PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nickolas Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Osullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jonathan Osullivan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barnes
vs
Osullivan

169 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

197 cm
19
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 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, Jonathan Osullivan!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Osullivan shoots and misses

and Barnes counters by moving into the clinch.
Osullivan tries to score a body lock takedown but Barnes shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Osullivan stops a takedown attempt from Barnes.

Osullivan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Osullivan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barnes tries to avoid it but Osullivan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barnes to the ground. Barnes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nickolas Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Osullivan.
Osullivan jabs Barnes right on the nose. Barnes blinks but takes it well.
Osullivan wants to clinch.
Barnes tries to counter by clinching up but Osullivan breaks away and moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Osullivan throws a right hand that Barnes ducks under and follows up with a left that Barnes also avoids with ease.
Barnes could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Osullivan is looking to clinch.
Osullivan tries to clinch but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Osullivan manages to circle out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osullivan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Barnes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Osullivan prevents Barnes from breaking the clinch.

Osullivan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Osullivan 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.

Osullivan pushes Barnes up against the cage in a clinch.
Osullivan is trying to drag Barnes to the mat but Barnes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Barnes tries to throw a body punch but Osullivan avoids it by throwing Barnes back against the cage.
Barnes lands a shot to the body.
Osullivan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Osullivan is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Osullivan has Barnes pressed against the cage, preventing Barnes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Osullivan breaks from the clinch.

Osullivan instigates a clinch.

Osullivan decides to pull guard.

Barnes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Osullivan looks winded!
Barnes is looking to stand up but Osullivan won't let him.

Barnes stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Barnes is looking to score with low kicks.
Osullivan feints a counter leg kick.
Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Osullivan is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Osullivan doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Barnes counters with a one-two to the body.
Barnes throws a head kick but Osullivan moves out of range.
Barnes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Osullivan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Osullivan keeps the fight on the outside.

Osullivan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Barnes is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Osullivan avoids the strikes from the bottom by Barnes.
Barnes throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes sneaks back into half guard.
Barnes works his way to full guard. Good work.
Osullivan is looking to advance position but Barnes has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

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!
Osullivan is looking to improve his position but Barnes isn't that keen on the idea.

Barnes stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nickolas Barnes will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Osullivan throws a right and a left that Barnes avoids nicely.
Barnes went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Osullivan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Barnes defends it nicely.
Osullivan dodges the punch combination from Barnes.
Osullivan misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Osullivan lands with a kick to the temple. Barnes shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Osullivan misses with a kick to the body.
Barnes throws a big counter combination but Osullivan scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Barnes forces Osullivan back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Barnes.
Osullivan is breathing heavily.

Barnes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Osullivan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barnes is fending him off so far but Osullivan persists. Nope, Barnes circles away and we're back to standing.
Osullivan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nickolas Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Osullivan.

Barnes gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Barnes has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Barnes throws a low kick but it's checked well by Osullivan.
Jonathan Osullivan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Osullivan throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Osullivan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barnes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Osullivan shoots in and drives through. Barnes sprawls well.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Osullivan trying to control the position but instead, Barnes has worked for underhooks and has pushed Osullivan into the cage.
Barnes is trying to maintain a safe position but Osullivan gets an underhook and turns Barnes into the cage.

Barnes manages to break the clinch.
Barnes connects with a body shot that sends Osullivan's belly button to the back.
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!
Osullivan misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes pivots, looking for a leg kick but Osullivan is out of range and Barnes settles back down.
A leg kick checked by Osullivan.
Jonathan Osullivan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barnes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barnes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Osullivan.
Barnes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Osullivan is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Barnes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Osullivan has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnes gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Barnes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Barnes tries to stand but can't do so whilst Osullivan controls his leg.
Barnes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Barnes decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Barnes shoots in and bounces Osullivan off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Osullivan is working an open guard so Barnes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nickolas Barnes dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Osullivan tries for a takedown but Barnes circles away easily

and Barnes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Barnes is pressed up against the cage. Osullivan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Barnes down to the mat. Barnes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Barnes leaves Osullivan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
As Osullivan tries to get set, Barnes tries to push him back and clinch up but Osullivan manages to avoid the attempt.
Nickolas Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Osullivan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barnes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barnes is looking to counter the offense by Osullivan and move into the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barnes is defended easily by Osullivan.
Osullivan wants to counter the offense by Barnes and move into the clinch position.
Osullivan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osullivan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Barnes keeps the fight on the outside.
Osullivan 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.
Barnes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Osullivan manages to circle out of the way.
Barnes is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Osullivan.
Osullivan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes swats away the attempt to clinch by Osullivan.
It looked like Barnes was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Barnes throws a right hand that Osullivan ducks under and follows up with a left that Osullivan also avoids with ease.
Osullivan dives in for a single leg takedown but Barnes sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Barnes moves out of range of the body kick.
Osullivan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Osullivan slaps away a takedown attempt from Barnes, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osullivan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Osullivan keeps the fight on the outside.
Barnes is looking to slow Osullivan down with leg kicks.
Osullivan is looking to clinch.
Osullivan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barnes.
Barnes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Osullivan can do to turn this around?
Barnes tries to clinch up but Osullivan circles away and keeps his distance.
Nickolas Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnes keeps the fight on the outside.
Barnes tries to clinch up but Osullivan circles away and keeps his distance.
Osullivan doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Osullivan 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 Osullivan off to one side.
Barnes misses with a double jab.
Barnes is looking to clinch but Osullivan is avoiding it.
Barnes tries to clinch but Osullivan is having none of it.
Osullivan misses with a takedown attempt - Barnes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Barnes is looking for a counter combo.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Osullivan misses with a leg kick.
Barnes is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Osullivan.
Barnes tries a head kick but it misses.
Jonathan Osullivan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nickolas Barnes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barnes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Barnes went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nickolas Barnes.
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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonathan Osullivan!