PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl De Groot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes comes to the cage accompanied by Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Barnes
vs
De Groot

178 cm
32
153 lbs
29 - 18 - 3

170 cm
33
158 lbs
38 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q160

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry
Project Mayhem

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 18 - 3, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Barnes!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Karl De Groot!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes lands a right hook to the body.
De Groot lands an overhand right.
De Groot goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
De Groot throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
De Groot thows a left - swing and a miss!
De Groot scores with a jab.
De Groot motions for Barnes to come forward. De Groot throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
De Groot pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
De Groot lands a nice looking body shot.
De Groot throws a half hearted mid kick.
De Groot throws a solid leg kick but Barnes takes the impact on his shin and smiles at De Groot.
De Groot pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
An inside leg kick from De Groot misses.
Barnes throws a right hand that De Groot ducks under and follows up with a left that De Groot also avoids with ease.
De Groot feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Barnes's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Groot checks a leg kick nicely.
De Groot swings away with a leg kick that misses.
De Groot connects with a leg kick. Barnes looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
De Groot lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A nice leg kick lands there from De Groot.
A telegraphed right hand from De Groot misses the target.
De Groot throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
De Groot missing with a left hand there. Barnes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
De Groot fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
De Groot buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
De Groot throws a looping overhand right but Barnes ducks down to avoid it.
De Groot misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Groot dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by De Groot.
De Groot misses the shot to the body.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses
and De Groot counters with a nice leg kick.
Barnes throws a hook but De Groot avoids it easily.
De Groot scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Barnes doesn't seem bothered though.
De Groot takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Groot throws a body kick that misses.
De Groot lands with a thumping leg kick.
De Groot tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Barnes is able to avoid easily.
De Groot lands a nice looking body shot.
De Groot pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
De Groot lands with an uppercut that bounces Barnes off the cage and back into range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes takes a swing at De Groot's ribcage but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. De Groot does a little dance to reset his feet.
De Groot cracks Barnes with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
That kick from De Groot tenderised Barnes's leg. Barnes is trying to keep his angry face on.
De Groot takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Karl De Groot seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Groot misses with a left hand

and Barnes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
De Groot lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barnes backwards.
De Groot tries to work over Barnes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
De Groot tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Knees in the clinch landing for Barnes.
Barnes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barnes lands a body shot in the clinch.
Barnes tries to work over De Groot's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barnes trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
De Groot lands a left hand that snaps the head of Barnes backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Groot avoids the elbow strike from Barnes, against the cage.
Good body shot from De Groot.
De Groot takes an elbow to the forehead.
De Groot doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
De Groot pushes Barnes back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short right from De Groot on the inside.
De Groot with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
De Groot pushes Barnes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barnes is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A short left from Barnes.
Barnes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Barnes lands a nice uppercut.
De Groot blocks an uppercut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barnes misses with some punches.
Barnes tries a body shot but De Groot blocks it.
De Groot tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
De Groot throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

