PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jae Barnes (ranked 24988 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zoe Thompson (ranked 6573 p4p, 0 weight class). Zoe Thompson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barnes
vs
Thompson

210 cm
19
161 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

180 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jae Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zoe Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Steve Montenegro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson throws a head kick that misses.

Barnes fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Thompson to the ground. Barnes is now in Thompson's guard.
Barnes is looking to work some ground and pound but Thompson has wrist control.

Barnes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thompson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barnes has managed to get both his arms back between Thompson's legs - danger averted.
Barnes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Thompson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thompson controlling Barnes's posture.

Thompson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Barnes throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barnes wants to stand but Thompson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Thompson is working an open guard so Barnes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Thompson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barnes tries to avoid it but Thompson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barnes to the ground. Barnes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thompson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Thompson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Barnes's guard.
Barnes throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is pulling down on Thompson's head. It's preventing any offense from Thompson, at least for the moment.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
Barnes is adopting a defensive guard.
Thompson preventing the sweep.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Thompson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Barnes to the ground. Thompson is now in Barnes's guard.
Barnes wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Barnes throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Barnes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thompson wants to get up but he can't break Barnes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Barnes keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Thompson stopping the sweep attempt from Barnes.
Barnes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Barnes seems keen to control Thompson's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Barnes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barnes slaps away a takedown attempt from Thompson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jae Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zoe Thompson.
Thompson looks winded!

Barnes moves into the clinch successfully.
Barnes prevents a body shot from Thompson.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Thompson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barnes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thompson.
Barnes is looking to counter with head kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zoe Thompson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thompson takes the fight into the clinch.
Thompson is trying to pull guard but Barnes has him pressed against the cage.

Thompson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Thompson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Barnes has passed into side control.
Thompson is looking to reverse the position.

Barnes tries for a kimura but Thompson is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thompson struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Barnes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Thompson wants to control but Barnes postures up.
Barnes misses with the ground and pound.
Thompson struggling a bit here.
Barnes has control of an arm but Thompson manages to advance to Barnes's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is trying to break free.
Thompson throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Thompson looking for the choke from the back.
Thompson is breathing heavily.
Barnes is in bad spot here.
Barnes turns into Thompson and is now in his guard.
Barnes slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Thompson.
Thompson gets back to full guard.
Barnes landing some decent shots from guard.
Barnes works over Thompson with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson has Barnes pulled in close to control his posture.
Barnes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Barnes stands and steps away. Thompson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Zoe Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Barnes tries to sprawl but Thompson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Barnes moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Barnes has his hands on Thompson's head, controlling the position.
Thompson preventing the sweep.
Barnes is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Thompson stopping the sweep attempt from Barnes.
Thompson postures up in Barnes's guard and throws a big left but Barnes blocks it.
Barnes looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Thompson tries to stand but Barnes is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barnes went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thompson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jae Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zoe Thompson.
Barnes throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Thompson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jae Barnes will probably get the nod.
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!

Thompson moves into range and clinches up with Barnes.

Thompson breaks from the clinch.
Thompson misses with a jab, cross combination.

Thompson forces Barnes back against the cage and clinches.
Thompson tries to score a body lock takedown but Barnes shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Thompson is trying to push Barnes away but Barnes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Thompson closes the distance and pushes Barnes back into the cage.
Thompson jumps guard but Barnes turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Thompson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Thompson throws an elbow but misses.
Barnes wants to break free but Thompson has control.
Barnes is trying to push Thompson away but Thompson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Thompson tries to pull guard but Barnes forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Jae Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zoe Thompson.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Thompson breaks from the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thompson.

Thompson moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is trying to pull guard but Barnes has him pressed against the cage.
Thompson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Barnes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Thompson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Thompson tries to pull guard but Barnes holds him up against the cage and eventually Thompson drops back down to his feet.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Barnes is trying to force a seperation but Thompson has the dominant position.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Thompson misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is pressed up against the cage. Thompson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Barnes down to the mat. Barnes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Barnes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Barnes working the head and body with strikes.
Thompson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thompson wants to control but Barnes is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Barnes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Barnes prevents Thompson from improving his position.

Barnes seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes working the head and body with strikes.

Barnes stands up and beckons Thompson to join him on the feet.

Barnes scores with a takedown into Thompson's guard.

Barnes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barnes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Barnes moves into range and clinches up with Thompson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jae Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jae Barnes!