PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Denis Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Barnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Burns
vs
Barnett

185 cm
19
214 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
205 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Denis Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Barnett!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burns closes the distance and clinches.
Burns pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Barnett fails to pull guard.
Barnett managing to block the knees to the body from Burns.
Barnett is trying to drag Burns to the mat but Burns just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Barnett blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barnett tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Burns just stands there and leans against the cage.
Denis Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Barnett.
Barnett blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Burns jumps guard and drags Barnett to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Burns has his foot on Barnett's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barnett works his way back into a safe position though.
Barnett trying to control the position from guard on top but Burns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burns can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Barnett controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnett trying to control the position from guard on top but Burns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mark Barnett was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Barnett takes one to the chin there.
Mark Barnett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnett tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Burns swivels and escapes.
Burns stuffs the takedown.
Burns swinging wildly here.
The fighters circling - Burns throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Burns definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Burns enables Barnett to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Burns manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Barnett advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Burns on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Burns tries to get out of the position.
Barnett gets to mount! Burns was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Burns wants to hold on but Barnett pushes him away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Barnett is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Burns is surviving well by controlling Barnett's body position as best he can.

Barnett is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Burns has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Burns!
Burns has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns looking to sit in guard and control but Barnett gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Barnett avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Barnett with a nice head shot there.

Barnett gets to his feet - Burns follows without any prompting.
Jab by Burns.
Barnett throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett misses with a wild combination.
Burns throws a body kick that misses.
Barnett dodges the punch combination from Burns.
Burns tries to land a front kick but Barnett steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Burns pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barnett defending well as Burns loads up on a big left hand.
Burns lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burns moves out of range of the body kick.

Barnett gets a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnett wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burns keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mark Barnett will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barnett dodges the punch combination from Burns.
Burns will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Burns avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Burns connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Barnett throws a head kick that misses.
Mark Barnett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnett shoots in but Burns avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Burns cracks Barnett with a good jab.
Burns fails with an attempt to clinch.
Burns circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barnett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Burns swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnett shoots in and drives through. Burns sprawls well.

Barnett drives through with a takedown into guard.

Burns had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barnett defends it easily.
Barnett content to stall in guard here.
Barnett's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Barnett tries to stand but Burns is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns lands a decent punch to the body there.
Barnett has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Burns is proving hard to escape from.
Barnett stopping the sweep attempt from Burns.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Burns can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Barnett controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mark Barnett.

Burns gets a takedown into half guard.
Barnett pushes Burns off looking to stand but Burns dives back in and keeps control.
Barnett wants to control but Burns is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mark Barnett has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barnett moves into full guard.
Burns throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Barnett striking off his back but it's not causing Burns any problems.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Burns's guard.
Barnett controls from within his opponent's guard.
Barnett postures up and lands a big shot to Burns's brow.
Burns keeping moving, preventing Barnett from controlling successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnett passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Barnett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Barnett throws a right hand that Burns ducks under and follows up with a left that Burns also avoids with ease.
Burns ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barnett moves away.
Burns shoots in for a takedown but Barnett shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Barnett tries to clinch but Burns moves out of range.
Burns throws a wild body kick that Barnett sees coming a mile off.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Barnett.
Burns lands a glancing blow to the side of Barnett's head.
Barnett wants to clinch up but Burns keeps it at a distance.
Burns uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Barnett tries to clinch but Burns moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barnett is looking to clinch.
Burns circles away from the clinch attempt.
Burns misses with a kick to the body.
Barnett throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Burns throws a sloppy head kick and Barnett moves out of range easily.
Barnett tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Burns manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barnett keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Burns.
Burns looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnett is just out of range.
Burns throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Burns throws out a loose jab but Barnett uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burns throws a sloppy head kick and Barnett moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnett will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Burns throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barnett sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sloppy strikes from Burns. Those never looked like landing.
Donk. Burns catches Barnett right on the button with a cross.
Barnett uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Burns.
Burns tries for a takedown but Barnett circles away easily

so Barnett counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnett seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Barnett stands and throws Burns's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns is looking for a sweep.
Barnett is staying tight to Burns's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Barnett decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Barnett fails with a takedown attempt.
Denis Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Barnett.

Barnett darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Barnett stands up from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett shoots for a double leg takedown but Burns sprawls well. He's pushed Barnett's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Barnett looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnett showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Barnett drops back looking for a leg! Burns is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Burns manages to kick Barnett off! Barnett jumps back into Burns's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Barnett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barnett 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Barnett!