PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Julius Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashad Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Julius Maia has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Maia
vs
Barnes

179 cm
26
205 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
206 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q159 (*$75*)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Julius Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rashad Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes looks to land a left hand but Maia moved out of range nicely.
Barnes throws a shot from downtown. Maia moves away and avoids it.

Barnes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Maia has clasped his hands together around Barnes's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Barnes is looking to regain half guard here but Maia keeps moving and retains side control.
The strikes coming from Maia are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Barnes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Maia tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Maia has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Maia looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maia creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Barnes sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes tries to bench press Maia off him but Maia keeps the position.

Maia tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Maia misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Barnes is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia wants to control but Barnes is keeping him busy.
Barnes tries to improve position but can't.
Maia working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Maia is looking to take a break and control but Barnes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to improve position but can't.
Barnes dodges the ground and pound from Maia.
Maia tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Maia tries to score with some ground and pound. Barnes controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Maia swings around for an armbar but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Maia's guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maia is trying to control the position but Barnes postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barnes defends well.

Barnes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Maia looking for a guillotine here but Barnes defends easily.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Barnes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maia swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Maia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barnes defends it easily.
Barnes slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Maia is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Barnes is pressing down on Maia's thigh, looking to free his foot. Maia is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Maia 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.

Barnes tries to clinch but Maia is having none of it.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maia manages to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Barnes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barnes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barnes is fending him off so far but Maia persists. Nope, Barnes circles away and we're back to standing.
Barnes cracks Maia with a good jab.

Barnes moves into the clinch.
Barnes digs a right hand into Maia's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Maia's gas tank.
Maia prevents a body shot from Barnes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barnes has hold of one of Maia's legs. Maia is fighting the takedown attempt but Barnes gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Maia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Barnes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Barnes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maia is keeping the position for now.
Barnes stands and throws Maia's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Barnes throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia is letting Barnes control him for a moment.
Barnes misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Maia sneaks back into half guard.
Barnes is keen to just control but Maia is a slippery customer.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Maia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barnes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Maia actively working from the bottom here.
Barnes is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Maia is trying to escape the mount.
Barnes with shots to the head and body - Maia looks very uncomfortable down there.
Maia is working to get back to half guard.
Maia regains half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maia gets full guard.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Maia is on top in guard.
Barnes controls Maia momentarily but Maia frees himself.

Maia drops back, looking for a kneebar! Barnes looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Barnes looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Barnes!
Maia is not content to let Barnes control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Barnes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Maia circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maia takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Barnes tries to clinch there but Maia circles away.
Barnes scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Barnes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Barnes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Barnes taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Barnes can't find room to land a body shot as Maia controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barnes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Barnes gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Barnes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Barnes tries to pass to full mount but Maia defends it.
Maia wants to get back to full guard.
Maia regains full guard. Nicely done.
Barnes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Maia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barnes is aware though and is defending well.
Barnes throws a big elbow that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Barnes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barnes has managed to get both his arms back between Maia's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Maia working for submissions but it's allowed Barnes to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnes is nestled in close to Maia, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Barnes decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Maia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia shoots in looking for a takedown but Barnes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Maia's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rashad Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Maia tries to keep at a distance but Barnes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Maia can't get the takedown.

Barnes turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Barnes manages to end up in side control.
Maia is trying to get back to half guard.
Barnes wants to take a breather but Maia manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Barnes.
Barnes wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.

Maia has his foot on Barnes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barnes works his way back into a safe position though.

Barnes stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Maia has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Barnes manages to get his head free but now Maia has transitioned to an armbar! Barnes grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Maia! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Julius Maia!
An out of breath Julius Maia thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.