PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Malvin Maldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maldi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Loituma TECHNO!. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maldi
vs
Barnes

170 cm
18
140 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

176 cm
19
143 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Malvin Maldi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barnes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Maldi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Barnes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Barnes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Maldi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Barnes.
Barnes is thwarting Maldi's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldi is staying active underneath Barnes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.
Maldi won't allow Barnes to pass to mount.
Maldi is trying to control but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barnes.
Barnes shoots in and drives through. Maldi sprawls well.
Good exchange - Maldi coming out on top.
Maldi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A combination from Maldi does no damage.
Barnes misses with a wild combination.
A nice combination there by Maldi.
Barnes shoots in but Maldi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Malvin Maldi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Barnes.
Maldi throws a hook to the side of Barnes's head but Barnes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Maldi does it's job there.
Maldi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A combination from Maldi does no damage.
Barnes shoots for a takedown but Maldi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Malvin Maldi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maldi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barnes.
Maldi throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Maldi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Maldi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Barnes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maldi.
Maldi scores with a nice head shot.
Maldi swings for the body but Barnes moves out of range.
Maldi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Maldi.
Barnes on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Maldi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barnes.
Barnes staying out of range there.
Maldi is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldi lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Barnes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Barnes closes the distance and clinches up with Maldi, looking for a takedown. Barnes pushes Maldi against the cage but Maldi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barnes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Barnes misses with a takedown attempt - Maldi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Maldi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maldi clobbers Barnes with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Barnes closes the distance and clinches up with Maldi, looking for a takedown. Barnes pushes Maldi against the cage but Maldi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Maldi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maldi digs a good hook to Barnes's body.
Barnes on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Maldi looks to land a combination but Barnes avoids it well.
Maldi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barnes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maldi scores with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malvin Maldi dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Maldi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A cross from Maldi lands.
Nice defenses there by Barnes.
Barnes shoots in for a double leg but Maldi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Maldi looks to throw the jab but Barnes is out of range.
Maldi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.
Barnes throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Maldi on the side of the head.

Barnes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Maldi wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Maldi is looking to regain half guard here but Barnes keeps moving and retains side control.
Maldi is not content to let Barnes control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes working away.
Maldi parries the strikes from Barnes easily there. Barnes is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Maldi to escape.
Barnes moves into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barnes trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maldi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Barnes with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldi is looking to improve his position but Barnes isn't that keen on the idea.
Maldi is in a horrible position here. Barnes smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Maldi gets back to half guard.
Barnes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Maldi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Maldi wants to improve his position but Barnes is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maldi looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Barnes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Maldi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Maldi stuffs the takedown.
Barnes ducks right into an uppercut from Maldi.
Maldi throws a right hand that Barnes ducks under and follows up with a left that Barnes also avoids with ease.
Barnes ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Maldi misses with the combination.
Malvin Maldi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Maldi pinned against the cage. Maldi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Maldi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Maldi just misses with a punch to the body.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Maldi.
Maldi connects with a crisp jab.
Barnes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maldi tries to avoid it but Barnes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maldi to the ground. Maldi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Malvin Maldi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Barnes.
A big left from Maldi misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes slips a jab and a cross from Maldi.
Maldi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barnes.
Maldi misses the jab.
Maldi misses with a double jab.

Barnes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ground and pound from Barnes seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Maldi tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Barnes has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Maldi has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes trying to control.
I really don't envy Maldi right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes missing with punches from the back.
Maldi covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

Barnes is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Maldi knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Maldi for a finish.

Maldi is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Barnes gets his way!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maldi is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Barnes gets his way!
Maldi manages to reverse the position and now he's in Barnes's guard. Nice work there by Maldi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Barnes really 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.

Maldi misses the shot to the body.
Barnes blocks a jab.
Barnes takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Maldi punishes Barnes's body with a nice straight punch.
Barnes on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Maldi!
Maldi throws a right hand that Barnes ducks under and follows up with a left that Barnes also avoids with ease.
Maldi misses with a few strikes there.
Maldi scores with a hook.
Barnes takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Maldi thows a body shot but no joy.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Barnes looks for a takedown but Maldi sprawls well.
Maldi throws a right and a left that Barnes avoids nicely.
Barnes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barnes.

Barnes scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Barnes connects with a nice short shot to Maldi's temple.

Barnes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Maldi is doing well to control the position and prevent Barnes from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldi is not content to let Barnes control the position.
Barnes passes the guard and advances to mount!
Barnes is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Barnes looking to finish Maldi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Maldi!
Maldi is bucking up trying to escape but Barnes cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Barnes breaks from Maldi's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Maldi is rocked!
Barnes scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Oh Maldi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Barnes lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldi wants to hold on but Barnes pushes him away.

Barnes is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Maldi can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Maldi seems to have got his legs back now.

Barnes jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Maldi manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Barnes is looking to take a break and control but Maldi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Barnes dominated that fourth round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Maldi misses with a wild body shot.
Barnes shoots in and drives through. Maldi sprawls well.
Maldi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Barnes shoots in for a double leg but Maldi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice sprawl there from Maldi as Barnes shoots in.
Malvin Maldi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Barnes.
Maldi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Barnes at a distance.
Maldi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Malvin Maldi is winning the standup battle so far.
Maldi works the jab nicely.
Maldi stuffs the takedown.
Maldi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maldi misses with a looping right.
Barnes shoots in and drives through. Maldi sprawls well.
Maldi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Maldi.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Barnes tries for a takedown but Maldi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes throws the kick towards the body but Maldi avoids it.
Maldi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barnes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maldi.
Barnes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maldi circles away.

Barnes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Barnes looking to control but Maldi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Barnes working for a guillotine from mount but Maldi is in no mood to give up.
Barnes looking to control but Maldi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnes has control of Maldi's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Maldi regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Maldi is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldi'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 breaks from Maldi's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Barnes looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Barnes trying to control but Maldi is having none of it.
Malvin Maldi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes working Maldi over with strikes here.
Barnes in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Barnes putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Barnes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barnes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 46:49
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 46:49
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Barnes!
Blake Barnes is the new bantamweight champion!