PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sigvard Aurelius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes comes to the cage accompanied by Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be. Aurelius has chosen T.I. - Go Get It as his entrance music. 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.

Barnes
vs
Aurelius

178 cm
34
153 lbs
31 - 21 - 3

156 cm
37
148 lbs
29 - 10 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Meet the Future

Diamond Nutrition 160q

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 31 - 21 - 3, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Sigvard Aurelius!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aurelius throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
Aurelius misses with a hook

and Barnes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Barnes.
Barnes lands a nice knee to the body.
Aurelius looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Barnes pushes Aurelius back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Aurelius working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Barnes working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Aurelius.
Aurelius blocks a body shot from Barnes.
Aurelius misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barnes lands an uppercut.
Barnes trying to land knees to the body.
Aurelius avoiding damage as Barnes throws knees to the body.
Aurelius tries to work over Barnes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Aurelius manages to break the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Aurelius. That's going to slow Barnes down.
Barnes has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Aurelius.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aurelius misses with a leg kick
and Barnes counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Aurelius.
Aurelius tries to score with a low kick but Barnes moves his leg out of the way.
Aurelius misses the shot to the body.
Barnes takes a swing at Aurelius's ribcage but misses.
Aurelius scores with a nice strike.
Aurelius throws a low kick but Barnes avoids it.
Aurelius misses with a low kick.
Aurelius tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fighters circling - Aurelius throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Barnes lands a leg kick that knocks Aurelius off balance momentarily.
Aurelius throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Aurelius checks it well.
Aurelius 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.
Aurelius throws a half hearted mid kick.
Barnes takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Barnes connects with a high kick.
Aurelius throws an off balance right hand
and Barnes counters with a stiff right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aurelius lands with a thumping leg kick.
Aurelius loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Barnes darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Barnes avoids a kick to the body.
Barnes throws a leg kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes lands with a slapping head kick.
Aurelius attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Aurelius is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Barnes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Aurelius gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Aurelius misses with a low kick.
Aurelius feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Barness jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Barnes throws a lazy right hand but Aurelius sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Aurelius throws a shot from downtown. Barnes moves away and avoids it.
Aurelius throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes checks a low kick from Aurelius.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A low kick from Aurelius is predictable there
and Barnes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aurelius throws a head kick that misses
letting Barnes counter with a right hand.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Aurelius connects with a looping right hand.
A slapping leg kick lands for Aurelius.
Barnes misses with the combination.
A clash of legs there as Barnes blocks the low kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A clash of legs there as Barnes blocks the low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sigvard Aurelius will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Barnes avoids the head kick by Aurelius.
Aurelius thuds a left hand into Barnes's body.
Barnes connects with a single shot there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Aurelius. Barnes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sigvard Aurelius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Aurelius.
Aurelius checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Aurelius throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
Sigvard Aurelius seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aurelius slips a jab from Barnes.
Aurelius misses with the combination.
Aurelius dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelius attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A shot to the liver by Barnes. Beautiful body shot.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aurelius manages to avoid it.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Aurelius in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Barnes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Aurelius can pounce on him.
Aurelius throws a leg kick but Barnes checks it.
Aurelius throws a hook to the side of Barnes's head but Barnes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Aurelius cracks the inside of Barnes's front leg.
Barnes is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Barnes throws out a loose jab but Aurelius uses good head movement to avoid it.
Aurelius walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Barnes checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Barnes avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice uppercut lands for Barnes. That snapped Aurelius's head back.
Barnes blocks a low kick nicely.
Aurelius motions for Barnes to come forward. Aurelius throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Aurelius bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Barnes staying out of range there.
Aurelius thows a leg kick but Barnes checks it
and Aurelius takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes swings for the body but Aurelius moves out of range.
Aurelius ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Aurelius catches Barnes with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Aurelius throws a sloppy head kick and Barnes moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius thows a leg kick but Barnes checks it
and Barnes counters with a straight right hand.
Barnes blocks the body kick.
Barnes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Aurelius's sensitive parts.
Aurelius with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Barnes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Barnes is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Barnes stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Aurelius.
Aurelius throws a leg kick that misses.
Barnes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aurelius circles away quickly and effectively.
Aurelius connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Aurelius tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Barnes is able to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Barnes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Aurelius drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aurelius thows a leg kick but Barnes checks it
and Barnes counters with a low kick, right behind Aurelius 's knee.
Barnes looks to throw the jab but Aurelius is out of range.
Aurelius blocks a jab.
Aurelius throws a body kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aurelius ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barnes moves away.
Aurelius misses the jab.
Barnes staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sigvard Aurelius will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Aurelius dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Barnes punishes Aurelius's body with a nice straight punch.
Barnes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Barnes throws a body punch but Aurelius moves out of range.
Barnes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Barnes walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Aurelius checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Aurelius throws a shot from downtown. Barnes moves away and avoids it.
Aurelius is looking to chop away at Barnes's legs.
Aurelius lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Aurelius misses with a looping left.
Aurelius lands a leg kick that knocks Barnes off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelius digs a good body shot into Barnes's ribs.
Both fighters circling a little - Barnes finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Aurelius swings for the body but Barnes moves out of range.
Aurelius takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Aurelius misses with a series of wild punches.
Aurelius looks for the body kick but Barnes saw that one coming.
Barnes just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Aurelius looks for the body kick but Barnes saw that one coming.
Barnes moves out of range of the body kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Barnes.
Barnes sizes up Aurelius with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Aurelius misses with a low kick.
Aurelius looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Aurelius throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes lunges at Aurelius with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Aurelius's hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes takes a swing at Aurelius's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius throws a leg kick
and Barnes counters with a nice low kick that buckles Aurelius's knee momentarily.
Barnes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
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 swings for the body but Aurelius moves out of range.
Aurelius misses with a low kick.
Barnes blocks a leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Aurelius.
Sigvard Aurelius is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Barnes stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Aurelius.
Aurelius misses with a lunging right hand
and Barnes counters with an inside leg kick.
Mike Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Aurelius ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Barnes eats them both and turns towards Aurelius to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Aurelius slips a jab from Barnes.
Barnes tries a head kick but it misses.
Barnes keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Aurelius throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
Aurelius lands a nice shot to the body.
Aurelius pulls out of a head kick attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A bone on bone clash there as Barnes blocks the leg kick.
Aurelius throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Aurelius lands with a nice body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sigvard Aurelius comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Aurelius 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sigvard Aurelius!
An out of breath Sigvard Aurelius thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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'.