|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Barnes (ranked 2486 p4p, 2336 weight class) and Gustavo Figueroa (ranked 208 p4p, 197 weight class). Figueroa comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Gangsta, Gangsta - NWA kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.
 |
|
 |
| 170 cm
29
149
13 - 14 - 0 |
|
172 cm
31
145
11 - 4 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
|
Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gustavo Figueroa!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Chris Edwards and Andrew Berry.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Figueroa blocks a jab.
Figueroa tries to counter with a clinch but Barnes shakes him off and moves away.
Gustavo Figueroa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes avoids the head kick by Figueroa.
Figueroa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Barnes looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Figueroa cracks Barnes with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Barnes just misses with a punch to the body.
Barnes sizes up Figueroa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Figueroa lands with a good body shot.
Figueroa looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnes is just out of range.
Barnes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barnes swings for the body but Figueroa moves out of range.
Figueroa tries a head kick but it misses.
A big left from Barnes misses.
Figueroa feints a jab promting Barnes to slip. Figueroa then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Barnes slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Figueroa throws a head kick that misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueroa attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes attempts a counter takedown but Figueroa avoids it well and moves away.
Figueroa misses with a wild body shot.
A big right from Figueroa misses.
Figueroa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barnes.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Figueroa moves away.
Barnes bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Figueroa.
Barnes takes a swing at Figueroa's ribcage but misses.
Barnes misses the shot to the body.
Gustavo Figueroa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Figueroa throws a hook to the side of Barnes's head but Barnes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barnes attempts a counter takedown but Figueroa avoids it well and moves away.
Barnes connects with the punch.
Figueroa throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
Barnes is looking to slow Figueroa down with leg kicks.
Figueroa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barnes avoids a kick to the body.
Figueroa throws a head kick but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Figueroa.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Figueroa misses with a hook.
Barnes's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Figueroa connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barnes scrambles back to his feet.
Figueroa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barnes.
Barnes attempts a counter takedown but Figueroa avoids it well and moves away.
Figueroa throws a series of punches but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes lands with a cross.
Barnes throws a right and a left that Figueroa avoids nicely.
Figueroa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Figueroa throws a lazy head kick
so Barnes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Figueroa keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
Our spies down at at Blacksmith MMA Gym 🇺🇲 inform us that Figueroa has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Barnes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Barnes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Barnes throwing strikes from guard but Figueroa blocks nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
Figueroa 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 lands a couple of elbows.
Barnes is looking to work some ground and pound but Figueroa has wrist control.
Barnes trying to control but Figueroa is working from the bottom.
Figueroa has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Barnes is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Figueroa tries a body shot but Barnes blocks it.
Barnes is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Figueroa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Figueroa is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Barnes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Figueroa is looking to chop away at Barnes's legs.
Barnes attempts a counter takedown but Figueroa avoids it well and moves away.
Barnes with a nice cross.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Figueroa.
Barnes misses with a wild body shot.
Figueroa misses the jab.
Barnes changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Barnes ducks right into an uppercut from Figueroa.
Figueroa scores with the left hand. Barnes knows he should have avoided that one.
Figueroa throws a sloppy head kick and Barnes moves out of range easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Figueroa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barnes chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Figueroa lands with a nice combination. Barnes backs away looking to recover.
Barnes avoids the head kick by Figueroa.
Barnes tests Figueroa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Figueroa throws a big shot that misses.
Barnes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Figueroa throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes lands a nice shot that snaps Figueroa's head back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Gustavo Figueroa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Figueroa misses with a kick to the body
and Barnes counters with a shoot takedown. Figueroa fights it but they end up in guard.
Figueroa is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Barnes presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Figueroa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Figueroa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Figueroa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Figueroa pushes Barnes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Barnes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Figueroa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Figueroa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barnes misses with a wild body shot.
Barnes takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Barnes bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Figueroa is trying to control Barnes's posture but Barnes avoids it.
Figueroa wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes lands a nice forearm strike.
Michael Barnes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Figueroa defending against the ground and pound.
Figueroa regains half guard there - taking advantage of Barnes's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Figueroa wants to get back to his feet.
