PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gordon Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Barnet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Freeman
vs
Barnet

190 cm
28
220 lbs
10 - 11 - 1

191 cm
27
261 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 10 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Gordon Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Josh Barnet!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnet throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Freeman misses with a jab, cross combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barnet is defended easily by Freeman.
Barnet shoots for a takedown but Freeman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Barnet throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Freeman's waist but Freeman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barnet off to one side.
Gordon Freeman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Barnet.
Barnet fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Freeman avoids it really well and circles away.
Freeman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Freeman. No joy for Barnet on that attempt.
Gordon Freeman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barnet tries to score a power double leg takedown but Freeman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barnet somewhat.
Barnet fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barnet throws a sloppy head kick and Freeman moves out of range easily.
Freeman misses with a low kick.
Freeman connects with a crisp jab.
Barnet shoots for a double leg takedown but Freeman sprawls well. He's pushed Barnet's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Barnet tries to land a leg kick but Freeman saw it coming and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnet shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Freeman's guard.
Freeman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Freeman tries to get out of the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Freeman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barnet is controlling him.
Freeman wants to sweep here but Barnet controlling him for the moment.
Barnet stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Freeman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Freeman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnet pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Freeman is keeping the position for now.

Gordon Freeman has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Freeman lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Barnet shoots in for a takedown but Freeman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Barnet shoots in but Freeman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Freeman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnet closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Freeman to the mat! Freeman manages to get full guard.
Barnet postures up in Freeman's guard and throws a big left but Freeman blocks it.
Barnet's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Josh Barnet wasn't active enough on the ground.
Barnet wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Barnet dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Barnet closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Freeman did well to prevent Barnet getting side control.
Barnet tries to pass to full mount but Freeman defends it.
Barnet takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Barnet sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Freeman defending well though.
Barnet throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnet is looking to advance position but Freeman won't allow it.
Barnet has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Barnet swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Freeman throws a leg kick

and Barnet counters with a takedown into side control.
Barnet misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Barnet controlling the position.
Freeman wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnet trying to control the position but Freeman is working away.

Barnet looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barnet tries for a kimura but Freeman is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnet taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnet is looking to take a break and control but Freeman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Barnet throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
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.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Barnet looks for a takedown but Freeman sprawls well.
Gordon Freeman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnet throws a head kick that misses.
Barnet misses with a wild combination.

Barnet throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Freeman was covering up waiting for the punch and Barnet finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Freeman knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barnet on the ground.
Barnet sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Josh Barnet has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Freeman pushes Barnet off and gets back to his feet.
Freeman scores with a jab to the head.
Barnet falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barnet takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnet lands with a kick to the temple. Freeman shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Gordon Freeman has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnet tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Freeman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Barnet. That's going to slow Freeman down.
Barnet misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Barnet throws a head kick but Freeman moves out of range.
Freeman dodges the punch combination from Barnet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnet fails with the takedown
and Freeman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gordon Freeman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Barnet.
Barnet shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Freeman sprawls well. Freeman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barnet gets slowly back to his feet.
Barnet closes the distance and clinches up with Freeman, looking for a takedown. Barnet pushes Freeman against the cage but Freeman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barnet shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Freeman pinned against the cage. Freeman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Barnet drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Barnet takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Barnet is controlling him well.
Gordon Freeman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barnet is looking to take a break and control but Freeman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Barnet comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barnet 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Barnet!
Josh Barnet managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Ultra Fight Gear, into his post fight interview.