PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jules Verne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clifton Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Verne comes to the cage accompanied by Christina Milian - When you look at me. This should be fireworks!

Verne
vs
Barnes

185 cm
19
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

182 cm
19
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Improved boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jules Verne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Clifton Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes pushes Verne away with a front kick.
Barnes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Verne moves out of range easily.
Barnes tries to clinch but Verne is having none of it.
Barnes tries to clinch but Verne is having none of it.
Verne connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Barnes momentarily.
Verne throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barnes's waist but Barnes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Verne off to one side.
No joy there for Barnes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barnes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barnes keeps Verne at a distance using the push kick.

Barnes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Barnes lands in his opponent's guard.
Verne trying to keep a closed guard but Barnes is proving a slippery customer.
Barnes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Verne is keeping the position for now.
Verne looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Verne is looking for a triangle but Barnes pushes his legs off easily.
Verne keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
Verne tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barnes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Barnes looking to sit in guard and control but Verne gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Verne wants to pass the guard but Barnes is keeping the position.

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.
Barnes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Verne trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Good standup being displayed there by Verne as he connects with a hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barnes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Verne swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnes.
Barnes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barnes misses with a looping left.
Barnes defending well as Verne loads up on a big left hand.
Barnes tries to clinch up.
Verne looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barnes is fending him off so far but Verne persists. Nope, Barnes circles away and we're back to standing.
Barnes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barnes tries to clinch but Verne moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verne misses with an uppercut.
Barnes tries to clinch there but Verne circles away.
Barnes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Verne.
Barnes misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Verne to counter with a crisp jab.
Barnes clinches but Verne breaks the clinch

and Verne counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barnes won't be happy with that.
Barnes is trying to control Verne's posture but Verne avoids it.
Sloppy strikes there by Verne.

Verne is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Barnes has escaped the position, nice work there.

Verne is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Barnes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Verne is breathing heavily.
Barnes is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Verne is staying active underneath Barnes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Barnes throwing shots but Verne is blocking nicely.
Verne is looking for a sweep. Barnes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barnes wants to control but Verne is keeping him busy.
Verne flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Barnes.
Barnes misses with a takedown attempt - Verne sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Barnes tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Verne counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barnes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jules Verne dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Verne shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Verne was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Verne jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Barnes is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Barnes and Verne has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Verne is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Barnes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Barnes manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Barnes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Barnes keeping full guard, as Verne tries to pass.
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 one minute gone in the round.
Verne throwing strikes from guard but Barnes blocks nicely.
Verne trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Barnes trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Verne postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Barnes is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Verne, into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Barnes is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Verne is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Verne has escaped and now he's on top!
Barnes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes landing punches.
Barnes trying to control but Verne is having none of it.
Barnes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Verne tries to hold on but Barnes postures up.
Barnes prevents Verne from getting the reversal.
Verne is working hard here to advance position.
Barnes trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Verne wants to hold on but Barnes pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verne is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Barnes trying to control but Verne is having none of it.
Barnes misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Barnes trying to control but Verne is having none of it.
Verne in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Barnes trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Verne is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Barnes thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Verne tries to reverse the position but Barnes maintains control.
Barnes looking to control but Verne is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Verne working to try and regain half guard.
Verne regains half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Verne looking for a kimura from the bottom but Barnes passes into side control!
Verne tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barnes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Clifton Barnes 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!

Verne throws a series of punches but Barnes moves out of range.
Verne tries to bum rush Barnes with a series of wild strikes but Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barnes tries to clinch up
and Verne cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Verne.
Verne changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barnes tries to avoid it but Verne manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barnes to the ground. Barnes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Barnes thows a body kick. Verne tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Verne throws a lazy body kick
and Barnes counters with a big head kick but Verne shrugs it off.
Barnes tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Verne counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barnes closes the distance looking to clinch
and Verne cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Verne keeps the fight on the outside.
Verne swings for the body but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes tries to clinch but Verne moves away
and Verne counters with a one-two to the body.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes darts in trying to clinch

and Verne counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Verne drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Barnes dives on top into guard.
Verne wants to sweep but no luck.
Verne keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.

Verne throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Barnes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Verne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Verne tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Verne is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Verne stands up and beckons Barnes to join him on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Verne.
Barnes lands with a kick to the temple. Verne shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Verne changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barnes tries to avoid it but Verne manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barnes to the ground. Barnes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Verne closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barnes circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jules Verne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown but Verne shows good takedown defense.
Barnes thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Verne if he has to take too many more of those.
Verne circles away from the clinch attempt.
Verne throws a series of punches but Barnes moves out of range.
Clifton Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Verne tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barnes swivels and escapes.
Barnes tries to clinch but Verne moves away
and Verne counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jules Verne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Verne misses with a double jab.
Barnes shoots for a double leg takedown but Verne sprawls well. He's pushed Barnes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Barnes walks into a straight right hand from Verne.
Verne misses with a low kick.
Barnes wants to clinch
and Verne counters with a left and a right that stings Barnes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barnes.
Barnes tries to clinch but Verne moves away
and Verne counters with a one-two to the body.
Barnes throws a hook but Verne avoids it easily.
Verne swinging wilding here.
Verne works the jab nicely.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Verne shoots for a double leg takedown but Barnes sprawls well. He's pushed Verne's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Barnes tries to clinch up

and Verne counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Barnes wants to control but Verne is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Verne is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barnes is just riding it out for now. Verne eventually gives up the hold.

Verne in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Barnes tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Verne!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jules Verne!