Dunn moves out of range of the body kick.
Dunn now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dunn circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnes slips under a jab from Dunn.
Barnes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dunn.

Dunn closes the distance and pushes Barnes back into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dunn lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short right from Dunn.
Barnes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Barnes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dunn struggles to land a body shot inside as Barnes controls his hands.
Dunn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dunn blocks an uppercut.
Dunn digs a right hand into Barnes's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Barnes's gas tank.
Barnes lands a nice uppercut.
Barnes lands a body shot.
Dunn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Dunn 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. This is the final round!

Barnes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barnes walks into a stiff left hand from Dunn.
Dunn throws a jab when Barnes was well out of range.

Barnes gets tackled into the cage by Dunn. Dunn maintains the clinch.

Dunn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dunn misses with a hook.
Barnes on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Barnes is rocked!
Barnes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Dunn slips a jab from Barnes.
Dunn doesn't manage to clinch there - Barnes circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dunn chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barnes can pounce on him.
Dunn checks the leg kick nicely there.
Dunn misses with a body shot.
Dunn lands a really nice looking cross but Barnes seems unphased.
Dunn throws an off balance right hand

and Barnes counters with a shoot takedown. Dunn fights it but they end up in guard.
Dunn is wriggling around but Barnes manages to pass to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barnes looks to land a strike but Dunn avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Barnes slips nicely into half guard.
Dunn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Barnes.
Dunn tries to get to full guard but Barnes has control of the leg.
Barnes is trying to control the action in half guard but Dunn is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dunn regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Barnes.
Barnes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dunn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barnes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dunn pulls Barnes in close to his closed guard and prevents Barnes from doing any damage or advancing position.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Dunn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to free his leg and advance position but Dunn is retaining full guard.
Barnes throws an elbow that misses. Dunn uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barnes's guard. Nice move by Dunn!

Don Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
My spies in Rabid Dog inform me that Dunn has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Barnes looking to control.
Michael Dunn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Barnes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Barnes is working an open guard so Dunn takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dunn digs a good hook to Barnes's body.
Dunn slips under a jab from Barnes.
Barnes needs to keep his hands up - Dunn had a free shot at his head there.
A decent looking cross lands there for Dunn.
Dunn wants to clinch.
A combination from Barnes does no damage.
Dunn misses with a looping right.
Dunn throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Donk. Dunn catches Barnes right on the button with a cross.
Dunn misses with a hook. Barnes ducked under it nicely.
Dunn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.
Dunn throws a hook but Barnes blocks it.
Barnes changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A big right from Dunn misses.
Dunn lands a nice shot that snaps Barnes's head back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Dunn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dunn 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Dunn!