PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brady Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Rodrigo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes comes to the cage accompanied by Young Buck, TI, The Game, & Ludacris - Stomp. 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
Rodrigo

170 cm
27
149 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

175 cm
27
160 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

The Empire Clothing and Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brady Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pablo Rodrigo!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodrigo blocks a head kick by Barnes.
Rodrigo lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Barnes rushes Rodrigo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Our sources have told us that Barnes has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Barnes putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rodrigo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Rodrigo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rodrigo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barnes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rodrigo takes a swing at Barnes's ribcage but misses.
A clash of legs there as Barnes blocks the low kick.
As Rodrigo tries to get set, Barnes tries to push him back and clinch up but Rodrigo manages to avoid the attempt.
Rodrigo misses with a head kick.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes misses with a head kick.
Rodrigo works Barnes's body with a nice hook.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses
and Rodrigo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodrigo misses with a body shot.
As Rodrigo tries to get set, Barnes tries to push him back and clinch up but Rodrigo manages to avoid the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Barnes shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rodrigo steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Barnes misses with a hook.
Rodrigo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Barnes jabs at Rodrigo's body.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Rodrigo now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rodrigo crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Barnes - the referee stops the clock and Rodrigo gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Barnes. Rodrigo manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rodrigo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rodrigo takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rodrigo scores with a punch to the head.
Rodrigo tried to score with a low kick but Barnes checks it.
Barnes tries to land a front kick but Rodrigo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rodrigo takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodrigo misses with a body punch
and Barnes counters with a nice body kick.
Rodrigo throws a solid leg kick but Barnes takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rodrigo.
Barnes tries to land a front kick but Rodrigo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A combination from Rodrigo does no damage.

Barnes takes the fight into the clinch.
Rodrigo swings wildly with an uppercut but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes keeps control of Rodrigo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Rodrigo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rodrigo tries to work over Barnes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rodrigo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barnes.
Rodrigo is trying to push Barnes away but Barnes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Barnes lands a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Barnes blocking some punches.
Knees in the clinch landing for Barnes.
A knee to the head by Barnes.

It looks like Pablo Rodrigo has been cut.
Barnes missing with knees to the body.
Barnes throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Barnes misses with some punches.
Rodrigo misses with a punch to the body.
Rodrigo throws a head punch that misses.
Rodrigo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rodrigo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Barnes misses with a knee strike.
Barnes taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Barnes tries to land knees in the clinch but Rodrigo avoids the damage to the body.
Rodrigo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barnes missing with knees to the body.
Barnes prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the 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!
Rodrigo working aggressively here.
Barnes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Rodrigo on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Rodrigo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Barnes blocking some punches.
Come on Barnes - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rodrigo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barnes with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Rodrigo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pablo Rodrigo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodrigo throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rodrigo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Barnes is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brady Barnes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pablo Rodrigo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rodrigo slips a straight right by Barnes.
Rodrigo looks to land a combination but Barnes avoids it well.
Rodrigo throws a hook but Barnes blocks it.
A head kick by Barnes misses
and Barnes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rodrigo misses with a double jab.
Pablo Rodrigo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rodrigo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barnes was well out of range. Poor timing from Rodrigo.
Rodrigo connects with a nice looking jab.
Barnes tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodrigo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barnes swings away with a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigo tries a head kick but it misses.
Barnes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Rodrigo just misses with a punch to the body.
Barnes thinks about countering with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigo connects with a body shot.
Rodrigo swings for the body but Barnes moves out of range.
Rodrigo throws a lazy uppercut
and Barnes counters with a nice body shot.
Barnes tries to land a front kick but Rodrigo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A decent looking cross lands there for Barnes.
Rodrigo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Barnes doesn't seem bothered though.
Barnes blocks a head kick by Rodrigo.
A little feinted left hand from Barnes on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rodrigo keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rodrigo!

