PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jamal Barnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Preston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barnett
vs
Preston

207 cm
20
214 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

194 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jamal Barnett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Preston!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Preston closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Preston lands in his opponent's guard.
Preston controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Barnett is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Preston is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Preston looking to sit in guard and control but Barnett gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Preston is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnett keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Preston's head.
Preston looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barnett is one step ahead there.

Preston is looking for a triangle but Barnett pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Preston trying to control the position.
Barnett cracks Preston with a solid left hand.
Barnett postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Preston bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barnett's guard.

Barnett escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Preston gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Preston throwing strikes but missing.

Barnett looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Preston really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barnett. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnett keeping moving, preventing Preston from controlling successfully.
Preston loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Preston trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnett really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Preston won't allow Barnett to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnett manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Preston manages to get himself to full guard.

Preston is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Preston is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barnett defends well.
Barnett won't allow Preston to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Preston throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Barnett lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Preston looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Barnett passes into half guard.
Preston tries to get to full guard but Barnett has control of the leg.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Preston can do anything to dispel that myth.
Preston is still trying to improve position.
Preston is trying to stand up here but Barnett is controlling him well.
Barnett wants to get back to his feet.
Preston is looking for a sweep. Barnett is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Preston missing with punches from the bottom.
Preston tries to roll over but Barnett keeps him under control.

Preston makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Preston feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Preston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barnett will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Preston seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Barnett throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sam Preston will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Preston shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Barnett napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Preston wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barnett keeps working.
Barnett throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
The referee asks Preston politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Preston prefers to stall for the moment though.
You can see the frustration on Barnett's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Preston wants to control but Barnett is keeping him busy.
Barnett avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Preston.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Preston tries to advance to mount but can't.
Barnett can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Preston stands up.
Barnett shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Preston shoots in and gets a takedown into Barnett's guard.
Barnett being controlled here, momentarily.
Preston trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Preston stands up and waves to Barnett to follow him.
Barnett tries for a takedown but Preston circles away easily

and Preston counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Preston is trying to break the clinch but Barnett is controlling him.
Barnett slowing the pace effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Preston has Barnett pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Preston pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Barnett tumbling to the mat - Preston dives into Barnett's guard.
Preston stays in close to Barnett's body and controls the position.
Preston trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Barnett had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Preston defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Preston controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Preston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barnett is keeping the position for now.
Preston is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Preston missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Preston trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Barnett looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Preston looking to pass the guard.

Barnett looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Preston missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barnett keeping moving, preventing Preston from controlling successfully.

Barnett is working an open guard so Preston takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Preston manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Barnett on his heels. He'll look to pass Barnett's guard now, I'm sure.

Barnett looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Preston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barnett being controlled here, momentarily.
Preston stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barnett swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Preston slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Preston stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Preston thows a leg kick but Barnett checks it
and Barnett counters with a left and a right that stings Preston.
Jamal Barnett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Preston closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Barnett's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Preston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Preston leaves Barnett with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Preston closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Barnett to the mat! Barnett manages to get full guard.
Preston is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Preston postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Preston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barnett is keeping the position for now.

Preston gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Preston defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Barnett.
Preston fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barnett seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Preston shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Preston was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnett is looking to reverse the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Preston is looking to take a break and control but Barnett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Preston tries for a kimura but Barnett is defending well.
Preston looks up at the clock and then as Barnett takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Preston smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The referee asks Preston politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Preston prefers to stall for the moment though.

Preston wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Barnett, who protects the arm well.
The strikes coming from Preston are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barnett tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Preston wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Barnett wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Barnett tries to improve position but can't.

Preston thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Preston working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Preston is looking to take a break and control but Barnett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Preston stands up and beckons Barnett to his feet.
Preston throws a head kick but Barnett moves out of range.
It looked like Barnett was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Preston closes the distance looking to clinch
and Barnett counters with a two punch combo.
Barnett checks a leg kick nicely.
Barnett looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jamal Barnett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnett swats away the attempt to clinch by Preston.
Barnett appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Preston tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barnett was well out of range. Poor timing from Preston.

Preston closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Barnett is looking for a sweep. Preston is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Preston missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Preston postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Barnett to stand up.
Sam Preston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Preston misses with a double jab.

Preston shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Preston prevents Barnett from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barnett is refusing to be controlled, as Preston sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Preston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Preston winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Preston!