PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnson Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Louis Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes comes to the cage accompanied by GNG BNG. This should be fireworks!

Barnes
vs
Rodriguez

172 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johnson Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Louis Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez misses with a body shot.
Barnes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barnes tries to move into range but Rodriguez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Johnson Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rodriguez circles away quickly and effectively.
Barnes chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Barnes tries to clinch but Rodriguez is having none of it.
No joy there for Rodriguez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barnes takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Rodriguez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barnes moves away.
Barnes misses with a takedown attempt - Rodriguez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Barnes takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Barnes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rodriguez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Rodriguez moves out of range easily.
Rodriguez lands a nice looking body shot.
Rodriguez loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes wants to clinch up but Rodriguez keeps it at a distance.
Rodriguez lets loose with a powerful body kick. Barnes will feel that in the morning.
Rodriguez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barnes looks for a takedown but Rodriguez sprawls well.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Barnes moves into range and clinches up with Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barnes.
Barnes has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rodriguez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnson Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez is pressed up against the cage. Barnes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rodriguez down to the mat. Rodriguez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Barnes shoots for a takedown but Rodriguez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rodriguez with a hook.
Rodriguez lands a jab to Barnes's midsection.
Barnes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rodriguez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barnes lands a leg kick that knocks Rodriguez off balance momentarily.
Rodriguez throws a series of punches but Barnes avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rodriguez scores with a leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodriguez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rodriguez misses with a series of wild punches.
Barnes's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rodriguez connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barnes scrambles back to his feet.
Rodriguez has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rodriguez feints a jab promting Barnes to slip. Rodriguez then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Barnes slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Barnes walks into a left hand.
Barnes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodriguez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barnes wants to clinch.
Rodriguez lands a nice hook to Barnes's body. Barnes takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Barnes drops his hands momentarily and Rodriguez takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez looks to throw the jab but Barnes is out of range.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rodriguez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Barnes doesn't seem bothered though.
Rodriguez throws out a powerful jab.
Barnes on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rodriguez misses the shot to the body.
Rodriguez tries to work over Barnes's front leg with a kick but Barnes checks it.
Rodriguez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rodriguez scores with a nice strike.
Barnes moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Barnes misses with a head kick.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rodriguez counters with a nice leg kick.
Rodriguez scores with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Barnes momentarily.

Barnes closes the distance and clinches.
Barnes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Barnes wants a takedown but no success here.
Rodriguez misses with a knee strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnes lands a good knee to the midsection. Rodriguez won't want to take too many of those.
Barnes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rodriguez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Rodriguez pulls guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet but Barnes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Barnes trying to move into half guard but instead Rodriguez has managed to sweep!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes managing to control the position.

Barnes is looking for a triangle here but Rodriguez uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Barnes is breathing heavily.
Barnes is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis Rodriguez dominated that round.
That's time! Barnes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rodriguez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a series of punches but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to avoid it but Barnes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Barnes wants to clinch.
Rodriguez lands a nice looking body shot.
Johnson Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodriguez connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Barnes momentarily.
Barnes tries to land a front kick but Rodriguez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rodriguez jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rodriguez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Barnes.
Rodriguez checks a low kick from Barnes.
Rodriguez shoots in and drives through. Barnes sprawls well.
Barnes moves forwards but Rodriguez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rodriguez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rodriguez.
Barnes shoots for a takedown but Rodriguez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Barnes takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Barnes. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Rodriguez cracks a nice hook into Barnes's ribs.
Rodriguez looks to land a combination but Barnes avoids it well.
Louis Rodriguez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barnes ducks right into an uppercut from Rodriguez.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnson Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez scores with a jab. Barnes acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Barnes wants to clinch.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barnes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodriguez fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rodriguez.
Barnes has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Rodriguez.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rodriguez works Barnes's body with a nice hook.
Barnes drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Barnes takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rodriguez. That's going to slow Barnes down.
Barnes on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rodriguez looks to land a combination but Barnes avoids it well.
Barnes tries to clinch up.
Rodriguez connects with a single shot there.
Rodriguez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barnes.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barnes sprawls well. Barnes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rodriguez.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez fails to land the takedown.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.

Rodriguez gets tackled into the cage by Barnes. Barnes maintains the clinch.
Barnes tries to land knees in the clinch but Rodriguez avoids the damage to the body.
Rodriguez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Barnes prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Barnes obliges.
Rodriguez throws an elbow but it misses.
Rodriguez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes landing knees to the head.
Barnes stalling in the clinch but Rodriguez improves position.
Rodriguez takes a knee right on the jaw!
A right hook to the body lands for Barnes.
Barnes presses Rodriguez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rodriguez takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rodriguez looking to throw knees to the head but Barnes is blocking nicely.
Rodriguez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Barnes is defending well for now.
Barnes can't get the takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Barnes gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rodriguez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes looking to pass the guard.
Barnes is looking to work some ground and pound but Rodriguez has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Louis Rodriguez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodriguez connects with a body shot.
Barnes tries to move into range but Rodriguez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Barnes drives through with a takedown into Rodriguez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rodriguez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Barnes throws a big elbow that misses.
Rodriguez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barnes's guard.
Rodriguez trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rodriguez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rodriguez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barnes controls Rodriguez momentarily but Rodriguez frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez drops back looking for a leg! Barnes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Barnes manages to kick Rodriguez off! Rodriguez jumps back into Barnes's guard.
Barnes has Rodriguez pulled in close to control his posture.
Rodriguez trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Barnes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barnes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rodriguez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barnes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rodriguez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Barnes's head.
Rodriguez preventing the sweep.
Rodriguez throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez landing with the ground and pound.

Rodriguez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Barnes has control of Rodriguez's left arm, preventing Rodriguez from doing any damage.
Barnes controls Rodriguez momentarily but Rodriguez frees himself.
Rodriguez slips nicely into half guard.
Rodriguez tries to pass to full mount but Barnes defends it.
Johnson Barnes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rodriguez is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Barnes is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Louis Rodriguez!
Louis Rodriguez spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.