De Groot throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
De Groot sizes up Barnes with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
De Groot thows a left - swing and a miss!
De Groot misses the shot to the body.
Barnes takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
De Groot throws a jab when Barnes was well out of range.
Barnes motions for De Groot to come forward. Barnes throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and De Groot moves out of range easily.
De Groot tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Barnes is able to avoid easily.
De Groot throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barnes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A low kick from De Groot misses
and Barnes counters with a straight right hand.
A low kick from De Groot misses
and Barnes counters with a good low kick that De Groot was not able to check.
Barnes checks a low kick from De Groot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Groot is looking to land body kicks.
Barnes on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Barnes throws a leg kick that is checked
letting De Groot counter with a right hand.
De Groot connects with a leg kick. Barnes looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
De Groot turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
De Groot lets loose with a powerful body kick. Barnes will feel that in the morning.
De Groot jabs at Barnes's body.
Barnes shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. De Groot eats them both and turns towards Barnes to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The fighters circling - De Groot throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
De Groot throws a quick inside leg kick.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and De Groot moves out of range easily.
Good work by Barnes as he checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Groot moves out of range as Barnes throws a body kick.
De Groot attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnes gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Barnes thows a body shot but no joy.
A chopping leg kick lands by De Groot.
Barnes throws a hook to the side of De Groot's head but De Groot sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
De Groot slips under a jab.
Barnes moves out of range of the body kick from De Groot.
De Groot throws a leg kick but Barnes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Barnes slips a jab from De Groot.
The fighters circling - Barnes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Barnes lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
De Groot throws a leg kick
and Barnes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
De Groot pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
De Groot misses with a kick to the body.
A jab lands there for Barnes.
Barnes on the wrong end of a nice hook.
De Groot ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
A low kick from De Groot misses
and Barnes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
De Groot misses with a leg kick
and Barnes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A jab from De Groot misses.
Barnes checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but De Groot was well out of range. Poor timing from Barnes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A low kick from De Groot misses
and Barnes counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from De Groot lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Barnes has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Barnes and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A nice inside leg kick there by De Groot. That's going to slow Barnes down.
Sloppy strikes from Barnes. Those never looked like landing.
Barnes takes a kick to the side of the head.
Barnes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by De Groot. De Groot obviously looking to wear him down.
De Groot throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A clash of legs there as De Groot blocks the low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
De Groot lands with a right hand.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
De Groot will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl De Groot showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Barnes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Barnes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but De Groot was well out of range. Poor timing from Barnes.
Barnes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and De Groot counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Barnes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. De Groot sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Barnes takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
De Groot with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Barnes steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from De Groot. That one must have hurt.
De Groot missing with a left hand there. Barnes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
De Groot lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Barnes throws the left hand but De Groot avoids the punch easily.
Barnes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and De Groot counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Barnes moves away from the strike by De Groot.
A nice inside leg kick there by De Groot. That's going to slow Barnes down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Groot works the jab nicely.
Barnes takes a body punch but keeps moving.
De Groot misses with an attempted mid kick.
De Groot connects with a single shot there.
De Groot connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barnes. Barnes circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Barnes blocks a leg kick.
Barnes checks a low kick from De Groot.
A jab from De Groot finds it's way through Barnes's defenses.
De Groot uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barnes.
De Groot throws a jab but it's blocked by Barnes.
Barnes misses with a body shot
and De Groot counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
De Groot lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barnes's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a nice head kick!
De Groot throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
De Groot buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barnes throws a front kick aimed at De Groot's knee but De Groot avoids it well.
Barnes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but De Groot circles away quickly and effectively.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
De Groot fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barnes.
A decent looking body kick lands there for De Groot.
Barnes pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces De Groot back to the cage. Barnes follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
De Groot connects with a looping right hand.
Barnes moves out of range of the leg kick from De Groot.
De Groot uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barnes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on De Groot. That did some damage!
De Groot misses with a low kick as Barnes jumps back.
Barnes will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
De Groot cracks the inside of Barnes's front leg.
De Groot fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Barnes is out of range.
De Groot throws a jab when Barnes was well out of range.
De Groot misses with a lunging right hand
and Barnes counters with a nice uppercut.
De Groot keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
De Groot misses with a body kick.
De Groot throws an off balance right hand
and Barnes counters with a leg kick.
Barnes throws a quick inside leg kick.
Barnes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before De Groot can pounce on him.
De Groot throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes avoids a kick to the body.
De Groot throws a shot to the body.
Barnes attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
De Groot fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Barnes has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
De Groot throws a poor cross that misses
and Barnes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps De Groot thinking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
De Groot connects with a body shot that sends Barnes's belly button to the back.
De Groot misses with a right hand
and Barnes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters circling - De Groot throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
De Groot swings away with a leg kick that misses.
De Groot tries to land a body kick
and Barnes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl De Groot really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Barnes scores with a nice strike.
Karl De Groot seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barnes darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
De Groot buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
De Groot lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A slow jab from De Groot misses its intended target.
De Groot works Barnes's body with a nice hook.
De Groot lands a jab to Barnes's midsection.
De Groot feints and then cracks Barnes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Barnes down.
De Groot looks to throw the jab but Barnes is out of range.
Barnes moves away from the strike by De Groot.
A low kick from De Groot is predictable there

and Barnes counters by moving into the clinch.
De Groot scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Groot lands an elbow inside that Barnes shrugs off.
De Groot working aggressively here.
Barnes looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Barnes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
De Groot tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
De Groot misses with a hook from the clinch.

