PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liha Rekka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barnes
vs
Rekka

195 cm
23
210 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

202 cm
23
220 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Untouchable Fight Nutrition

Perkele!
Hardcore Nutrition

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ben Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liha Rekka!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Rekka. That's going to slow Barnes down.
Rekka cracks the inside of Barnes's front leg.
Rekka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barnes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rekka throws a low kick but Barnes avoids it.

Rekka gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barnes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rekka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rekka with a knee to the head.

Barnes breaks from the clinch.
Barnes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rekka circles away quickly and effectively.
Rekka lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Rekka moves into the clinch successfully.
Barnes throws an elbow but it misses.
Rekka taking a breather.
Rekka looking to throw knees to the head but Barnes is blocking nicely.
Barnes misses with a hook to the ribs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rekka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Barnes avoids it.
Rekka trying to stall but Barnes improves his position.
With the fighters up against the cage, Barnes throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Barnes avoiding damage as Rekka throws knees to the body.
Barnes is trying to force a seperation but Rekka has the dominant position.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rekka avoids it.

Barnes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rekka fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Barnes checks it well.
Rekka throws a sloppy head kick and Barnes moves out of range easily.
Rekka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barnes misses with a body kick.
Rekka is looking to clinch but Barnes is avoiding it.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Barnes tried to score with a low kick but Rekka checks it.
Rekka throws a series of strikes that have Barnes backpedaling.
Barnes connects with an inside leg kick.
Rekka throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Barnes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Barnes throws a right hand that Rekka ducks under and follows up with a left that Rekka also avoids with ease.
Barnes motions for Rekka to come forward. Barnes throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Rekka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is looking to land body kicks.
Rekka throws a nice inside leg kick.
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 score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes checks a leg kick.
A low kick from Rekka is predictable there

and Barnes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rekka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barnes blocks it with crossed arms.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but Rekka blocks it.
Rekka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rekka looking to throw knees to the head but Barnes is blocking nicely.
Rekka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Barnes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but Rekka blocks it.
Rekka throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Barness head.
Barnes letting Rekka take a breather here.
Rekka throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes working Rekka over with knees to the body.
Rekka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rekka is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Barnes is keeping busy.
Rekka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rekka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rekka misses with a knee to the head.
Barnes has a couple of punches blocked by Rekka.
Rekka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Barnes is defending well for now.
Barnes looking to throw knees to the head but Rekka is blocking nicely.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rekka lands with a left to the head.
A knee to the head by Rekka.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rekka avoids it.
Rekka on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rekka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rekka looking to throw knees to the head but Barnes is blocking nicely.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Barnes blocks with his arms.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rekka.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Barnes scores with a knee to the head.
Rekka blocks an uppercut.
Barnes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rekka is defending well for now.
Rekka misses with a knee strike.
Rekka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Barnes lands a good knee to the midsection. Rekka won't want to take too many of those.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barnes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rekka misses with a knee strike.
Barnes being controlled against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liha Rekka dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Rekka is just out of range.
Rekka moves out of range as Barnes strikes.
Liha Rekka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rekka.
Barnes does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Rekka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barnes takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Rekka clinches up against the cage.
Rekka blocks a body shot from Barnes.
Barnes misses with a body punch.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but Barnes blocks it.
Rekka connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barnes's face.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but Rekka blocks it.
Barnes lands a hook that snaps the head of Rekka backwards.
Rekka stalling against the cage.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Barnes blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the head but Rekka blocks with his arms.
Barnes creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rekka with a knee to the head.
Barnes lands a nice knee to the body.
Rekka blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Barnes blocks an uppercut.
Barnes lands with a right to the head.
Liha Rekka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Barnes misses with some punches.
Still in the clinch, Barnes scores with a nice short uppercut.
Barnes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rekka blocks it with crossed arms.
Barnes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rekka is breathing heavily.
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!
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barnes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but Rekka blocks it.
Barnes misses with a knee strike.
Rekka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rekka throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Barnes just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rekka's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Barnes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but Barnes blocks it.
Barnes misses with an elbow strike.
Barnes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rekka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Barnes lands with a right to the head.
Rekka is trying to stall.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Barnes gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rekka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barnes.
Barnes lands an elbow just above Rekka 's eye.
Barnes managing to block the knees to the body from Rekka.
Barnes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes trying to land knees to the body.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barnes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barnes misses with the head strike.
Rekka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Barnes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barnes looking to throw knees to the head but Rekka is blocking nicely.
Barnes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barnes swings wildly with an uppercut but Rekka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rekka tries to stall but Barnes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Barnes misses with a punch to the body.
Barnes misses with a knee to the head.
Rekka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rekka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barnes.
Barnes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rekka.
Rekka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Barnes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rekka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barnes misses with a knee strike.
Rekka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Barnes lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rekka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barnes blocks it with crossed arms.
Knees in the clinch landing for Barnes.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Barnes avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Barnes throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rekka avoids a wild elbow strike from Barnes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barnes tries to land a knee to the head but Rekka blocks with his arms.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Barnes misses with some punches.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but Rekka blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Barnes dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Barnes lands a jab to Rekka's midsection.
Barnes throws a hook but Rekka avoids it easily.
Barnes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Rekka has closed the distance and engaged Barnes in a clinch.
Rekka is trying to stall.
Nice body punch from Rekka.
Rekka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Barnes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rekka has him pressed against the cage.
Rekka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barnes blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Barnes.
Barnes connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rekka's face.
Rekka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rekka leaning his opponent against the cage.
Barnes throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rekka in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rekka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rekka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barnes swings wildly with an uppercut but Rekka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rekka creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barnes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rekka tries to stall but Barnes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rekka blocks an uppercut.
Rekka avoids a wild elbow strike from Barnes.
Rekka looking to slow down the pace here.
Barnes throws an elbow but it misses.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but Barnes blocks it.
Rekka lands a knee to the head.
Barnes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the head but Rekka blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rekka blocks the elbow strike.
Barnes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rekkas head.
Barnes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Barnes lands a knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barnes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barnes struggles to land a body shot inside as Rekka controls his hands.
With the fighters up against the cage, Barnes throws an elbow but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Barnes fails to land.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barnes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rekka trying to stall but Barnes improves his position.
Barnes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rekka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Barnes blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rekka is trying to stall.
Barnes lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rekka avoiding damage as Barnes throws knees to the body.
A short left from Barnes.
Rekka is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Barnes is keeping busy.
Barnes missing with knees to the body.
Rekka takes a knee to the side of the body.
Barnes lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rekka.
Barnes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rekka blocks it with crossed arms.
Barnes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnes lands a body punch in the clinch.
Barnes misses with a knee to the head.
Barnes tries to land knees in the clinch but Rekka avoids the damage to the body.
Barnes missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws an elbow that misses.
Barnes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rekka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rekka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barnes blocks it with crossed arms.
Rekka takes an elbow to the temple.
Barnes landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Barnes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Barnes tries to land knees in the clinch but Rekka avoids the damage to the body.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barnes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Barnes lands a front kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rekka throws a leg kick
and Barnes counters with an inside leg kick.
Rekka tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Barnes is able to avoid easily.
Barnes tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rekka blocks a head kick by Barnes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Barnes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Barnes!
After winning the bout, Ben Barnes thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.