PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Don Barnes (ranked 1287 p4p, 3474 weight class) and Porthos Knox (ranked 179 p4p, 427 weight class). Knox has chosen One Step Closer | Linkin Park as his entrance music. 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.

Barnes
vs
Knox

180 cm
30
176
24 - 18 - 1

177 cm
35
175
17 - 16 - 3

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

30th Century Beer Store
Fantasy Threads

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 24 - 18 - 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 17 - 16 - 3, fighting out of Amsterdam, Porthos Knox!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Wagner Zegers and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes motions for Knox to come forward. Barnes throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Knox's coach down at Kaptajnernes Træningscenter was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Knox's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Knox blocks a low kick nicely.
Knox misses with a hook. Barnes ducked under it nicely.
Barnes staying out of range there.
Barnes attempts a counter takedown but Knox avoids it well and moves away.
Barnes throws a body shot but no joy.
Knox moves out of range of the body kick from Barnes.
Barnes has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Barnes throws a solid leg kick but Knox takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barnes.

Knox pushes Barnes up against the cage in a clinch.
Knox is stalling here.
Barnes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Knox's elbow.

Knox breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knox lunges at Barnes with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Barnes's hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Knox has managed to clinch.
Knox lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Barnes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Knox throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Knox presses Barnes against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Barnes throws a punch but it's blocked by Knox.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barnes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a short punch on the inside.

Knox breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A decent looking cross lands there for Knox.
A combination from Barnes does no damage.
A slapping leg kick lands for Barnes.
Knox misses with a wild combination.
Knox dips to his left and cracks Barnes with an uppercut!
Barnes misses with an uppercut.
Knox moves out of range of the body kick from Barnes.
Barnes is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Barnes half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Porthos Knox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Knox misses with a hook.
Barnes avoids the body shot from Knox.
Barnes misses with a leg kick.
Knox darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The crowd cheers as Knox lands an impressive looking overhand right. Barnes doesn't seem phased though.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Barnes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Knox manages to avoid it.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Knox paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Knox misses with a jab, cross combination.
Knox throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Knox.
Knox is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Barnes had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Barnes misses with a leg kick.
Barnes throws a front kick aimed at Knox's knee but Knox avoids it well.
Sloppy strikes from Barnes. Those never looked like landing.
Knox swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barnes tries to counter with a takedown but Knox is quick to defend against it.
Knox dodges the punch combination from Barnes.
Knox misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knox pushes Barnes up against the cage in a clinch.
Barnes tries to throw a body punch but Knox avoids it by throwing Barnes back against the cage.
Barnes misses with the head strike.
Knox working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Knox scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Barnes misses with a body punch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Barnes misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barnes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Knox fails to land.

Knox escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Knox misses with a straight left.
Knox pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barnes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Knox.
Barnes appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Knox lands a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a body kick.
Knox might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Knox connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Barnes's hands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A thudding body kick lands there by Barnes!

Barnes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Barnes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Knox is trying to stand up here but Barnes is controlling him well.
Barnes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Knox is trying to stand up here but Barnes is controlling him well.
Barnes lands with a punch from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Porthos Knox dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Barnes avoids the body shot from Knox.
Barnes appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Porthos Knox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Knox.
Barnes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Knox sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Knox cracks Barnes with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Barnes jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Barnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Knox.
Barnes drops down looking for a counter takedown but Knox sprawls and moves away.
Good leg kick by Barnes.
Knox tries to clinch up.
Knox tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Barnes counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Barnes staying out of range there.
Barnes throws a big counter combination but Knox scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, jab by Barnes - just one landing.
Don Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knox lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barnes circles away quickly and effectively.
Barnes half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Barnes throws a body shot but no joy.
Barnes staying out of range there.
Barnes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Knox.
Knox scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox misses with a wild combination.
Good work by Knox as he checks the leg kick.
Knox uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barnes.
Barnes throws the kick towards the body but Knox avoids it.
Barnes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Knox misses with a looping left.
Barnes keeps the fight on the outside.
Knox uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Barnes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Knox does a little dance to reset his feet.
It seemed like Knox was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Barnes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Knox moves out of range of the body kick.
Knox looks to land a right hand but Barnes moved out of range.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Barnes will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barnes misses with a body kick.
Barnes throws a leg kick but Knox checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Knox throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Barnes on the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by Knox.
Knox bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Knox lands with a hook. Barnes tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knox misses with a looping left.
Knox throws a lazy right hand but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Knox swings for the body but Barnes moves out of range.
Knox misses the jab.
Knox swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barnes is looking to counter the offense by Knox and move into the clinch.
A combination from Knox does no damage.
Barnes was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
The crowd cheers as Knox lands an impressive looking overhand right. Barnes doesn't seem phased though.
Barnes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Knox.
Knox's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Knox duly obliges.

Knox gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Knox misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox lands a nice uppercut.

Knox breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knox ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Knox! But no joy.
An inside leg kick from Barnes misses.
Barnes tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Knox is able to avoid easily.
A lazy body kick from Knox

and Barnes counters with a takedown into side control.
Knox tries to escape but Barnes is in control.
Knox is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes is looking to take a break and control but Knox is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Knox on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Knox is not content to let Barnes control the position.
Knox is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Porthos Knox showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Knox tries to clinch but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes tries to counter with a takedown but Knox is quick to defend against it.
Porthos Knox seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barnes slips under a jab.
Knox throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barnes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Barnes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Knox sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Knox throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Knox ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Knox misses with a straight right.
Barnes misses with a body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Knox misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes swats away the attempt to clinch by Knox.
Knox walks into a straight right hand from Barnes.
Knox rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Barnes counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox wants to get back to his feet but Barnes passes into half guard.
Barnes stops Knox from getting back to his feet.
Barnes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Knox keeps working.
Barnes is stalling here. Knox 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 Knox has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Knox tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to buck Knox off but Knox is having none of it.
Barnes wants to control but Knox postures up.
Knox wants to stand but Barnes has his arm trapped.
Barnes tries to bench press Knox off him but Knox keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox tries to stand but Barnes is controlling his head.
Barnes is looking for a sweep.
Don Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barnes is working hard here to advance position.
Knox wants to stand but Barnes is controlling his arm.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Knox is looking to clinch but Barnes is avoiding it.
A lazy left from Barnes finds it's target.
Barnes slips a jab and a cross from Knox.
Barnes swings for the body but Knox moves out of range.
Knox throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barnes tries to move into range but Knox moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Knox has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox misses with a hook.
Knox looks to land a right hand but Barnes moved out of range.
Barnes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Porthos Knox is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Knox misses with a few strikes there.
Barnes changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Knox misses with a lunging right hand

and Barnes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Knox's guard.
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!
Barnes prevents Knox from getting back to his feet.
Barnes works over Knox with some ground and pound from guard.
Barnes throwing strikes but missing.
Barnes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barnes throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Porthos Knox.
I've got Knox 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Porthos Knox!
Porthos Knox thanked the fans post fight for their support.