Barnes wants to pass the guard but Figueroa is defending well.
Barnes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Barnes is taking a breather. Figueroa says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Figueroa tries to kick Barnes off but Barnes keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Figueroa pushes Barnes off and gets back to his feet.
Figueroa throws a looping overhand right but Barnes ducks down to avoid it.
Figueroa defending well as Barnes loads up on a big left hand.
Barnes connects with a leg kick.
Figueroa throws a right hand that Barnes ducks under and follows up with a left that Barnes also avoids with ease.
Barnes just misses with a punch to the body.
Figueroa needs to keep his hands up - Barnes had a free shot at his head there.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Figueroa.
Figueroa throws a combination that misses
and Barnes counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Figueroa!
Figueroa wants to get back to his feet.
Barnes scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Figueroa to see if he's OK.
Barnes trying to control the position but Figueroa is working away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa tries to buck Barnes off but Barnes is having none of it.
Figueroa is not content to let Barnes control the position.
Barnes working the ground and pound but Figueroa is defending the strikes.
Figueroa is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Barnes has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Barnes scores with punches from side control.
Figueroa on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Figueroa on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Figueroa some visible discomfort.
Figueroa is not content to let Barnes control the position.
Figueroa is looking for a sweep.
Figueroa defending against the ground and pound.
Barnes tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Barnes has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Figueroa can't do much from the bottom here.
Barnes in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Figueroa regains half guard there - taking advantage of Barnes's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Barnes is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Michael Barnes will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Barnes lands a nice looking body shot.
Figueroa cracks Barnes with an open hand slap.
Figueroa falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barnes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Figueroa won't be happy with that.
Barnes taking a break here but Figueroa is having none of it and regains half guard.
Figueroa manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Figueroa defending well as Barnes loads up on a big left hand.
Figueroa throws out a counter right but Barnes avoids it with no problem.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes scores with a punch to the head.
Figueroa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barnes with a hook.
Figueroa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Figueroa takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Figueroa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barnes lands the left hand.
Gustavo Figueroa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barnes lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Figueroa at a distance.
Barnes misses with a straight right.
Figueroa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Figueroa shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Barnes dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Figueroa. That did some damage!
Barnes throws a right hand that misses
and Figueroa counters with a nice uppercut.
Figueroa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Figueroa tries to land a front kick but Barnes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Figueroa.
Barnes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barnes connects with a leg kick.
Barnes lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Figueroa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Barnes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Figueroa throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Barnes attempts a counter takedown but Figueroa avoids it well and moves away.
Figueroa misses with a hook. Barnes ducked under it nicely.
Barnes changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Figueroa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Figueroa swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnes.
Barnes blocks a jab.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Figueroa.
Figueroa throws a looping overhand right but Barnes ducks down to avoid it.
Figueroa throws a right hand that misses
and Barnes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Barnes wants to pass the guard but Figueroa is keeping the position.
Barnes throwing strikes from guard but Figueroa blocks nicely.
Barnes drops back, looking for a kneebar! Figueroa looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Figueroa looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Figueroa!
Barnes tries to bench press Figueroa off him but Figueroa keeps the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes wants to get back to his feet but Figueroa drags him back down.
Barnes is trying to control Figueroa's posture but Figueroa avoids it.
Barnes is looking for a sweep.
Barnes sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Figueroa prevents Barnes from improving his position.
Barnes is working hard here to advance position.
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.
Figueroa decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Figueroa throws a hook to the side of Barnes's head but Barnes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barnes feinted with a counter takedown.
Figueroa looks to land a left hand but Barnes moved out of range nicely.
Barnes tries to counter with a takedown but Figueroa is quick to defend against it.
Figueroa throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes swings for the body but Figueroa moves out of range.
Figueroa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barnes moves away.
Barnes's jab looks to have found its range, popping Figueroa under the eye.
Figueroa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barnes.
Figueroa misses with a hook
and Barnes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Figueroa won't be happy with that.
Figueroa is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Barnes asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Figueroa is not content to let Barnes control the position.
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 Michael Barnes.
I think Barnes 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Barnes!
Our winner, Michael Barnes, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
65% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
