PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Barnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramazan Abdulkerimov (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!

Barnett
vs
Abdulkerimov

193 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
26
250 lbs
8 - 15 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, James Barnett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 15 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ramazan Abdulkerimov!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abdulkerimov tries to clinch but Barnett moves out of range.

Barnett closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Barnett lands in his opponent's guard.
Barnett looking to pass the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Abdulkerimov can do anything to dispel that myth.

Barnett gets to his feet. Abdulkerimov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Abdulkerimov clinches with his opponent.
Barnett keeps control of Abdulkerimov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Barnett breaks from the clinch.
Abdulkerimov tries to clinch up but Barnett circles away and keeps his distance.
Abdulkerimov fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdulkerimov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barnett paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Abdulkerimov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barnett paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Abdulkerimov throws a jab but it's blocked by Barnett.
Abdulkerimov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barnett circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barnett lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Barnett dives in and scores a takedown into Abdulkerimov's guard.
Barnett trying to control the position from guard on top but Abdulkerimov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abdulkerimov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Abdulkerimov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because James Barnett just wasn't active enough.
Abdulkerimov moves to clinch but Barnett breaks away
and Barnett counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abdulkerimov closes the distance but Barnett moves to the side
and Barnett finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Barnett swats away the attempt to clinch by Abdulkerimov.

Barnett drives through with a takedown into Abdulkerimov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Abdulkerimov seems keen to control Barnett's posture.
Abdulkerimov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Abdulkerimov escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdulkerimov tries to clinch there but Barnett circles away.
Ramazan Abdulkerimov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abdulkerimov wants to clinch.
Abdulkerimov tries to clinch up but Barnett circles away and keeps his distance.
Barnett ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Barnett takes the fight into the clinch.

Barnett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Abdulkerimov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barnett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Abdulkerimov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barnett swats away the attempt to clinch by Abdulkerimov.

Barnett closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Abdulkerimov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Let's hope that Abdulkerimov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Abdulkerimov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnett swats away the attempt to clinch by Abdulkerimov.
Abdulkerimov moves in looking to clinch but Barnett pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Barnett dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Abdulkerimov misses with a hook

and Barnett moves into the clinch.

Barnett breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Abdulkerimov drives through and clinches with Barnett against the cage.
Barnett prevents a body shot from Abdulkerimov.
Barnett stalling in the clinch but Abdulkerimov improves position.

Barnett manages to pull guard.
Abdulkerimov postures up.

Abdulkerimov stands and steps away. Barnett gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Abdulkerimov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barnett avoids a wild elbow strike from Abdulkerimov.
Abdulkerimov is looking to break free of the clinch but Barnett has double underhooks.
Abdulkerimov wants to get back to striking at distance but Barnett won't allow it.
Abdulkerimov tries to break the clinch but Barnett is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdulkerimov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Abdulkerimov is trying to break the clinch but Barnett is controlling him.

Barnett gets control of Abdulkerimov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Barnett will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Barnett has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Abdulkerimov 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 Barnett.
Abdulkerimov has control of an arm but Barnett manages to advance to Abdulkerimov's back!
Barnett doesn't have the hooks in and Abdulkerimov manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Abdulkerimov gets to his feet - Barnett follows without any prompting.

Barnett gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Barnett taking a breather.

Barnett gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Abdulkerimov pulls Barnett in to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Abdulkerimov doesn't manage to clinch there - Barnett circles away.
James Barnett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Barnett closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Abdulkerimov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdulkerimov is holding on to half guard well.
Barnett throws a strike but Abdulkerimov avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Barnett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Abdulkerimov is controlling Barnett's posture.
Abdulkerimov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barnett manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Abdulkerimov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Barnett shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Barnett was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Abdulkerimov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abdulkerimov is positioning himself well to prevent Barnett advancing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ramazan Abdulkerimov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Abdulkerimov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barnett counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Abdulkerimov tries to clinch up but Barnett circles away and keeps his distance.
Abdulkerimov tries to clinch but Barnett moves out of range.
Abdulkerimov moves in looking to clinch but Barnett pushes him off.

Barnett shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Abdulkerimov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Abdulkerimov gets back to half guard.
Abdulkerimov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barnett's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barnett's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdulkerimov avoiding Barnett 's attempts to control his hands.

Abdulkerimov stands up.
Abdulkerimov tries to clinch there but Barnett circles away.
Abdulkerimov wants to clinch up but Barnett keeps it at a distance.
Barnett throws a one two combo.
Ramazan Abdulkerimov seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Abdulkerimov tries to sprawl but Barnett drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnett is trying to work for a kimura but Abdulkerimov is defending well.
Abdulkerimov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Abdulkerimov has control of Barnett's left arm, preventing Barnett from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdulkerimov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Barnett wants to sweep but Abdulkerimov has passed to side control!

Abdulkerimov decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Abdulkerimov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barnett dodges the punch combination from Abdulkerimov.
Abdulkerimov is looking to clinch but Barnett is avoiding it.
Abdulkerimov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barnett paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Abdulkerimov tries to clinch up.
Barnett keeps the fight on the outside.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Abdulkerimov 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.
Abdulkerimov moves in looking to clinch but Barnett pushes him off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abdulkerimov misses with an uppercut
and Barnett counters with a nice uppercut.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Barnett.

Barnett gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Barnett has picked Abdulkerimov up - he's going for a ride! Barnett dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ramazan Abdulkerimov.
I think Abdulkerimov 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!