PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brad Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunnar Johnsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Red Right Hand - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The crowd seem to be enjoying Johnsson's choice of entrance music: Kashmir - Led Zeppelin. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Barnes
vs
Johnsson

180 cm
26
182 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

180 cm
26
182 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brad Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gunnar Johnsson!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Johnsson lands a nice shot to the body.
Johnsson looks for a takedown but Barnes sprawls well.
Barnes stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnsson. Johnsson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnsson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Brad Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gunnar Johnsson.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Johnsson.
Nice shot lands for Johnsson.
Barnes throws a series of punches but Johnsson moves out of range.
Barnes throws a combination. Johnsson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Barnes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnsson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnsson.
A combination from Barnes does no damage.
Barnes fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Barnes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Barnes throws a combination. Johnsson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Johnsson feints and as Barnes raises his hands in defense, Johnsson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johnsson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnsson postures up and lands a big shot to Barnes's brow.
Johnsson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barnes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnsson is looking to work some ground and pound but Barnes has wrist control.
Barnes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnsson is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnsson thows a big elbow that misses.
Barnes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnsson.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Barnes buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barnes misses with an uppercut.
Barnes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnsson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barnes tries a head kick but it misses.
A jab from Johnsson misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Barnes. That's going to slow Johnsson down.
Johnsson misses with a straight right.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnsson misses the target.
Horrible takedown by Johnsson or perhaps it was just good defense by Barnes which made him look bad.
Gunnar Johnsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Johnsson.

Johnsson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Barnes's half guard.
Johnsson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnsson wants to take a breather but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes trying to control here.
Barnes pushes Johnsson off looking to stand but Johnsson dives back in and keeps control.
Barnes is not content to let Johnsson control the position.
Barnes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Johnsson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnsson tries to pass to full mount but Barnes defends it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnsson slips under a jab.
Barnes slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnsson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johnsson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barnes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Barnes dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Johnsson gets the takedown into side control.
Barnes can't do much from the bottom here.
Johnsson working the ground and pound but Barnes is defending the strikes.
Johnsson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Johnsson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Johnsson swings around for an armbar but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Johnsson's guard.
Barnes wants to stand but Johnsson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Barnes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barnes wants to stand and escape but instead Johnsson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Johnsson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barnes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barnes is trying to keep Johnsson in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnsson prevents Barnes from getting back to his feet.
Johnsson looking to pass the guard.
Barnes wants to stand up but Johnsson is controlling him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnsson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barnes. Barnes circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Barnes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barnes wants it to stay on the feet.
Barnes misses with a body kick.
A low kick from Johnsson misses
and Barnes counters with a slapping leg kick.
Brad Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnsson needs to keep his hands up - Barnes had a free shot at his head there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnsson misses with a leg kick
and Barnes counters with a low kick, right behind Johnsson 's knee.
Barnes looks to throw the jab but Johnsson is out of range.

Johnsson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Barnes did well to prevent Johnsson getting side control.
Johnsson prevents Barnes from standing back up.
Johnsson looks to land a strike but Barnes avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Johnsson pushing down on Barnes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Johnsson thows a huge punch but Barnes dodges it nicely.
Johnsson is breathing heavily.
Johnsson working over Barnes with some ground and pound. Barnes looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Barnes wants to get back to his feet.
Johnsson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barnes's head.
Barnes pushes Johnsson off looking to stand but Johnsson dives back in and keeps control.

Barnes makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Barnes.

Johnsson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nice strikes from Johnsson there.

Johnsson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Barnes defends it well.
Barnes has hold of Johnsson's hands but Johnsson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Johnsson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Barnes is trying to stand.
Johnsson is trying to control. Barnes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Barnes tries to kick Johnsson off but Johnsson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnsson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barnes scores with a nice body kick.
Good work by Johnsson as he checks the leg kick.
Johnsson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Barnes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnsson.
Johnsson missing with a left hand there. Barnes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johnsson throws a leg kick
and Barnes counters with a left to the body.
Barnes lands the left hand.
Barnes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gunnar Johnsson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Barnes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Johnsson closes the distance and clinches up with Barnes, looking for a takedown. Johnsson pushes Barnes against the cage but Barnes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A big right from Johnsson misses.
Johnsson throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnsson.
Johnsson throws a big shot that misses.
Johnsson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barnes.
Johnsson has his takedown stuffed
and Barnes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barnes fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Johnsson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Johnsson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The fighters circling - Johnsson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Brad Barnes is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes throws a leg kick that misses.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnsson moves away.
Brad Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnsson moves away.
Johnsson misses with an uppercut. Barnes saw that one coming.
Barnes swings for the body but Johnsson moves out of range.
Barnes connects with a looping right hand.
Barnes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Brad Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gunnar Johnsson.
Johnsson scores with a punch to the head.
Barnes throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnsson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Johnsson shoots in for a double leg but Barnes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnsson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Barnes's calf.
Barnes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnsson circles away quickly and effectively.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnsson manages to avoid it.
Johnsson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johnsson throws out the jab.
Johnsson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd cheers as Johnsson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Barnes doesn't seem phased though.
Barnes throws a nice inside leg kick.
Barnes tries to clinch up but Johnsson circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnsson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Barnes counters with a nice uppercut.
Johnsson needs to keep his hands up - Barnes had a free shot at his head there.
Barnes throws a low kick but Johnsson avoids it.
Barnes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Barnes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Barnes. No joy for Johnsson on that attempt.
Barnes throws a front kick aimed at Johnsson's knee but Johnsson avoids it well.
Barnes scores with a jab to the head.
Johnsson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barnes but Barnes pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Barnes. That's going to slow Johnsson down.
Barnes lands with a thumping leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnes connects with a body shot.
Barnes swings for the body but Johnsson moves out of range.
Barnes does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Left hook, right uppercut from Barnes.
Gunnar Johnsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Barnes throws a leg kick which misses Johnsson's front leg but catches the back leg as Johnsson tries to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Brad Barnes!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Brad Barnes!
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight for Brad Barnes!

Brad Barnes wins by unanimous decision!