PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Davor Velcic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes comes to the cage accompanied by Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Barnes
vs
Velcic

178 cm
30
158 lbs
23 - 16 - 2

168 cm
29
154 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30 (5% Laundry SALE)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Davor Velcic!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice jab there from Velcic.
Sloppy strikes from Velcic. Those never looked like landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Velcic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Velcic misses with a looping right.
Velcic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barnes.
Barnes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Some bone on bone action there as Velcic checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Barnes checks a leg kick nicely.
Barnes pivots, looking for a leg kick but Velcic is out of range and Barnes settles back down.
Barnes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Velcic can pounce on him.
Velcic listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Barnes swinging wildly here.
Velcic works Barnes's body with a nice hook.
Velcic swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnes.
Velcic takes a swing at Barnes's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Velcic thows a body kick. Barnes tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Velcic avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A big right from Barnes misses.
The fighters circling - Barnes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Barnes looks to throw the jab but Velcic is out of range.
Velcic checks a low kick from Barnes.

Barnes gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Barnes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barnes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Velcic manages to get himself to full guard.
Velcic throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
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.
Velcic manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barnes manages to get himself to full guard.
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 tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Velcic passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Velcic misses with the ground and pound.
Barnes can't do much from the bottom here.
Velcic works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Velcic cracks Barnes with a big elbow.
Velcic trying to control the action but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Velcic looks up at the clock and then as Barnes takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Velcic smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Barnes is not content to let Velcic control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Velcic is pressing down on Barnes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Velcic is working an open guard so Barnes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Barnes looks to land a right hand but Velcic moved out of range.
Velcic lands a nice hook to Barnes's body. Barnes takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Barnes throws a nice looking combination but Velcic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Velcic fails with the takedown.
Velcic misses with a hook.
Barnes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Velcic moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Velcic.
Velcic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barnes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes moves out of range as Velcic strikes.
Barnes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barnes feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Velcic's calf.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnes throws a front kick aimed at Velcic's knee but Velcic avoids it well.
Barnes checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Nice defenses there by Velcic.
Velcic connects with a single shot there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes thows a body shot but no joy.
Velcic jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Barnes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Velcic misses with an uppercut
and Barnes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davor Velcic dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A nice leg kick lands there from Velcic.
Barnes lands a nice hook to Velcic's body. Velcic takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Barnes misses with a straight right.
Velcic misses with a looping right.
A low kick from Barnes misses
and Velcic counters with a head kick.
Barnes staying out of range there.
Velcic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barnes fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Velcic is out of range.
Velcic lands an overhand right.

Velcic shoots in and gets a takedown into Barnes's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnes is trying to control the position but Velcic postures up.
Barnes wants to stand and escape but Velcic is having none of it.
Barnes trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Barnes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velcic preventing the sweep.
Velcic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barnes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barnes looking for a sweep. Not yet Barnes, not yet.
Velcic is looking to work some ground and pound but Barnes has wrist control.
Barnes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Velcic's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Velcic trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Velcic passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Velcic scores with a couple of short elbows.
Barnes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Velcic.
Check out the look on Velcic's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Velcic is looking to take a break and control but Barnes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barnes is trying to control Velcic's posture but Velcic avoids it.
Velcic wants to control but Barnes is keeping him busy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velcic might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Barnes kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is trying to get back to half guard.
Barnes is not content to let Velcic control the position.
Barnes trying to remain calm as Velcic controls from the top position.
Velcic working the ground and pound.
Velcic in side control lands a decent elbow.
An elbow from Velcic crashes against the mat.
Barnes is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Velcic's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Barnes regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velcic wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velcic throws an elbow that misses. Barnes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Velcic's guard. Nice move by Barnes!
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!
Velcic wants to sweep here but Barnes controlling him for the moment.
Barnes wants to pass the guard but Velcic is keeping the position.
Barnes won't allow Velcic to sweep him here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velcic is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Nice strikes from Velcic there.
Velcic is looking to advance position but Barnes won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davor Velcic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Barnes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barnes throws a shot to the body.
Velcic throws a hook but Barnes avoids it easily.
Barnes tries to bum rush Velcic with a series of wild strikes but Velcic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barnes defending well as Velcic loads up on a big left hand.
Barnes throws a leg kick that misses.
Velcic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barnes.
Velcic throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Velcic looks to throw the jab but Barnes is out of range.
Velcic thows a left - swing and a miss!
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Velcic manages to avoid it.
Barnes throws a big shot that misses.
Velcic throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velcic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Velcic throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Velcic scores with a sloppy right hand. Barnes should have avoided that one.
Velcic changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Davor Velcic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Velcic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Velcic throws a hook but Barnes blocks it.
Barnes lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Davor Velcic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes staying out of range there.
Velcic misses with a low kick.
Decent striking displayed by Barnes there.
Velcic blocks a head kick by Barnes.
Mike Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velcic scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Barnes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Velcic manages to avoid it.
Velcic misses with the combination.
Barnes tries to land a leg kick but Velcic saw it coming and moves away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes misses with a kick to the body.
The crowd cheers as Barnes lands an impressive looking overhand right. Velcic doesn't seem phased though.
Barnes misses with a looping left.
Nice body punch from Velcic.
Barnes fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Velcic is out of range.
Velcic connects with a nice looking jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Barnes. That snapped Velcic's head back.
Velcic is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barnes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Velcic throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Barnes throws a low kick but it's checked well by Velcic.
Velcic scoring well with a low kick there.
Velcic takes a swing at Barnes's ribcage but misses.
Barnes's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Velcic connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barnes scrambles back to his feet.
A leg kick checked by Barnes.
Barnes throws a wild body kick that Velcic sees coming a mile off.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Velcic.
Barnes dodges the punch combination from Velcic.
Mike Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A big left from Barnes misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velcic swings for the body but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Velcic lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Barnes.
Velcic scores with a nice strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Velcic.
A big left from Barnes misses.
Barnes misses with an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velcic cracks Barnes with a right hand to the side of the head.
Barnes takes one to the side of the head.
Barnes scores with a sloppy right hand. Velcic should have avoided that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Davor Velcic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Velcic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Davor Velcic!
A relieved looking Davor Velcic thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.