PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Barnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Collten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barnett
vs
Collten

191 cm
27
256 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

191 cm
20
240 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josh Barnett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Collten!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Collten closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Collten falls off balance throwing a combination

and Barnett counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Collten's guard now.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Collten is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Barnett is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnett looking to pass the guard.
Barnett would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Collten really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barnett. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnett is stalling in the full guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Josh Barnett wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Barnett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Collten.
Barnett tries to clinch

and Collten counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Collten.
Collten must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Collten wants to control from the top but Barnett keeps moving.
Barnett is pulling down on Collten's head. It's preventing any offense from Collten, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnett is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Barnett controlling Collten's posture.

Barnett working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Collten doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Collten manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Collten being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Collten throws a right and a left that both miss.
Collten misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barnett.
Collten lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Collten.
Barnett avoids the head kick by Collten.
Collten misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett tries to clinch
and Collten counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Barnett is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Collten throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barnett doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Collten counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Collten lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barnett circles away quickly and effectively.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barnett looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barnett shoots for a double leg takedown but Collten sprawls well. He's pushed Barnett's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Collten throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Barnett shoots in for a takedown but Collten shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Barnett. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Collten clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Josh Barnett will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barnett decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Collten is trying to control but Barnett passes into side control!
Barnett working away.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Collten can't do much from the bottom here.
Josh Barnett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barnett is staying tight to Collten's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Collten is looking for a sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Collten fails with the takedown.
Barnett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Collten paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barnett tries for a takedown but Collten sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Barnett shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Barnett trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Collten manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collten trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnett is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barnett shoots in for a takedown but Collten shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Josh Barnett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collten takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Barnett misses with a takedown
and Collten counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Barnett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Collten digs a good body shot into Barnett's ribs.
Josh Barnett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Barnett feints and as Collten raises his hands in defense, Barnett changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barnett trying to control but Collten is working from the bottom.
Collten is trying to control the position but Barnett postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Collten falls off balance throwing a combination

and Barnett counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Collten is trying to hold Barnett in close to prevent damage but Barnett has managed to pass into half guard.
Barnett is thwarting Collten's attempts to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnett trying to control the action but Collten is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Barnett dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Collten throws a half hearted mid kick.
Barnett throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A punch combination from Collten misses.
Collten throws a nice looking combination but Barnett bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barnett tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Collten counters with a three punch combo that has Barnett backing up. Barnett nods at Collten to acknowledge the strikes.
Barnett with a poor takedown
and Collten counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Barnett tries to clinch

so Collten counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Barnett pulls Collten in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnett wants to stand and escape but Collten is having none of it.
Collten would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Barnett looking for a sweep. Not yet Barnett, not yet.

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

Barnett has Collten up against the cage in a clinch.
Collten is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Barnett gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnett turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Barnett manages to end up in side control.
Barnett working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Barnett advances to mount.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnett throws a strike aimed at the side of Collten's head but Collten avoids it well.
Collten wants to control but Barnett postures up.

Barnett is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Collten knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Collten is looking to regain half guard here but Barnett keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Collten is trying to buck Barnett off.
You can see the frustration on Collten's face as Barnett controls the position.
Collten tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Collten wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Barnett stands up and beckons Collten to his feet.

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 Josh Barnett.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barnett, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Barnett!
Josh Barnett decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.