PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brad Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sasa Gusi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes comes to the cage accompanied by Red Right Hand - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Gusi is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ekipa- BGD Syndicate. 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
Gusi

180 cm
30
190 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

175 cm
25
195 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
KO power

ADCC Champion
Good elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 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 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sasa Gusi!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gusi takes a step back to recover.
A cross from Barnes lands.
Barnes tries to bum rush Gusi with a series of wild strikes but Gusi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barnes slaps away a takedown attempt from Gusi, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Gusi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Barnes's guard.
Gusi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Barnes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gusi on the ground.
Barnes keeping moving, preventing Gusi from controlling successfully.
Gusi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barnes is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Barnes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gusi is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barnes throws an off balance right hand

and Gusi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Barnes's guard now.
Gusi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barnes is keeping the position for now.
Gusi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gusi trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gusi throws a big right hand that misses.
Barnes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gusi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gusi throwing strikes but missing.
Barnes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gusi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusi trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes has Gusi pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Barnes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gusi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Barnes prevents it.

Gusi breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Barnes trying to land knees to the body.
Gusi wants a takedown but no success here.
Brad Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sasa Gusi.
Barnes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gusi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Barnes avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gusi tries for a takedown but Barnes manages to get underhooks.
Gusi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Barnes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gusi goes for a takedown attempt but Barnes pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Barnes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Gusi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Barnes wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes is not content to let Gusi control the position.
Gusi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gusi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barnes defending well though.
Gusi working over Barnes with some ground and pound. Barnes looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Barnes pushes Gusi off but Gusi dives into side control.
Gusi misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnes sneaks out the side door and pushes Gusi away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Gusi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Barnes misses with a lunging right hand

and Gusi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barnes'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!
Gusi stops Barnes from standing up.
Gusi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gusi throws a big right hand that misses.
Gusi is pushing down on Barnes's leg trying to pass to half guard. Barnes is fighting to maintain full guard but Gusi has managed to sneak the leg through.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gusi lands a nice short elbow.
Gusi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Gusi trying to control from half guard but Barnes is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes pushes Gusi off looking to stand but Gusi dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasa Gusi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Barnes throws a series of punches but Gusi moves out of range.
Gusi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barnes swivels and escapes.
Barnes throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Gusi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Barnes wants to get back to full guard.
Gusi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barnes defending well though.
Gusi is thwarting Barnes's attempts to control the position.
Gusi prevents Barnes from improving his position.
Gusi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gusi is looking to stall here but Barnes recovers full guard.
Gusi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusi stops Barnes from standing up.
Gusi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Barnes's head.
Barnes wants to sweep but no luck.
Barnes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Barnes tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gusi tries to roll over but Barnes keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gusi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gusi 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 trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gusi's guard.
Barnes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusi 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.
Gusi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Barnes gets to his feet - Gusi follows without any prompting.
Barnes jabs Gusi to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Gusi scores a takedown into full mount!

Gusi is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Barnes can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Barnes is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusi scoring with strikes but Barnes is staying in there.
Barnes is bucking up trying to escape but Gusi cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Barnes wants to control but Gusi is having none of it.
Gusi breaks from Barnes's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Barnes tries to lock up and control but Gusi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gusi working Barnes over with strikes here.
Gusi misses with some ground and pound and Barnes recovers position to half guard.

Gusi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Barnes pushes Gusi off looking to stand but Gusi dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gusi.
Gusi throwing shots but Barnes is blocking nicely.
Gusi trying to control the action but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Gusi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Barnes kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gusi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes tries to kick Gusi off but Gusi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasa Gusi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Barnes misses with a combination

and Gusi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gusi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gusi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barnes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gusi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barnes's head.
Gusi is stalling here. Barnes is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gusi seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Barnes has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Gusi struggling a bit here.
Barnes wants to take a breather but Gusi manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Barnes.
Gusi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusi working a defensive guard here.
Gusi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Gusi is trying to control the position but Barnes postures up.
Gusi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Brad Barnes.

Gusi feints and as Barnes raises his hands in defense, Gusi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Brad Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusi wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
Barnes wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Gusi manages to pass to side control.
Barnes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gusi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gusi's back!
Gusi turns into Barnes and is now in his guard.
Barnes trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Gusi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barnes is keeping the position for now.
Gusi wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
Gusi prevents Barnes from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gusi drops back looking for a leg! Barnes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Barnes manages to kick Gusi off! Gusi jumps back into Barnes's guard.
Barnes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gusi.
Gusi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gusi trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Gusi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gusi trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Barnes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gusi is controlling him.
Barnes 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.

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.
Gusi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gusi prevents Barnes from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gusi works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gusi is keen to just control but Barnes is a slippery customer.
Gusi throwing shots but Barnes is blocking nicely.
Gusi stalling.
Sasa Gusi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barnes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gusi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gusi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sasa Gusi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Barnes looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sasa Gusi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gusi 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sasa Gusi!