PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dom Diego (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Diego
vs
Barnes

194 cm
34
223 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

185 cm
39
210 lbs
37 - 25 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dom Diego!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nate Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes tries to land a front kick but Diego steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Barnes swings away with a body shot that misses
and Diego counters with a right hand to the body.
Dom Diego seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diego throws a hook but Barnes avoids it easily.
Barnes flicks out a counter leg kick but Diego steps away.
Diego throws a shot to the body.
Barnes has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Diego lands a jab.
Barnes closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Barnes lands a head kick. Diego smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Barnes throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Diego counters with a nice uppercut.
Diego jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Diego tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barnes was well out of range. Poor timing from Diego.
Diego moves away from the strike by Barnes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Barnes defending well as Diego loads up on a big left hand.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Diego.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego cracks Barnes with an open hand slap.
Barnes connects with an inside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diego. Barnes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barnes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Diego fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Good work by Barnes as he checks the leg kick.
Diego is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Diego misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Barnes counters with a stiff right hand.
Diego avoids a punch combination nicely.
Diego throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Diego scores with a decent looking hook.
Diego throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diego throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Diego misses with a body shot
and Diego takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diego.
Nate Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diego smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Diego swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barnes thows a leg kick but Diego checks it
and Diego counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Nate Barnes has been cut.
Diego throws an off balance right hand
and Barnes counters with an inside leg kick.
Diego wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The fighters circling - Diego throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Barnes tries to counter with a clinch but Diego shakes him off and moves away.
Diego keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a leg kick
and Diego counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Diego throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Diego avoids the head kick by Barnes.
And Diego counters with a quick kick to the body but Barnes blocks it.
Barnes thows a body kick. Diego tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Diego takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Diego thows a leg kick but Barnes checks it
and Barnes counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A solid leg kick lands there for Barnes.
Diego lands with a nice body punch.
Diego scores with a jab to the jaw.
Diego throws a lazy uppercut
and Barnes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barnes throws a nice outside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diego misses with a wild body shot.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diego misses with a looping left.
Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Diego.
Diego misses with a body shot.
Barnes wants to counter with a clinch but Diego pushes him away.
Barnes thows a leg kick but Diego checks it
and Diego counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Diego swings for the body but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Diego shoots in for a double leg but Barnes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Diego moves out of range easily.
Diego misses with a wild body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Barnes! But no joy.
Barnes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barnes throws a leg kick but Diego sees it coming and moves out of range.
Barnes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Diego dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nate Barnes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Diego checks the leg kick.
Diego throws a shot from downtown. Barnes moves away and avoids it.
Barnes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Diego misses the target.
A lazy left from Diego finds it's target.
Barnes throws a solid leg kick but Diego takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barnes.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick
and Diego counters with a left to the body.
A big right from Diego misses.
A left and a right from Diego both land. Nice combination.
Diego scores with a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diego throws a body shot but no joy.
Diego throws a lazy right hand but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Diego ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barnes moves away.
Barnes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Diego is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barnes can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego throws a poor cross that misses
and Barnes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Diego misses the target.
Diego loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.
An inside leg kick lands from Barnes.
Diego throws a hook to the side of Barnes's head but Barnes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Diego throws a push kick but Barnes slaps the foot to one side.
Diego throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Diego throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Diego is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Diego fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.
Good leg kick by Barnes there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Barnes might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Diego has got the better of the exchanges.
Diego misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diego changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Diego misses with a lunging right hand
and Barnes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Dom Diego has been cut.
Diego misses with an uppercut. Barnes saw that one coming.
Diego jabs Barnes right on the nose. Barnes blinks but takes it well.
Diego takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnes has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Diego finds it's way round the side to connect with Barnes's head.
Barnes misses with a leg kick
and Diego counters with a right hand to the body.
Diego misses with a lunging right hand
and Barnes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Diego thinking.
Barnes looks to throw the jab but Diego is out of range.
Barnes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diego misses with a jab to the body
and Barnes counters with a leg kick.
Diego throws a shot from downtown. Barnes moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego misses with an uppercut
and Barnes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barnes cracks Diego with a right hand to the side of the head.
Diego uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barnes.
Diego ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
Diego is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Barnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Diego.
Diego throws a jab but it's blocked by Barnes.
Barnes avoids the body shot from Diego.
Diego slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Diego lands a jab to Barnes's midsection.
A jab from Diego misses.
Diego misses with a body punch
and Barnes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barnes thuds his right hand into Diego's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Diego is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Diego on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diego ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Diego lands the left hand.
Barnes misses with a straight left.
Diego throws an off balance right hand
and Barnes counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Diego misses with a left hand
and Barnes counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diego. Barnes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diego throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barnes throws out a powerful jab.
Barnes misses with an uppercut.
Diego wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Barnes misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dom Diego will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Diego.
Barnes lands an overhand right.
Barnes moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Diego throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barnes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Diego throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Diego throws a body kick that misses
and Barnes counters with a nice leg kick.
Diego misses with a body punch
and Barnes counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Diego misses with a hook to the body
and Barnes counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Barnes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diego.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diego moves away from the strike by Barnes.
Diego swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Diego.
Diego lands a lovely overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Diego ducks down to avoid it.
Diego swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Barnes throws a hook but Diego blocks it.
Barnes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diego.
Diego throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Diego misses with a left hand
and Barnes counters with a right hand to the body.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barnes just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diego. Barnes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barnes is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
A low kick from Diego is predictable there
and Barnes counters with an inside leg kick.
Barnes has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Barnes misses with an uppercut. Diego saw that one coming.
A punch lands to the side of Barnes 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diego checks a leg kick nicely.
Barnes moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Diego throws a right hand that misses
and Barnes counters with a stiff right hand.
Diego misses with a left hand
and Barnes counters with a low kick, right behind Diego 's knee.
Barnes slips a jab from Diego.
Barnes is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Dom Diego is winning the standup battle so far.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Barnes takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Diego has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Diego misses with a hook
and Barnes counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A jab from Barnes misses.
Diego misses with a lunging right hand
and Barnes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barnes staying out of range there.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Barnes! But no joy.
Barnes lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego misses the body punch
enabling Barnes to counter with a crisp jab.
Diego looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnes is just out of range.
Barnes lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Barnes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Diego. Diego circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Diego takes a swing at Barnes's ribcage but misses.
Barnes appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Diego has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barnes.
Barnes throws a head kick that half lands.
Diego rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Barnes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barnes lands the left hand.
Barnes blocks a jab.
Barnes looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Diego misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Barnes counters with a two punch combo.
Nate Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes throws a quick inside leg kick.
Barnes throws a jab but it's blocked by Diego.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diego takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Barnes lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Diego paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Diego throws a poor cross that misses
and Barnes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Diego thinking.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnes misses with a body kick.
Diego misses with a jab to the body
and Barnes counters with a slapping leg kick.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Barnes throws out a powerful jab.
Barnes slips under a jab.
Diego rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Barnes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Diego lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barnes circles away quickly and effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Barnes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Diego has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Dom Diego!
In his post fight interview, Dom Diego started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.