PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paddy Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ O Brian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barnes
vs
O Brian

225 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

218 cm
23
298 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paddy Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, TJ O Brian!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Felipe Paraventi and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes shoots in for a takedown but O Brian shows good takedown defense.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barnes is defended easily by O Brian.
Barnes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has O Brian pinned against the cage. O Brian gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paddy Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

O Brian takes the fight into the clinch.

O Brian breaks from the clinch.

O Brian changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Barnes looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

O Brian thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Barnes prevents O Brian from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brian staying calm.

O Brian stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Barnes is breathing heavily.
Barnes blocks the body kick.
Barnes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but O Brian swivels and escapes.

O Brian shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Barnes is trying to defend but O Brian finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
O Brian looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Brian moves into full mount! Barnes won't be happy about that!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

O Brian stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
No luck for Barnes with that takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barnes is defended easily by O Brian.

Barnes tries to sprawl but O Brian drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

O Brian gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

O Brian shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
O Brian cracks Barnes with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
O Brian controlling from the full mount.
Barnes wants to control but O Brian is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Brian controlling the position easily from mount.
O Brian landing strikes from the mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
O Brian lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Barnes hang on?
O Brian controlling from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
O Brian cracks Barnes with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ O Brian dominated that round.
The cut man is working on TJ O Brian's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

O Brian closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - O Brian lands in his opponent's guard.
Barnes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
O Brian slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

O Brian pushes Barnes off and gets back to his feet.
Barnes misses with a takedown attempt

and O Brian counters with a shoot takedown. Barnes fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
O Brian is stalling in the full guard.
O Brian lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brian lands a couple of elbows.
O Brian has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
O Brian engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

O Brian gets to his feet. Barnes looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

O Brian clinches.
Barnes is trying to break free.
O Brian tries to pull guard but Barnes won't allow it.

O Brian pulls Barnes into guard.
Barnes being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Brian is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barnes wants to stand and escape but instead O Brian has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
O Brian passes Barnes's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
TJ O Brian has got the better of the ground game so far.

O Brian stands up and beckons Barnes to join him on the feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

O Brian darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
O Brian trying to mount his opponent but Barnes defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Brian is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Barnes is looking to control O Brian's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Barnes avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, O Brian seems content to control.

TJ O Brian has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
O Brian throws a one two combo.

It looks like Paddy Barnes has been cut.

O Brian is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Barnes's half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with O Brian in particular looking to stall.

O Brian stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

O Brian shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ O Brian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

O Brian decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
O Brian landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Barnes trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but O Brian manages to pass to mount!
O Brian controlling the pace for now.
Barnes taking shots to the head.
O Brian fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brian punishing his opponent with strikes.
O Brian controlling the position easily from mount.
O Brian is in the full mount, landing strikes.
O Brian with shots to the head and body - Barnes looks very uncomfortable down there.
Barnes is bucking up trying to escape but O Brian cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

O Brian is working for a guillotine from mount but Barnes frees his head quite easily.
O Brian controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Brian's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
O Brian manages to capitalize on a mistake by Barnes to take his back!
O Brian controlling the position well here. Barnes rolled but O Brian kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Brian loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Barnes hold on?

O Brian working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Barnes is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and O Brian has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Barnes taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). TJ O Brian!