It looks like Brady Barnes has been cut.
Rodrigo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnes darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Barnes scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barnes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barnes throws the kick towards the body but Rodrigo avoids it.
A head kick by Barnes misses
and Rodrigo counters with a right hand to the body.
Barnes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Barnes throws a body shot but no joy.
Rodrigo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barnes moves away.
Barnes falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rodrigo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rodrigo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Barnes on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo throws a sloppy head kick and Barnes moves out of range easily.
It looked like Barnes wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Barnes throws an overhand right that lands on Rodrigo's shoulder, as Rodrigo tries to avoid the shot.
Barnes has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Rodrigo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barnes was well out of range. Poor timing from Rodrigo.
Some wild striking there from Rodrigo.
Rodrigo looks to land a left hand but Barnes moved out of range nicely.
Rodrigo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Barnes moves in looking to clinch but Rodrigo pushes him off.
Rodrigo blocks a head kick by Barnes.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Barnes.
A nice side step and Rodrigo releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Barnes takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rodrigo manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo moves out of range of the body kick from Barnes.
Barnes connects with a body shot.
Rodrigo moves out of range of the body kick.
Rodrigo blocks a jab.
Rodrigo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.
Barnes throws a quick counter head kick but Rodrigo was just out of range.
Rodrigo misses with a body shot.
Rodrigo misses the body punch
and Barnes counters with a right hand to the body.
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 is looking to land body kicks.
A countering left hand to the body from Rodrigo misses.
Rodrigo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rodrigo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Barnes in his tracks.
Rodrigo misses with a wild combination.
Barnes looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Rodrigo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Rodrigo lands a right hook to the body.
Rodrigo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rodrigo misses with a low kick as Barnes jumps back.
Crunch! Barnes slams his shin into Rodrigo's torso.
Rodrigo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Barnes rather than just go for the knockout.
Rodrigo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rodrigo throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes throws a half hearted mid kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigo misses with a looping right.
Rodrigo moves out of range of the body kick from Barnes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Rodrigo does a little dance to reset his feet.
A swing and a miss from Rodrigo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes throws a body kick that misses.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Rodrigo scores with a nice strike.
Barnes throws a head kick that Rodrigo semi-blocks.
Rodrigo works Barnes's body with a nice hook.
Rodrigo takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Barnes slips under a jab from Rodrigo.
Rodrigo misses with a series of wild punches.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Rodrigo throws a series of punches but Barnes moves out of range.
Rodrigo misses with a looping left.
Barnes is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Rodrigo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo connects with a crisp jab.
Sloppy strikes from Rodrigo. Those never looked like landing.
Rodrigo throws a hook to the side of Barnes's head but Barnes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A thudding body kick lands there by Rodrigo!
Rodrigo swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Barnes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Barnes lands a left and a right that send Rodrigo crashing to the mat, dazed. Barnes thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Rodrigo is rocked!
Barnes swings widly with a right hand
and Rodrigo counters with a two punch combo.
Rodrigo is still on wobbly legs! Can Barnes finish him?
Barnes sizes up Rodrigo with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A shot to the liver by Barnes. Beautiful body shot.
Barnes connects with a leg kick. Rodrigo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rodrigo seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodrigo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A shot to the body from Rodrigo misses
and Barnes counters with a nice body shot.
Barnes tries to clinch there but Rodrigo circles away.
A head kick misses from Rodrigo.
Rodrigo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Barnes lands a nice shot to the body.
Rodrigo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodrigo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Barnes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rodrigo.
Barnes misses with a head kick.
Rodrigo throws a big counter head kick but Barnes avoids it with no problem.
Rodrigo blocks the body kick.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rodrigo throws a body shot but no joy.
Barnes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rodrigo.
Barnes appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
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 lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rodrigo at a distance.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rodrigo, right into the meat.
Rodrigo misses with a shot to the body
and Barnes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Barnes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A countering left hand to the body from Rodrigo misses.
Rodrigo uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Barnes has time to react.
Barnes attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

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 Brady Barnes.
I think Barnes 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!