PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Clifton Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Warren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Barnes
vs
Warren

182 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Clifton Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justin Warren!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Warren gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Warren fails to pull guard.

Barnes breaks the clinch.
Warren throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Barnes clinches.
Barnes wants a takedown but no success here.
Barnes keeps control of Warren as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Warren has clasped his hands together around Barnes's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Barnes is trying to buck Warren off.
Warren works to advance to full mount. Barnes defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Barnes flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Barnes is trying to escape the mount.
Barnes's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Barnes holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Warren tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Barnes is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Warren has control of Barnes's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Barnes regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Warren tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Warren looking to control but Barnes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Barnes wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Warren with shots to the head and body - Barnes looks very uncomfortable down there.
Barnes really wants to buck Warren off and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barnes is trying to escape the mount.
Warren cracks Barnes with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
A nice elbow there by Warren.
Warren has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Barnes wants to try and get back to his feet.
Warren lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The referee warns Barnes that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Warren thowing shots but they're missing.
Barnes avoids a series of strikes thrown by Warren.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Warren raining down shots from the mount!
Barnes working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Warren dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Warren shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barnes but Barnes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Warren misses with a hook.

Barnes pushes Warren up against the cage in a clinch.
Warren wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barnes has him pressed against the cage.
Warren wants to get back to striking at distance but Barnes won't allow it.
Warren is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Barnes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Barnes taking a breather.
Warren fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Clifton Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Warren.
Warren creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Barnes breaks from the clinch.
No joy there for Warren, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Warren swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Warren misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Barnes.
Warren manages to work his way to half guard, despite Barnes's best efforts.
Warren is breathing heavily.
Warren is looking for a sweep. Barnes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Warren is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Barnes controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warren has a hand on Barnes's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Barnes takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Warren wants to control but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes controlling his opponent.
Barnes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Warren on the ground.
Barnes lands a nice shot to the head.
Barnes content just to control the position here.
Warren throwing hammer fists to the chest of Barnes. What's that going to do exactly?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Barnes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Warren is looking to escape.
Warren is desperately trying to improve his position but Barnes has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Warren wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Barnes throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Warren!
A lull in the action here.

Barnes has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Barnes is landing with strikes from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barnes gets a clinch.
Warren tries to score a body lock takedown but Barnes shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Barnes is trying to maintain a safe position but Warren gets an underhook and turns Barnes into the cage.
Warren tries to break the clinch but Barnes is controlling the position.

Barnes manages to break the clinch.

Barnes feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Warren manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Warren throwing strikes here but Barnes is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Barnes trying desperately to get to his feet.
Barnes is working to get back to half guard.
Warren throwing strikes here but Barnes is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Warren throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Warren throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Barnes wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warren landing strikes, looking to finish!

Warren swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Barnes is now in Warren's guard. A big mistake from Warren there, giving up the dominant position!
Barnes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Warren tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barnes trying to stand up but can't free himself from Warren's guard.
Barnes trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Barnes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Warren wants to sweep here but Barnes controlling him for the moment.

Warren 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.
Barnes preventing the sweep.
Warren controls Barnes momentarily but Barnes frees himself.

Warren pushes Barnes off and gets back to his feet.
Barnes tries to clinch but Warren is having none of it.

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 Clifton 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clifton Barnes!