PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lou Gotch (ranked 1766 p4p, 2404 weight class) and Alex Barnes (ranked 102 p4p, 133 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gotch
vs
Barnes

165 cm
28
145
11 - 4 - 0

170 cm
26
145
9 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Lou Gotch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Gotch is just out of range.
Gotch wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Gotch shoots in for a takedown but Barnes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We've been informed that Barnes has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Gotch looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Barnes is defending against the submission attempts here by Gotch.
Barnes gets back to full guard.
Gotch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barnes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gotch won't allow Barnes to sweep him here.
Gotch wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
Barnes is trying to control the position but Gotch postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes wants to sweep here but Gotch controlling him for the moment.
Gotch wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
Gotch showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gotch looking to pass the guard.

Gotch drops back looking for a leg! Barnes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Barnes manages to kick Gotch off! Gotch jumps back into Barnes's guard.
Barnes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gotch is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gotch trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barnes keeping moving, preventing Gotch from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Barnes misses the jab.
Gotch closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barnes circles away.

Barnes drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barnes wants to control from the top but Gotch keeps moving.
Gotch is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gotch has momentary wrist control but Barnes slips an elbow through the middle.
We've been hearing good reports from Gotch's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gotch is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gotch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Gotch looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gotch keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
Barnes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gotch keeping full guard, as Barnes tries to pass.
Gotch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gotch is looking for a triangle but Barnes pushes his legs off easily.
Barnes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Gotch looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Barnes passes into side control.
Barnes lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Gotch down.
Barnes trying to control the position but Gotch is working away.
Barnes working the ground and pound.
Barnes working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barnes in side control lands a decent elbow.
Gotch can't do much from the bottom here.
Barnes cracks Gotch with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Barnes dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gotch fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gotch shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barnes pinned against the cage. Barnes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Barnes misses with a leg kick.
Gotch uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barnes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gotch is defended easily by Barnes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lou Gotch. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotch avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gotch uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barnes.
Gotch defending well as Barnes loads up on a big left hand.
Gotch dives in and grabs Barnes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Barnes pushes down on Gotch's head and hops out.
Barnes is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Barnes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gotch.
Gotch attempts a counter takedown but Barnes avoids it well and moves away.
Lou Gotch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnes tries to bum rush Gotch with a series of wild strikes but Gotch uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gotch shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barnes as he avoids it easily.
Barnes throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gotch shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Barnes manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gotch looking to pass the guard.
Gotch trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Barnes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gotch's guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gotch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gotch is trying to control the position but Barnes postures up.
Barnes landing with the ground and pound.
Gotch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Alex Barnes has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gotch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barnes is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes chips away with some ground and pound.

Gotch is rocked!
Gotch has momentary wrist control but Barnes slips an elbow through the middle.
Oh Gotch is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Gotch looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Barnes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gotch's head.
Gotch keeping full guard, as Barnes tries to pass.
Gotch can't keep his opponent in guard - Barnes advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Barnes lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gotch seems to have got his legs back now.
Barnes slips a nice elbow through Gotch's hands, connecting with Gotch's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gotch is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barnes pulls his head out easily.

Gotch is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barnes pulls his head out easily.
Gotch on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Barnes lands with a punch from half guard.
Gotch avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Barnes.
Barnes is stalling here. Gotch is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Barnes seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Gotch has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Gotch moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Barnes can't do much from the bottom here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gotch working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex 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!

Gotch looks for a takedown but Barnes sprawls well.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gotch manages to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Barnes.
Gotch fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes lands a nice shot to the body.
Barnes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gotch feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gotch.
Barnes throws a body punch but Gotch moves out of range.
Gotch fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lou Gotch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Gotch is just out of range.
Gotch shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Barnes counters with a takedown into side control.
Barnes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barnes wants to control but Gotch is keeping him busy.
Gotch manages to work his way to half guard, despite Barnes's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gotch has hold of Barnes's hands but Barnes slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Gotch looking for submissions off his back.
Nice strikes from Barnes there.
Gotch makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gotch.
Barnes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gotch not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barnes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gotch's head.

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

Gotch looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Barnes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Barnes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Barnes lands a couple of digs.
Barnes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barnes arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Gotch's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Alex Barnes!
After winning the bout, Alex Barnes thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.