PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nickolas Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Barnes
vs
Stevens

169 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nickolas Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Stevens!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens circles away from the clinch attempt
and Stevens counters with a three punch combo that has Barnes backing up. Barnes nods at Stevens to acknowledge the strikes.
Barnes really is a fat lump.
Nice takedown defense from Barnes. No joy for Stevens on that attempt.
Stevens fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barnes avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barnes is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Stevens.
Nickolas Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Stevens.
Stevens closes the distance and clinches up with Barnes, looking for a takedown. Stevens pushes Barnes against the cage but Barnes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stevens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barnes's waist but Barnes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stevens off to one side.
Barnes throws a big counter combination but Stevens scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Barnes seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Barnes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Barnes throws a head kick but Stevens moves out of range.
Stevens keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Stevens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As Stevens looks to move away, Barnes throws a big counter combo bu Stevens just gets out of the way.
Stevens goes for a double leg but Barnes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barnes continues to drive forward.
Stevens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Stevens moves in looking to clinch but Barnes pushes him off.
Stevens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barnes appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Stevens looks winded!
Stevens tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barnes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevens drives through and clinches with Barnes against the cage.

Barnes breaks from the clinch.
Stevens checks a leg kick nicely.
Barnes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stevens.
As Stevens looks to move away, Barnes throws a big counter combo bu Stevens just gets out of the way.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown but Barnes shows good takedown defense.
Stevens with a lazy takedown attempt
and Barnes counters with a two punch combo.
Stevens throws a combination that misses
and Barnes counters with a left and a right that stings Stevens.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Barnes closes the distance and pushes Stevens back into the cage.

Barnes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barnes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stevens steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Barnes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevens moves into the clinch successfully.
A frustrated look appears on Barnes's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barnes can't find room to land a body shot as Stevens controls the action.
Stevens managing to block the knees to the body from Barnes.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Barnes takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Barnes working hard to break the clinch.
Stevens tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Barnes wants the takedown. Stevens is fighting it off but Barnes persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Stevens's guard against the cage.

Stevens is working an open guard so Barnes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Barnes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barnes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Barnes will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barnes tries to clinch there but Stevens circles away.
Barnes throws a low kick, looking for Stevens's leg but Stevens calmly moves out of range.
Stevens throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt.

Barnes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barnes has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stevens keeps control of Barnes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stevens throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Barnes wants to break the clinch but can't.
Barnes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Barnes working hard to break the clinch.
Barnes tries to break free but Stevens pushes him back against the cage.
Barnes wants a takedown but no success here.
Nice elbow from Stevens.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens tries to pull guard but Barnes forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Barnes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stevens has him pressed against the cage.

Barnes breaks from the clinch.
Barnes throws a body shot but no joy.
Nickolas Barnes is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nice sprawl there from Barnes as Stevens shoots in.
Barnes went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stevens. Barnes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barnes wants to clinch.
Stevens goes for a double leg but Barnes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barnes continues to drive forward.
Nickolas Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Stevens.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Stevens fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to clinch but Barnes slips to the side
and Barnes counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Stevens misses with a wild combination.
Stevens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barnes pinned against the cage. Barnes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Barnes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barnes stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Stevens to get to his feet.
Stevens checks the leg kick nicely there.
Barnes avoids the body shot from Stevens.
As Stevens looks to move away, Barnes throws a big counter combo bu Stevens just gets out of the way.
Nickolas Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.

Stevens forces Barnes back against the cage and clinches.
Barnes tries to break the clinch but Stevens is controlling the position.
Stevens working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnes gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Barnes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stevens can do to turn this around?

Barnes gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Barnes will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barnes tries to close the distance and clinch but Stevens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stevens is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Stevens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barnes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
As Stevens tries to get set, Barnes tries to push him back and clinch up but Stevens manages to avoid the attempt.

Barnes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Barnes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stevens knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Barnes stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nickolas Barnes dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A bone on bone clash there as Stevens blocks the leg kick.
Stevens circles away from the clinch attempt.

Stevens moves into the clinch.
Stevens effectively controlling the action here.
Barnes working hard to break the clinch.
Stevens digs a right hand into Barnes's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Barnes's gas tank.
Barnes can't break the clinch.
Barnes is looking to control Stevens's arms but Stevens gets an underhook and turns him. Now Barnes has his back to the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes just leaning against Stevens, taking a breather.

Stevens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stevens throws a series of punches but Barnes avoids them all with ease.
Barnes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Stevens manages to circle out of the way.
Stevens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Barnes appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Stevens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nick Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevens wants to clinch up but Barnes keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barnes wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barnes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barnes takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Barnes tries to clinch up.
Barnes slaps away a takedown attempt from Stevens, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nickolas Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Stevens.
Stevens tries to clinch but Barnes moves out of range.
Stevens swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barnes is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Stevens.
Stevens closes the distance but Barnes moves to the side
and Barnes counters with a left and a right that stings Stevens.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stevens wants to take the fight to the mat but Barnes manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Barnes stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevens closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barnes circles away.
Barnes went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Barnes moves into the clinch successfully.
Barnes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Barnes is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Stevens can't fight it off and eventually Barnes manages to take the fight to the floor. Stevens looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stevens is trying to keep Barnes in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnes stands up from Stevens's guard - Barnes perhaps looking for a knockout.
Barnes misses with a double jab.
Barnes displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stevens.
Barnes moves in looking to clinch but Stevens pushes him off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stevens blocks a head kick by Barnes.
Stevens steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Barnes.
Barnes tries to clinch but Stevens is having none of it.
A nice side step and Stevens releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nickolas Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barnes, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nickolas Barnes!