PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lasi Leuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be. Lasi Leuka has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barnes
vs
Leuka

178 cm
34
153 lbs
30 - 20 - 3

167 cm
32
153 lbs
28 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

CEC Nutrition Q160

Ultra Fight Gear

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 30 - 20 - 3, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lasi Leuka!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leuka throws a wild body kick that Barnes sees coming a mile off.
Barnes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Leuka jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Leuka on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Leuka blocks a leg kick.
Barnes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Leuka.
Barnes has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Qube Striking in the buildup to the fight.

Leuka moves into the clinch successfully.
Leuka stalls.
Barnes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Barnes tries a body shot but Leuka blocks it.
Barnes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Barnes blocks an uppercut.
Leuka misses with a punch to the body.
Leuka stalls.
Leuka trying to stall but Barnes improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leuka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Leuka throws out a powerful jab.
Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Leuka ducks down to avoid it.
A shot to the liver by Leuka. Beautiful body shot.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Leuka tries to clinch but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes throws a nice outside leg kick.
Leuka lands a jab-cross combination.
Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Leuka ducks down to avoid it.
Leuka misses with the combination.
Leuka displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barnes throws out the jab.
Barnes throws a jab when Leuka was well out of range.
Leuka throws a sloppy head kick and Barnes moves out of range easily.
Leuka tries to clinch but Barnes is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Barnes.
Leuka scores with a nice strike.
Leuka lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barnes circles away quickly and effectively.
Barnes slips under a jab.
Leuka connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leuka throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Barnes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Leuka blocks a leg kick.
Leuka misses with a body punch
and Barnes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Barnes takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Barnes tries a low kick but Leuka avoids it.
Leuka misses with a double jab.
Leuka shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Barnes eats them both and turns towards Leuka to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Leuka is defended easily by Barnes.
Lasi Leuka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leuka fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Barnes looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Leuka scores with a nice head shot.
Leuka avoids the body shot from Barnes.
Leuka bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Barnes's head backwards.
Mike Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Leuka misses with a head kick.

Leuka closes the distance and clinches.
Leuka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barnes backwards.
A short right from Barnes on the inside.
Leuka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Leuka blocking some punches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Leuka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Leuka on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leuka managing to block the knees to the body from Barnes.
Barnes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Leuka blocks a body shot from Barnes.
Barnes misses with a punch to the body.
Barnes missing with knees to the body.
Leuka is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Leuka.
Barnes digs a right hand underneath Leuka's ribcage. Leuka let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Leuka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leuka throws a jab when Barnes was well out of range.
A jab from Leuka misses.
Barnes lands a jab to the nose.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes thuds a left hand into Leuka's body.
Leuka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Leuka tried to score with a low kick but Barnes checks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Leuka dominated that round.
That's time! Barnes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Barnes dodges the punch combination from Leuka.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
A shot to the liver by Barnes. Beautiful body shot.
Leuka 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.
Leuka misses with an uppercut.
Leuka falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barnes counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Barnes takes a swing at Leuka's ribcage but misses.
Leuka misses with a few strikes there.
Leuka wants to clinch.
Barnes walks into a stiff left hand from Leuka.
Leuka swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Barnes.
Leuka walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Barnes checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Leuka misses the shot to the body.
Leuka throws a hook to the side of Barnes's head but Barnes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Leuka looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnes is just out of range.
Leuka throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Barnes's head.
Barnes connects with a crisp jab.
Leuka misses with the combination.
Leuka connects with a single shot there.
Barnes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Leuka can pounce on him.
Leuka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barnes avoids the head kick by Leuka.
Leuka chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barnes can pounce on him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leuka takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leuka takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Leuka misses with a takedown attempt - Barnes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Leuka loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.
Barnes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Leuka misses with a body kick.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Leuka.
Leuka looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnes is just out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Leuka. That snapped Barnes's head back.
Leuka throws a jab when Barnes was well out of range.
Lasi Leuka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Leuka fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Barnes is out of range.
Leuka is looking to clinch.
Barnes scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Leuka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Leuka.
Lasi Leuka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Leuka ducks down to avoid it.
Barnes on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Barnes slips a jab and a cross from Leuka.
Barnes is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Leuka misses with a series of wild punches.
Leuka jabs Barnes to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Leuka scores with a jab to the head.
Barnes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leuka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Barnes tries to land a front kick but Leuka steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Leuka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barnes was well out of range. Poor timing from Leuka.
Leuka thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leuka looking to score a takedown here. Barnes is defending well but Leuka drives through and ends up in Barnes's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Barnes is looking to stand up but Leuka isn't so interested in that idea.
Barnes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leuka is one step ahead there.
Leuka won't allow Barnes to get back to his feet.
Leuka trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leuka wants to pass the guard but Barnes is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barnes is on top in guard.
Leuka wants to get back to his feet but Barnes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Leuka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A nice inside leg kick there by Barnes. That's going to slow Leuka down.
Leuka looks to throw the jab but Barnes is out of range.
Leuka keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Barnes slips a jab from Leuka.
Barnes dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Leuka. That did some damage!
Leuka just misses with a punch to the body.
Leuka feints a jab promting Barnes to slip. Leuka then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Barnes slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Leuka throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Leuka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Leuka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Leuka throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Leuka is just out of range.
Barnes dodges the punch combination from Leuka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leuka moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Leuka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A decent looking cross lands there for Leuka.

Leuka rushes Barnes and presses him up against the cage.
Leuka managing to block the knees to the body from Barnes.
Leuka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Leuka tries to work over Barnes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barnes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Barnes misses with a knee strike.
Barnes prevents a body shot from Leuka.
Barnes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Barnes stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Barnes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Leuka throws a punch but it's blocked by Barnes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Leuka is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Barnes tries a body shot but Leuka blocks it.
Leuka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Leuka misses with a punch on the inside.
Barnes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Barnes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barnes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Leuka backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Leuka throws a head punch that misses.
Barnes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Leuka taking a breather.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Leuka avoids it.
Mike Barnes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Barnes misses with an elbow over the top.
Leuka taking a breather.
Barnes pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Barnes just misses with a elbow thrown towards Leuka's brow.
Barnes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Leuka or not.
Leuka wants to get back to striking at distance but Barnes won't allow it.
Barnes comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Leuka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leuka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Leuka stalls.
Barnes lands a nice uppercut.
Barnes tries to land knees in the clinch but Leuka avoids the damage to the body.
Barnes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Leuka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Leuka misses with the head strike.
Mike Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leuka lands a nice shot to the body.
Barnes throws a punch but it's blocked by Leuka.
Barnes misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Barnes.
Leuka is stalling here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leuka on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Leuka is trying to maintain a safe position but Barnes gets an underhook and turns Leuka into the cage.
Lasi Leuka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Leuka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Barnes misses with a body punch.
Leuka taking a breather.
Barnes misses with a body punch.
Barnes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Leukas head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes lands with a left to the head.
Barnes throws an elbow but it misses.
Barnes missing with knees to the body.
Barnes has a couple of punches blocked by Leuka.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Leuka has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lasi Leuka!
Mike Barnes spoke after the fight, saying 'I love to stand up and bang. Even though I lost this was the fight for the fans'.