PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tall Guy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Barnet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Guy
vs
Barnet

220 cm
21
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
23
261 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tall Guy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Josh Barnet!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barnet looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Barnet postures up.

Guy is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barnet is aware though and is defending well.
Guy looking to control.
Barnet really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Guy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Barnet won't allow Guy to sweep him here.

Guy looking for a guillotine here but Barnet defends easily.
Barnet stopping the sweep attempt from Guy.
Barnet not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnet sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Guy's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Guy wants to control but Barnet is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Barnet in particular looking to stall.
Guy is looking to improve his position.
Barnet content to control rather than advance.
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.

Tall Guy has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Barnet shoots in but Guy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Guy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barnet circles away.
Barnet avoids the head kick by Guy.

Barnet closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Guy quickly recovers to half guard.
Barnet trying to control the pace.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Guy tries to kick Barnet off but Barnet keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Guy is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Barnet has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Barnet controlling the position easily from mount.
Guy tries to control Barnet's body but Barnet pushes him off. Guy squirms to his side and now Barnet has his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Guy wants to control his opponent's hands but Barnet gets his hands free.

Barnet is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Guy tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Barnet dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Barnet decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Guy tries to kick Barnet off but Barnet keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Barnet prevents Guy from improving his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Josh Barnet has got the better of the ground game so far.
Guy wants to improve his position but Barnet is controlling well.
Guy looks like he's trying to stand up.
Guy tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Barnet has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnet content just to control the position here.
Guy bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Barnet uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Barnet displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Guy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnet closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Guy's guard.
Barnet must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barnet looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Guy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnet tries to free his leg and advance position but Guy is retaining full guard.
Guy keeping moving, preventing Barnet from controlling successfully.

Josh Barnet has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Guy slaps away a takedown attempt from Barnet, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Barnet shoots in looking for a takedown. Guy tries to sprawl out of it but Barnet keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Guy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Guy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barnet paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Guy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barnet paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnet swats away the attempt to clinch by Guy.
Guy is looking to clinch.
Barnet circles away from the clinch attempt.

Guy rushes Barnet and presses him up against the cage.

Guy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barnet circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barnet avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Guy.
Barnet looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Guy is fending him off so far but Barnet persists. Nope, Guy circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Barnet showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Guy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Guy fails with a takedown attempt.
Guy misses with a double jab.
Nice takedown defense from Barnet. No joy for Guy on that attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Guy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tall Guy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnet stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barnet wants it to stay on the feet.

Barnet closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Guy quickly recovers to half guard.
Barnet looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Well, if Barnet is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnet tries to pass to full mount but Guy defends it.
Guy trying to control from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Guy throws a low kick but Barnet avoids it.
Barnet shoots for a takedown but Guy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Guy slaps away a takedown attempt from Barnet, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guy wants to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Barnet.
Guy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barnet avoids it really well and circles away.

Guy clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnet is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Guy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Guy attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Guy tries for a takedown but Barnet sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Guy tries to sprawl but Barnet drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Guy holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Guy is looking for a sweep. Barnet is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Guy is working hard here to advance position.
Barnet content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guy pushes Barnet off looking to stand but Barnet dives back in and keeps control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Guy closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Barnet's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnet avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Guy prevents Barnet from getting back to his feet.

Barnet is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Barnet is working for takedown but Guy is calmly controlling the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnet is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tall Guy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Barnet is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Guy creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Josh Barnet.
I've got Barnet winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Barnet!