Barnes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barnes throws the left hand but De Groot avoids the punch easily.
De Groot throws a lazy body kick

and Barnes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Barnes digs a right hand underneath De Groot's ribcage. De Groot let out a lung full of air as it connected.

De Groot escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barnes checks the leg kick.
De Groot connects with a solid leg kick.
De Groot chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for De Groot.
Barnes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by De Groot.
De Groot takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
De Groot throws out a powerful jab.
De Groot throws a leg kick but Barnes checks it.
Barnes takes one to the side of the head.
De Groot darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
De Groot takes a jab right on the kisser.
De Groot moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A bone on bone clash there as De Groot blocks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Groot throws a leg kick but Barnes sees it coming and moves out of range.
A jab lands there for Barnes.
De Groot throws a low kick but it's checked well by Barnes.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from De Groot.
De Groot throws a nice outside leg kick.
Barnes slips a jab from De Groot.
De Groot tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
De Groot is looking to chop away at Barnes's legs.
Barnes moves out of range as De Groot throws a body kick.
A jab from De Groot does it's job there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes avoids the head kick by De Groot.
Barnes connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Barnes is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
De Groot just misses with a punch to the body.
De Groot misses the shot to the body.
Barnes throws a right and a left that De Groot avoids nicely.
De Groot throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Barnes counters by clinching up.
De Groot pushes Barnes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barnes trying to land knees to the body.
Barnes trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes lands a damaging elbow.
Barnes tries to work over De Groot's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
De Groot on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
De Groot looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Karl De Groot will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Barnes sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
De Groot cracks Barnes with an open hand slap.
De Groot throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
Barnes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
De Groot swings for the body but Barnes moves out of range.
De Groot fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barnes.
Jab by Barnes.
De Groot misses with a hook
and Barnes counters with a straight right hand.
De Groot misses with a body shot.
De Groot fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.
That kick from De Groot tenderised Barnes's leg. Barnes is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Groot tries to work over Barnes's front leg with a kick but Barnes checks it.
Barnes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
De Groot lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Barnes slips a jab from De Groot.
De Groot throws a low kick, looking for Barnes's leg but Barnes calmly moves out of range.
De Groot blocks a jab.
Barnes misses with a wild combination.
De Groot misses with a kick to the body.
De Groot throws a leg kick
and Barnes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
De Groot looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Karl De Groot is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Groot throws a leg kick but Barnes sees it coming and moves out of range.
De Groot misses the body punch

and Barnes counters by clinching up.
De Groot doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
De Groot throws a head punch that misses.
Barnes wants to break free but De Groot has control.
Barnes has had enough of the clinch but De Groot keeps him there for the moment.
De Groot blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
De Groot has Barnes pressed against the cage, preventing Barnes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Barnes trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Groot lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
De Groot has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Barnes struggles to land a body shot inside as De Groot controls his hands.
Mike Barnes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Barnes missing with knees to the body.

De Groot breaks from the clinch.
Barnes walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
De Groot lands a body shot.
De Groot displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barnes throws out the jab.
Barnes throws out a loose jab but De Groot uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Mike Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
De Groot connects with the punch.
Barnes misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes drops his hands momentarily and De Groot takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Barnes uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
De Groot throws a big shot that misses.
De Groot feints and then cracks Barnes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Barnes down.
De Groot tries to score with a low kick but Barnes moves his leg out of the way.
De Groot connects with a jab.
De Groot throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Barnes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Groot connects with a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from Barnes misses.
De Groot checks a low kick from Barnes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karl De Groot comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got De Groot winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 45:50
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 45:50
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karl De Groot! Karl De Groot retains his featherweight title!
Karl De Groot seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.