PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pacman Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stefan Nikolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Pacman Barnes has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Barnes
vs
Nikolov

187 cm
21
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Murder Inc.

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pacman Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stefan Nikolov!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikolov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Nikolov takes the fight into the clinch.
Barnes is trying to break the clinch but Nikolov has him pressed against the cage.
Barnes tries to break the clinch but Nikolov is controlling the position.
Nikolov tries to pull guard but Barnes won't allow it.
Barnes has Nikolov pushed against the cage.

Nikolov pulls guard successfully.

Nikolov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barnes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Barnes sitting in guard here, content to control.
Nikolov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Barnes puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes tries to stand but can't do so whilst Nikolov controls his leg.
Barnes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Barnes prevents Nikolov from standing back up.
Barnes controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Barnes stands up from half guard.
Barnes scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Stefan Nikolov has been cut.
Nikolov looks gassed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnes throws a series of punches but Nikolov avoids them all with ease.
Barnes scores with a jab to the body.
A punch combination from Barnes misses.
Barnes throws a nice looking combination but Nikolov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barnes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nikolov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barnes throws a right hand that Nikolov ducks under and follows up with a left that Nikolov also avoids with ease.
Barnes tries to bum rush Nikolov with a series of wild strikes but Nikolov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nikolov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No joy there for Barnes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nikolov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barnes lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Nikolov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Nikolov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Barnes wants to hold on but Nikolov pushes him away.
Barnes bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Nikolov is looking for a triangle but Barnes pushes his legs off easily.
Barnes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Barnes pushing down on Nikolov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Nikolov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barnes controlling the pace.
Nikolov is trying is best to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes controlling the pace.
Nikolov is trying to get back to full guard.
Well, if Barnes is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nikolov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Barnes tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Barnes controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nikolov actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Barnes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nikolov wants to get back to full guard but Barnes has passed into side control.
Nikolov wants to control but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Barnes tries to control but Nikolov wriggling away.
Barnes controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikolov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pacman Barnes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stefan Nikolov's cut.
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, cross combination.
Nikolov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barnes but Barnes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Oooh a lovely combination from Barnes sends Nikolov down but not out. Barnes dives into side control looking to finish.

Nikolov is rocked!
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 moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Nikolov is still in real trouble! Can Barnes finish him?
Nikolov dodges the ground and pound from Barnes.
Nikolov seems to have recovered his senses.
Barnes creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nikolov sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Nikolov sneaks back into half guard.
Barnes looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Nikolov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nikolov is breathing heavily.

Nikolov is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Barnes pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barnes decides to return to a standing position.
Barnes throws a right hand that Nikolov ducks under and follows up with a left that Nikolov also avoids with ease.
Some wild striking there from Barnes.
A jab from Barnes finds it's way through Nikolov's defenses.
Horrible takedown by Nikolov or perhaps it was just good defense by Barnes which made him look bad.
Barnes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nikolov dodges the punch combination from Barnes.
Barnes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nikolov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nikolov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Barnes finds it's way round the side to connect with Nikolov's head.
Barnes throws an overhand right that lands on Nikolov's shoulder, as Nikolov tries to avoid the shot.
Barnes fails to land with a series of punches.
Pacman Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nikolov tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Nikolov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Barnes!
Nikolov landing punches.
You get the feeling that Barnes really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Nikolov wants to finish this one by submission but Barnes is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Nikolov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes wants to hold on but Nikolov pushes him away.
Barnes is wriggling around trying to escape.

Nikolov is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Barnes can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Nikolov working for a submission but Barnes is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov prevents Barnes from getting the reversal.
Nikolov scoring with strikes but Barnes is staying in there.
Barnes is trying to escape the mount.

Nikolov wants to finish this one by submission but Barnes is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Nikolov.

Nikolov is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Barnes is surviving well by controlling Nikolov's body position as best he can.

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.
Nikolov unloads with some shots from mount but Barnes bucks and avoids them well.
Barnes tries to hold on but Nikolov pushes him away.
Nikolov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Barnes because Nikolov loaded up on that one.
Barnes can't escape the position.
Nikolov lands a nice shot to the head.
Barnes is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nikolov has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Barnes's face.
Barnes can't escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Barnes is looking for a sweep. Nikolov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pacman Barnes dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Stefan Nikolov's cut.
That's time! Barnes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nikolov rushes Barnes and presses him up against the cage.
Barnes taking a breather.

Nikolov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nikolov manages to avoid it.
Barnes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Nikolov rushes Barnes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barnes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Barnes misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Barnes breaks the clinch.
Barnes takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nikolov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes takes a swing at Nikolov's ribcage but misses.

Nikolov drives through and clinches with Barnes against the cage.
Barnes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nikolov.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnes gets underhooks to prevent Nikolov's takedown attempt.
Nikolov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Barnes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Nikolov or not.

Nikolov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes swinging wilding here.
Nikolov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barnes.
Nikolov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nikolov is looking to clinch but Barnes is avoiding it.

Nikolov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Barnes is trying to improve his position.

Nikolov is trying to get an arm triangle but Barnes is defending well.
Barnes sneaks back into half guard.
Barnes tries to roll over but Nikolov keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nikolov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Barnes sees it coming and defends easily.
Barnes wants to control but Nikolov is keeping busy.
Barnes tries to get to full guard but Nikolov has control of the leg.
Nikolov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barnes defending well though.
Barnes wants to get back to his feet.

Nikolov is looking for a kimura but Barnes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nikolov to get the leverage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barnes misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov is looking to clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Barnes as he connects with a hook.
Pacman Barnes is winning the standup battle so far.
Nikolov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barnes is fending him off so far but Nikolov persists. Nope, Barnes circles away and we're back to standing.
Pacman Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stefan Nikolov.
Good exchange - Barnes coming out on top.
Barnes closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Barnes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nikolov.
Pacman Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barnes lands a with a good body shot.

Nikolov clinches.
Nikolov tries to pull guard but Barnes holds him up against the cage and eventually Nikolov drops back down to his feet.
Nikolov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Good body shot from Barnes.
Nice body punch from Barnes.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Nikolov tries to pull guard but Barnes won't allow it.
Barnes is looking to break free of the clinch but Nikolov has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Barnes wants to get back to striking at distance but Nikolov won't allow it.

Nikolov manages to break the clinch.
A jab lands there for Barnes.
Barnes throws a nice looking combination but Nikolov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pacman Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes fails to land with a series of punches.
Nikolov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barnes is fending him off so far but Nikolov persists. Nope, Barnes circles away and we're back to standing.
Barnes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barnes fails to land with a series of punches.
Nikolov tries to clinch but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes misses with a wild combination.
Nikolov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stefan Nikolov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barnes lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Nikolov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nikolov lands in his opponent's guard.

Nikolov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nikolov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Stefan Nikolov.
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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pacman Barnes!