PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Uriah Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oliver Taquses (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Barnes might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Bring Me The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart. Uriah Barnes has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Barnes
vs
Taquses

175 cm
25
140 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

175 cm
23
158 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Uriah Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Oliver Taquses!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taquses shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Barnes manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Taquses controls from within his opponent's guard.
Taquses trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Taquses looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes keeping full guard, as Taquses tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taquses 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.
Let's hope that Taquses has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Taquses dives into side control.
Taquses is looking to take a break and control but Barnes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barnes wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Taquses is trying to get an arm triangle but Barnes is defending well.
Taquses is working Barnes over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taquses wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Barnes, who protects the arm well.

Taquses is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Barnes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Taquses thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Taquses remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Taquses tries for a kimura but Barnes is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taquses is trying to get an arm triangle but Barnes is defending well.

Taquses tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Taquses has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Taquses content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Taquses tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Barnes tries to escape but Taquses is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taquses content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Taquses is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Barnes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Barnes is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Taquses asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Taquses tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Taquses trying to control the position but Barnes is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Taquses dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taquses with a poor takedown
and Barnes counters with a stiff right hand.
Taquses shoots in for a takedown but Barnes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Taquses gets a double leg takedown into Barnes's guard.

Barnes kicks Taquses off and gets to his feet.
Taquses has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Taquses looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Barnes manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taquses will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Uriah Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oliver Taquses.
Taquses shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barnes as he avoids it easily.
Barnes swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Taquses misses with a takedown attempt
and Barnes counters with a nice uppercut.
Barnes throws a leg kick that is checked
and Taquses counters with a straight right hand.
Barnes doesn't manage to clinch there - Taquses circles away.
Barnes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barnes swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taquses has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Taquses there as he acknowledges the shot.
Taquses has his takedown stuffed
and Barnes counters with a straight right hand.

Taquses looking to score a takedown here. Barnes is defending well but Taquses drives through and ends up in Barnes's guard.
Barnes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taquses is controlling him.
Taquses wants to pass the guard but Barnes is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taquses sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Taquses postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Barnes is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Taquses, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taquses has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Barnes should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Taquses has tightened it up now! Barnes should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Oliver Taquses!
After the fight, Oliver Taquses was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.