PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bam Bam Joshy (ranked 1244 p4p, 1725 weight class) and Michael Barnes (ranked 109 p4p, 147 weight class). 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.

Joshy
vs
Barnes

150 cm
29
152
16 - 13 - 0

170 cm
30
149
15 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Shadow Realm Apparel
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bam Bam Joshy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joshy lands with a straight right. Barnes didn't see that one coming.
Joshy attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Joshy tries to bum rush Barnes with a series of wild strikes but Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A slow jab from Joshy misses its intended target.
Joshy throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Joshy slips a straight right by Barnes.
Barnes misses with a hook. Joshy ducked under it nicely.
Joshy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barnes tries to work over Joshy's front leg with a kick but Joshy checks it.
Barnes slips a straight right by Joshy.
Barnes pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Joshy back to the cage. Barnes follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Joshy looks to land a left hand but Barnes moved out of range nicely.
Barnes is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Barnes throws a body shot but no joy.
A lazy left from Barnes finds it's target.
Joshy slips a straight right by Barnes.
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 steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Joshy.
Barnes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joshy was well out of range. Poor timing from Barnes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes throws a shot from downtown. Joshy moves away and avoids it.
Barnes lands the left hand.
Barnes slips a straight right by Joshy.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Joshy was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Joshy smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Joshy misses with an uppercut. Barnes saw that one coming.
And Barnes tries to counter it with a takedown but Joshy pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Barnes looks to land a right hand but Joshy moved out of range.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joshy throws a head kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Barnes.
Barnes blocks a low kick nicely.
Joshy connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Barnes's hands.
Joshy misses the jab.

Barnes throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Joshy tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Barnes is in Joshy's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnes works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Joshy actively working from the bottom here.
Barnes trying to control from Joshy's half guard. Joshy has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Joshy keeping full guard, as Barnes tries to pass.
Barnes looking to sit in guard and control but Joshy gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Joshy looking to pass the guard.
Barnes lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Barnes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Joshy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barnes has managed to get both his arms back between Joshy's legs - danger averted.
Barnes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joshy swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Barnes has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at QUBE Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barnes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barnes trying to control but Joshy is working from the bottom.
Barnes passes Joshy's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Barnes misses with a head shot. Joshy uses the momentum to regain guard.
Barnes distracts Joshy with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Barnes trying to control but Joshy is working from the bottom.
Barnes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes cracks Joshy with a solid left hand.

Joshy looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Barnes has picked Joshy up and slammed him! Joshy can't keep hold of the triangle and Barnes manages to pass to side control!
Barnes sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Joshy is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Joshy is not content to let Barnes control the position.
Barnes moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Barnes trying to control the action but Joshy is working from the bottom.
Barnes in side control lands a decent elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Barnes dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Joshy throws a body shot but no joy.
Barnes throws a low kick but it's checked well by Joshy.
Barnes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Joshy lands a right hook to the body.
Joshy throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Joshy.
Barnes connects with a solid leg kick.
Barnes walks into a stiff left hand from Joshy.
Barnes takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Joshy gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joshy throws a head kick that misses.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Joshy manages to avoid it.
Joshy fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barnes.
Barnes throws a hook but Joshy blocks it.
Barnes connects with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joshy throws a jab but it's blocked by Barnes.
Nice shot lands for Joshy.
Joshy throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barnes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Joshy defends it well.
Joshy jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Joshy.
Barnes moves out of range as Joshy throws a body kick.
Joshy takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Barnes loads up on a big right hand but Joshy slips the punch.
Joshy moves out of range of the body kick from Barnes.
Barnes walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice defenses there by Joshy.
Joshy avoids a kick to the body.
Barnes throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Jab from Joshy.
Barnes turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Bam Bam Joshy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joshy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice straight punches there by Barnes. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Barnes.
Joshy looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnes is just out of range.
Barnes with the counter takedown but Joshy avoids it easily.
Joshy has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barnes.
Bam Bam Joshy is winning the standup battle so far.
Joshy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joshy looks to land a left hand but Barnes moved out of range nicely.
Barnes swings for the body but Joshy moves out of range.
Joshy throws a shot from downtown. Barnes moves away and avoids it.
Joshy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barnes.

Barnes scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Joshy dodges the ground and pound from Barnes.

Barnes tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Michael Barnes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joshy is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Barnes off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes rolls, trying to escape but Joshy keeps control of the position.
Joshy seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Barnes trying to control the hands but Joshy won't let him.
Joshy doesn't have the hooks in and Barnes manages to turn into his guard.
Barnes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Joshy's head.
Barnes is working Joshy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Joshy keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
Barnes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joshy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barnes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes trying to control but Joshy is working from the bottom.
Barnes is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Joshy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Joshy might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Joshy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barnes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barnes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barnes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barnes trying to control but Joshy is working from the bottom.
Barnes stands up over Joshy, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Barnes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Barnes thows a leg kick but Joshy checks it

and Joshy holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Joshy misses with a knee strike.

Barnes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Joshy avoids the body shot from Barnes.
Barnes lands with a good body shot.
That kick from Joshy tenderised Barnes's leg. Barnes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Joshy swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barnes lands a body shot.
Joshy throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
Joshy scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Joshy loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab from Barnes does it's job there.
Joshy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barnes.
Joshy tries a low kick but Barnes avoids it.
And Barnes tries to counter it with a takedown but Joshy pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Joshy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joshy throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
Joshy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barnes circles away quickly and effectively.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
No luck for Barnes with that takedown attempt.

Barnes bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Barnes is trying to ground and pound but Joshy uses the momentary lack of control by Barnes to regain half guard.
Barnes misses with a head shot. Joshy uses the momentum to regain guard.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Joshy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joshy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barnes.
Barnes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Joshy is keeping the position for now.
Barnes lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Joshy is looking to cinch up a triangle. Barnes throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Joshy's body to avoid the submission. Joshy has instead reached around Barnes's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Joshy arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Bam Bam Joshy!