PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Barnet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlo Recto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Josh Barnet has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Barnet
vs
Recto

191 cm
23
261 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
264 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

Valhalla Fight Wear

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Josh Barnet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Carlo Recto!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnet shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Recto moves in looking to clinch but Barnet pushes him off.
Barnet misses with a takedown attempt

and Recto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Barnet looks like he's trying to stand up.
Barnet makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Barnet.
Barnet is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Barnet prevents Recto from improving his position.
Barnet is controlling the pace.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnet throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnet is trying to control the action in half guard but Recto is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Barnet looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Barnet seems to be working for a kimura but Recto defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Recto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barnet not doing much here.
Barnet prevents Recto from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnet passes the guard and advances to mount!
Recto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barnet. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Barnet wants to control the pace but Recto is squirming around nicely.
Barnet takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Recto really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Recto looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Recto should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Barnet slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Some wild striking there from Barnet.

Barnet closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Recto did well to prevent Barnet getting side control.
Barnet works his way into side control.

Barnet decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Barnet throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Recto gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Barnet to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Recto tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Recto is looking to sweep but instead, Barnet has passed into half guard.
Barnet is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Barnet is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Recto wants to improve his position but Barnet is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnet winds up and cracks Recto with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Barnet trying to control from half guard but Recto is working away.
Barnet not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Recto slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Recto 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Barnet slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Recto keeping moving, preventing Barnet from controlling successfully.

Josh Barnet has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
No joy there for Recto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice sprawl there from Barnet as Recto shoots in.
Josh Barnet is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good leg kick by Barnet there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Recto shoots in but Barnet avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Recto is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnet fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Recto manages to avoid it.
Recto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barnet is fending him off so far but Recto persists. Nope, Barnet circles away and we're back to standing.
Josh Barnet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlo Recto.
Horrible takedown by Barnet or perhaps it was just good defense by Recto which made him look bad.

Barnet closes the distance and pushes Recto back into the cage.
Barnet tries for a takedown but Recto manages to get underhooks.
Recto looking to stall.
Barnet lands a knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A shot in the inside from Barnet.

It looks like Carlo Recto has been cut.

Barnet jumps guard.
Recto wants to pass the guard but Barnet is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Barnet dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Carlo Recto's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Barnet closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Recto is trying to drag Barnet to the mat but Barnet just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Barnet tries for a takedown. No joy.
Barnet wants to take the fight to the mat but Recto manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Recto drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Recto is working for takedown but Barnet is calmly controlling the position for now.
Josh Barnet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlo Recto.

Recto pulls Barnet into guard.
Barnet trying to control but Recto is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Recto wants to stand but Barnet is controlling the position.
Barnet wants to control from the top but Recto keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Barnet controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Josh Barnet wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Barnet rushes Recto and presses him up against the cage.
Barnet blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Barnet is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Recto pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Barnet manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnet working a defensive guard here.
Recto trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barnet is on top in guard.
Recto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Carlo Recto was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Recto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Recto is trying to control. Barnet wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Barnet trying to hold on to Recto's head to control him but Recto postures up.
Barnet regains full guard. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnet manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Recto manages to get himself to full guard.
Barnet wants to control from the top but Recto keeps moving.
Barnet wants to pass the guard but Recto is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnet postures up in Recto's guard and throws a big left but Recto blocks it.
Barnet seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Barnet with a nice head shot there.
Carlo Recto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Barnet is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Recto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Barnet showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Barnet has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Barnet!
Josh Barnet took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Valhalla Fight Wear for their support in the buildup to the fight.