PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nate Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juancho Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Barnes
vs
Rivera

185 cm
42
210 lbs
40 - 29 - 0

189 cm
44
216 lbs
34 - 29 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Machiavelli Boutique

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 40 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nate Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 29 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juancho Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barnes scores with a leg kick.
Rivera lands a nice shot to the body.
Barnes throws a leg kick which misses Rivera's front leg but catches the back leg as Rivera tries to avoid it.
Barnes connects with a leg kick. Rivera looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Barnes slips a straight right by Rivera.
Barnes buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barnes looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rivera cracks Barnes with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

It looks like Nate Barnes has been cut.
Barnes lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rivera with a hook.
Barnes throws a low kick but Rivera avoids it.
Barnes walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rivera checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Barnes uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rivera has time to react.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rivera shapes to counter with a head kick.
Barnes connects with a body shot that sends Rivera's belly button to the back.
Rivera scores with a decent looking hook.
Barnes has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Qube Ground in the buildup to the fight.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Barnes swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rivera lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Barnes at a distance.
Rivera throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivera looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barnes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rivera stuns Barnes with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Barnes looks to land a combination but Rivera avoids it well.
A solid leg kick lands there for Barnes.
Barnes fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rivera has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rivera throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barnes counters with a nice body kick.
Rivera misses with a body shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Barnes blocks the leg kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Barnes misses the target.
Rivera jabs Barnes to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rivera scores with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Barnes throws a leg kick but Rivera sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rivera lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera scores with a nice right hand.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barnes.
Barnes shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Barnes throws a shot from downtown. Rivera moves away and avoids it.
Rivera is looking for the big counter here.

Barnes rushes Rivera and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barnes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Barnes scores with a hook to the body.
Rivera misses with a body punch.
Barnes misses with a hook to the ribs.
A nice left hand lands by Barnes.

It looks like Juancho Rivera has been cut.
A shot in the inside from Barnes.
Barnes landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nice body punch from Barnes.
Rivera misses with a punch to the body.
Barnes lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Barnes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barnes misses with a hook to the ribs.
A bit of stalling here from Barnes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Barnes.
Rivera looks winded!
Barnes lands a shot to the body.
Rivera takes a shot to the head.
Rivera's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Barnes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rivera or not.
Barnes lands a shot to the body.
Barnes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A hook to the body from Barnes.
Barnes taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Barnes lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rivera misses with a punch to the body.
A hook to the body from Barnes.

Barnes breaks the clinch.
Barnes lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rivera backs up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rivera.
Rivera let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Rivera unleashes a big counter combination but Barnes bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Barnes throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rivera.
Barnes connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes lands a right hook to the body.

Barnes moves into the clinch successfully.
Barnes blocks an uppercut.

