PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabe McFinney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barnes
vs
McFinney

180 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

184 cm
25
230 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of London, John Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Gabe McFinney!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McFinney shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Barnes's guard.
Barnes could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Barnes kicks McFinney off and gets to his feet.
A combination from Barnes does no damage.
Barnes motions for McFinney to come forward. Barnes throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McFinney has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McFinney.
McFinney swings for the body but Barnes moves out of range.

McFinney scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
This has been an exciting period of action!

McFinney swings around for an armbar but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into McFinney's guard.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but McFinney is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Barnes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

McFinney is working an open guard so Barnes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McFinney closes the distance and pushes Barnes back into the cage.
McFinney is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Barnes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Barnes changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McFinney fights it off and pushes away nicely.
McFinney connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Barnes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Barnes is breathing heavily.

McFinney darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
McFinney content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Barnes tries to get to full guard but McFinney has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McFinney is trying to control the action in half guard but Barnes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McFinney controlling the pace.
McFinney really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barnes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
McFinney is looking to take a break and control but Barnes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Gabe McFinney has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
McFinney tries to clinch but Barnes moves out of range.
McFinney fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes shoots and misses
and McFinney counters with a series of strikes. Barnes will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McFinney looks to land a combination. Barnes sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like John Barnes has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McFinney moves into the clinch.
Barnes has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
McFinney wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McFinney drops down looking for an ankle pick but Barnes pulls his leg out and moves away.

McFinney dives in and scores a takedown into Barnes's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McFinney trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McFinney wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
McFinney working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes looking for a sweep. Not yet Barnes, not yet.
McFinney looking to sit in guard and control but Barnes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
McFinney wants to sweep here but Barnes controlling him for the moment.
McFinney has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Barnes has passed into side control.
Barnes is looking to take a break and control but McFinney is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Barnes has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe McFinney dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Barnes's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McFinney tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barnes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Barnes clinches up with McFinney and pushes him back against the cage.
Barnes drops down looking for an ankle pick but McFinney pulls his leg out and moves away.
McFinney tries to clinch but Barnes moves out of range.
McFinney avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McFinney tries to bum rush Barnes with a series of wild strikes but Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barnes keeps the fight on the outside.
McFinney throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McFinney stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McFinney wants it to stay on the feet.
McFinney tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barnes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McFinney is looking to clinch but Barnes is avoiding it.

Barnes gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows McFinney to score an easy takedown into full guard.

McFinney has gone for a leg lock! Barnes slips out almost immediately though and dives into McFinney's guard.
McFinney looking to control but Barnes passes into half guard.
McFinney tries to roll over but Barnes keeps him under control.
McFinney keeping hold of Barnes's head, controlling as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McFinney is looking to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if McFinney can do anything to dispel that myth.
McFinney is looking to escape.
Barnes controlling the action here.

Barnes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
McFinney is looking to control Barnes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McFinney avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barnes stands up out of the half guard.

McFinney scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barnes is not content to let McFinney control the position.
Barnes manages to get to full guard.
McFinney tries to stand but Barnes is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McFinney looking to sit in guard and control but Barnes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Barnes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Barnes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Barnes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
McFinney is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McFinney looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe McFinney showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Barnes's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The fighters circle momentarily. McFinney darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
McFinney wants to clinch but Barnes slips to the side

and Barnes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
McFinney tries for a takedown. No joy.
McFinney tries to pull guard but Barnes holds him up against the cage and eventually McFinney drops back down to his feet.

McFinney breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

McFinney shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

McFinney got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barnes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McFinney has managed to get both his arms back between Barnes's legs - danger averted.
Barnes is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McFinney not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Barnes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McFinney can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McFinney cracks Barnes with a solid left hand.
McFinney wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
McFinney in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McFinney wants to stand and escape but instead Barnes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes postures up.
McFinney throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Barnes got a little sloppy there for a moment and McFinney has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barnes has managed to get both his arms back between McFinney's legs - danger averted.

Barnes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McFinney manages to avoid it.
Barnes slaps away a takedown attempt from McFinney, before circling back to the center of the mat.
John Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabe McFinney.
McFinney slips a jab from Barnes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McFinney tries to clinch

and Barnes moves into the clinch.

McFinney ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. McFinney no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
McFinney keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.

McFinney has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Barnes is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for McFinney.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McFinney is not content to let Barnes control the position.
McFinney is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Barnes is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McFinney is trying to reverse the position but instead Barnes has taken his back - oops!
Barnes avoiding McFinney 's attempts to control his hands.
Barnes tries to keep control of the position but McFinney is staying busy.
Barnes is striking well from the back but McFinney escapes and manages to control the positon and works his way to half guard. A much better position - the crisis is over for the time being.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McFinney wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabe McFinney comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McFinney 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabe McFinney!