PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brad Brunch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Brunch
vs
Barnes

180 cm
23
222 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

194 cm
28
208 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Brad Brunch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Barnes!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brunch throws a poor cross that misses

and Barnes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Brunch misses with a short punch on the inside.
Brunch misses with a hook from the clinch.
Brunch is trying to force a seperation but Barnes has the dominant position.
Brunch fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Brunch blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short right from Brunch on the inside.
Barnes scores a nice knee to the body.
Barnes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Barnes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Brunch's efforts to push away.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barnes has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Brunch is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Barnes lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Brunch.
Brunch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Brunch throws an off balance right hand
and Barnes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Brunch thinking.
Brad Brunch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brunch misses with a wild body shot.
Barnes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Brunch.
Nice shot lands for Brunch.
We've been told by Brunch's head coaches at Rift Fighting Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Brunch checks a low kick from Barnes.
A jab from Brunch misses.
Barnes just misses with a punch to the body.
Brunch misses with a looping left.
Barnes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barnes throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brunch loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.
Brunch misses with an uppercut
and Barnes counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Brunch does a little dance to reset his feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Brunch, as that shot connected.
Brunch blocks a low kick nicely.
Brunch throws a lazy uppercut

and Barnes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Brunch misses with some punches.
Barnes landing knees to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Brunch stalling in the clinch but Barnes improves position.
Barnes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Brunch is breathing heavily.
A right hand to the body from Barnes.
Barnes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Barnes.
Barnes lands with a right to the head.
Barnes scores with a shot to the side of Brunch's head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Barnes.
Barnes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Brunch backwards.
Barnes lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Barnes unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Barnes landing knees to the head.

It looks like Brad Brunch has been cut.
Barnes with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Barnes lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Barnes landing knees to the head.
Barnes presses Brunch against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Barnes with a knee to the head.
Barnes unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Barnes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Barnes obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Barnes - that landed with a thud.
Barnes landing knees to the head.
Barnes landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Barnes landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Barnes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Brunch backwards.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A right hand to the body from Barnes.
Barnes landing knees to the body.
Barnes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Barnes lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Brunch.
A short right from Barnes.
Barnes scores a nice knee to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barnes working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Barnes connects with a knee to the head.

Brunch is rocked!
A nice left hand lands by Barnes.
Oh Brunch is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Barnes lands a big knee to the head and Brunch goes down! Barnes pounces and finishes the fight with strikes! He jumps to his feet and celebrates with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Barnes!
An intense looking John Barnes took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'I want to thank Clifton for sparing with me and helping me prepare for Esa. I also want to thank my fans for supporting me and I plan on getting another title shot really soon.'.