PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paul Kings (ranked 4158 p4p, 24166 weight class) and Mike Barnes (ranked 220 p4p, 274 weight class). Mike Barnes told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kings
vs
Barnes

160 cm
21
145
1 - 1 - 0

181 cm
20
144
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Kings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Joseph Jones and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kings lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Barnes shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Barnes showed some decent athleticism there.

Barnes is trying to work for a kimura but Kings is defending well.
Kings is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barnes is just content to waste time from the top position. Kings takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes won't allow Kings to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kings works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kings looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kings keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.

Barnes drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kings looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kings looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kings!

Barnes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kings happy to just control the position for now.
Barnes avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kings.
Barnes seems a little lost for a moment, as Kings dominates the positioning.
Barnes can't do much from the bottom here.
Barnes is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Barnes wants to get back to his feet but Kings drags him back down.
The referee asks Kings politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kings prefers to stall for the moment though.
Barnes wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Barnes regains half guard.
Barnes is trying to stand.
Kings seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kings stops Barnes from getting back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Kings keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kings takes a swing at Barnes's ribcage but misses.
Kings throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kings misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barnes.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kings digs a good body shot into Barnes's ribs.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Kings cracks Barnes with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Barnes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barnes looks to land a combination but Kings avoids it well.
Barnes throws a right hand that Kings ducks under and follows up with a left that Kings also avoids with ease.
It looked like Kings was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Barnes.
Kings connects with a right hand. Barnes shakes it off.
Kings ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
Kings throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barnes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kings jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A punch lands to the side of Kings 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Barnes lands with a nice body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes slips under a jab.
Kings has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barnes.
Kings jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Barnes throws a jab when Kings was well out of range.
Barnes slips under a jab.
Kings ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barnes moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Barnes misses its intended target.
Kings tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barnes was well out of range. Poor timing from Kings.
Kings keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barnes.
Barnes cracks Kings with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kings thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big right from Barnes misses.
Kings avoids the head kick by Barnes.
Barnes lands with an uppercut that bounces Kings off the cage and back into range.
Kings's jab looks to have found its range, popping Barnes under the eye.
Kings looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnes is just out of range.
Barnes blocks a jab.
Nice body punch from Kings.
Kings moves out of range of the strikes.
Kings takes a swing at Barnes's ribcage but misses.

Barnes closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kings's guard.
Kings wants to sweep here but Barnes controlling him for the moment.
Kings has Barnes pulled in close to control his posture.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paul Kings will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Kings ducks down to avoid it.
Kings checks the leg kick nicely there.
Barnes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kings.
Barnes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Kings does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Kings ducks down to avoid it.
A clash of legs there as Kings blocks the low kick.
Kings takes a swing at Barnes's ribcage but misses.
A swing and a miss from Kings.
Kings looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Barnes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kings throws out the jab.
Mike Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kings lands a lovely overhand right.
Barnes throws a hook but Kings avoids it easily.
Barnes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barnes looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kings moves out of range of the strikes.
Kings throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barnes swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Barnes looks to land a right hand but Kings moved out of range.
Barnes slips under a jab.
Kings throws a hook to the side of Barnes's head but Barnes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barnes lands a head kick!

Barnes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barnes swings around for an armbar but Kings sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Barnes's guard.
Kings is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Barnes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kings is controlling him.
Barnes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barnes wants to stand and escape but Kings is having none of it.
Kings stays in close to Barnes's body and controls the position.
Barnes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kings showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Barnes trying to keep a closed guard but Kings is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kings's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kings prevents Barnes from getting back to his feet.
Mike Barnes has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kings.
Barnes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes lands a jab-cross combination.
Mike Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kings lands with an overhand left.
Barnes throws a right hand that Kings ducks under and follows up with a left that Kings also avoids with ease.
Kings looks to throw the jab but Barnes is out of range.
Barnes is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Kings bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Barnes's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a straight left.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kings moves away.
Barnes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kings.
Barnes looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Barnes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barnes takes a swing at Kings's ribcage but misses.
Barnes scores with a decent looking hook.
Nice takedown defense from Kings. No joy for Barnes on that attempt.
Kings misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Barnes to counter with a crisp jab.
Barnes misses with a lunging right hand
and Kings counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kings throws a big shot that misses.
Barnes moves out of range as Kings strikes.
Barnes just misses with a punch to the body.
Barnes throws a leg kick that misses.
Kings takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Barnes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Barnes feints a jab promting Kings to slip. Barnes then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kings slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kings getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kings on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Paul Kings is winning the standup battle so far.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Barnes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Barnes wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kings, who protects the arm well.
Kings can't do much from the bottom here.
Kings regains half guard, as Barnes was trying to land strikes.
Kings moves into full guard.
Barnes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kings swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike 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! This is the final round!

Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Kings.

Barnes drives through with a takedown into Kings's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Barnes looking to sit in guard and control but Kings gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kings postures up.
Kings throws a big elbow that misses.
Barnes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kings throws a big elbow that misses.
Kings has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kings stops Barnes from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kings stays in close to Barnes's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Barnes drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kings 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 drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kings manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Barnes has Kings in his guard.

Kings engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kings looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kings throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kings stays in close to Barnes's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kings's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Barnes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kings controlling from the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kings misses with a hook. Barnes ducked under it nicely.
Kings is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kings slips a straight right by Barnes.
Kings slips a straight right by Barnes.
Kings throwing a counter right hand but Barnes manages to avoid it.

Barnes shoots in and gets a takedown into Kings's guard.
Barnes throws a strike but Kings rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kings controlling from the top position.
Barnes wants to stand up but Kings is controlling him.
Kings is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barnes is on top in guard.

My spies in Doom's Gym inform me that Barnes has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barnes trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Kings manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paul Kings.
I think Kings 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

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