Barnes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rivera takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Barnes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rivera's sensitive parts.
Barnes lands with an uppercut that bounces Rivera off the cage and back into range.
Barnes thumps Rivera with a low kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Barnes finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Barnes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rivera counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rivera keeps the fight on the outside.
Barnes throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes scoring well with a low kick there.
Rivera stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barnes.
Rivera scores with a punch to the head.
Rivera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barnes moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Barnes dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Barnes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rivera fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rivera looks to throw the jab but Barnes is out of range.
Rivera throws a sloppy body shot
and Barnes counters with an outside leg kick.
Barnes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivera.
Barnes fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rivera checks it well.
It seemed like Rivera was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Good standup being displayed there by Barnes as he connects with a hook.
Barnes looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Barnes cracks the inside of Rivera's front leg.
Rivera misses with a looping left.
Rivera waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barnes.
Barnes half committed to a counter leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rivera throws a hook but Barnes avoids it easily.
Barnes fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Barnes misses the shot to the body.
Rivera walks into a straight right hand from Barnes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivera avoids the head kick by Barnes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Barnes staying out of range there.
Rivera tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Barnes moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Barnes feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rivera's calf.
Rivera misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Barnes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barnes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rivera can do to turn this around?
Barnes looks to land a combination. Rivera sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rivera looks to land a combination. Barnes sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rivera's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Barnes feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rivera's calf.
Rivera jabs Barnes to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Barnes tries a head kick but it misses.
Rivera connects with a body shot that sends Barnes's belly button to the back.
Rivera is looking to chop away at Barnes's legs.
Rivera just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromBarnes.
Barnes scores with a leg kick.
Barnes scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rivera in his tracks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rivera.
Barnes feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Barnes slips a jab from Rivera.
Barnes is looking to counter with a body kick.
Barnes lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A swing and a miss from Rivera.
Barnes throws a head kick that Rivera semi-blocks.
Nate Barnes is winning the standup battle so far.
Barnes closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rivera throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rivera misses with a body shot.
Barnes misses with a body kick.
Rivera on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barnes. Barnes obviously looking to wear him down.
Rivera misses with a double jab.
As Rivera tries to get set, Barnes tries to push him back and clinch up but Rivera manages to avoid the attempt.
Some bone on bone action there as Rivera checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rivera has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rivera there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rivera throws a shot from downtown. Barnes moves away and avoids it.
Barnes takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rivera lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Barnes at a distance.
You can see that Rivera has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks
Barnes misses with a leg kick.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Rivera.
Barnes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rivera.
Barnes fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rivera.
Rivera avoids a kick to the body.
Rivera goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Barnes throws a nice outside leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barnes.
Rivera throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Barnes cracks the inside of Rivera's front leg.
Rivera tries to land a front kick but Barnes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Barnes fires out a quick counter leg kick but Rivera just manages to avoid it.
Rivera takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes lands a nice looking body shot.
Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Rivera is just out of range.
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 moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rivera throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Barnes gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Barnes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Barnes takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rivera attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rivera.
Barnes connects with a leg kick. Rivera looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A head kick by Barnes misses
and Rivera counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Decent striking displayed by Barnes there.
Barnes slips under a jab from Rivera.
A big left from Rivera misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Barnes dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Barnes cracks the inside of Rivera's front leg.
A big left from Rivera misses.
Rivera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Barnes. That's going to slow Rivera down.
Barnes is looking to score with low kicks.
Nice body kick there by Barnes.
Barnes misses with a leg kick.
A nice side step and Rivera releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Rivera on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rivera displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rivera swings for the body but Barnes moves out of range.
Rivera lands a jab to Barnes's midsection.
Barnes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rivera avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Barnes clinches up with Rivera and pushes him back against the cage.
Rivera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barnes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nate Barnes has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Barnes.
Rivera takes a shot to the head.
Barnes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barnes throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Rivera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rivera throws a front kick aimed at Barnes's knee but Barnes avoids it well.
Barnes digs a good body shot into Rivera's ribs.
Barnes buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barnes lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rivera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rivera throws a predictable looking body shot
and Barnes counters with a nice leg kick.
Rivera chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barnes can pounce on him.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A telegraphed right hand from Rivera misses the target.
Rivera lands a slapping body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barnes.
A counter left hand to the body from Barnes misses its target.
Rivera throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Barnes lands a leg kick that knocks Rivera off balance momentarily.
Barnes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barnes is looking to slow Rivera down with leg kicks.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Rivera.
As Rivera tries to get set, Barnes tries to push him back and clinch up but Rivera manages to avoid the attempt.
Rivera on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Barnes.
Barnes lands with a hook. Rivera tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Rivera misses with a hook. Barnes ducked under it nicely.
Rivera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barnes was well out of range. Poor timing from Rivera.
Barnes looks for the body kick but Rivera saw that one coming.
A jab from Rivera misses.
A thudding body kick lands there by Barnes!
An inside leg kick lands from Barnes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes lunges at Rivera with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rivera's hand.
Barnes connects with a body shot that sends Rivera's belly button to the back.
Rivera misses with a hook.

Barnes has closed the distance and engaged Rivera in a clinch.
Barnes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rivera swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Barnes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.
Juancho Rivera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barnes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Barnes stalling.
Nice body punch from Barnes - that landed with a thud.
A body shot lands from Barnes.
Barnes lands an uppercut.
Barnes lands a body punch in the clinch.
Barnes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Barnes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnes pushes Rivera back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Rivera takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barnes buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barnes feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rivera's calf.
Rivera throws a poor cross that misses
and Barnes makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Barnes uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rivera has time to react.
Barnes lands a right hook to the body.
Barnes fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rivera has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Barnes fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rivera has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Barnes swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rivera.
Barnes thuds his right hand into Rivera's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Barnes lands a jab to Rivera's midsection.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A right-left combo lands from Barnes.
Rivera throws a leg kick but Barnes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rivera blocks a head kick by Barnes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Barnes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Barnes!
Nate Barnes took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Machiavelli Boutique for their support in the buildup to the fight.