PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Billy Basington (ranked 4773 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Barnier (ranked 5948 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Basington
vs
Barnier

161 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

166 cm
18
139 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Billy Basington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Victor Barnier!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnier misses the shot to the body.

Barnier shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Basington napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Basington wants to control but Barnier postures up.
Barnier in side control, throwing shots but Basington defends.
Barnier is looking to take a break and control but Basington is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barnier misses with the ground and pound.
Barnier really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Basington. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Basington is trying to control Barnier's posture but Barnier avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Basington is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Basington moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Basington trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnier trying to control the position from guard on top but Basington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Basington striking off his back but it's not causing Barnier any problems.
Barnier loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnier trying to control the position from guard on top but Basington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Basington has Barnier pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Basington throws a looping overhand right but Barnier ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Barnier just misses with a punch to the body.

Basington looking to score a takedown here. Barnier is defending well but Basington drives through and ends up in Barnier's guard.
Barnier can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Basington controls the pace.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barnier can do anything to dispel that myth.
Basington landing some decent shots from guard.

Basington got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barnier has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Basington has managed to get both his arms back between Barnier's legs - danger averted.
Basington makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Barnier is trying to keep Basington in close.
Basington lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basington lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Basington stays in close to Barnier's body and controls the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Basington working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Basington sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Basington makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Basington wants to control from the top but Barnier keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Barnier throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Barnier trying to control the position.
Basington distracts Barnier with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Basington postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Basington forces his way into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barnier trying to control here.
Well, if Basington 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barnier takes a swing at Basington's ribcage but misses.

Barnier drives through with a takedown into guard.
Basington striking off his back but it's not causing Barnier any problems.
Barnier pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Basington is keeping the position for now.
Barnier trying to control but Basington is working from the bottom.
Basington is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Basington is taking a breather. Barnier says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Basington is thwarting Barnier's attempts to control the position.
Basington moves nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Basington stalls from top position.
Basington lands an elbow.
Basington lands some shots froms side control.
Basington scores with punches from side control.
Barnier is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Basington is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Basington controlling from the full mount.
Barnier keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basington unloading with bombs!
Basington dominating with strikes here.
Barnier really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Basington lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Basington with a couple of short strikes.
Basington landing shots from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Basington controlling the position easily from mount.
Basington lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basington controlling from the full mount.
Basington is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Barnier can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Barnier tries to reverse the position but Basington maintains control.
Basington controlling the pace for now.
Basington unloading with bombs!
Barnier is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basington punishing his opponent with strikes.
Basington scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Barnier?
Barnier takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Basington lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Basington controlling the pace for now.
Barnier tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Basington putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Basington controlling the pace for now.
Basington lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Basington dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Barnier keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Barnier is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Basington's half guard.
Basington throws a strike from the bottom but Barnier passes into side control!
Basington wants to control but Barnier postures up.
Basington tries to improve position but can't.
Basington is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnier working the strikes but Basington uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Barnier blocks the strikes from Basington.
Basington is doing well to control the position and prevent Barnier from advancing to side control.
Basington is trying to maintain the position but Barnier is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnier is trying to control the action in half guard but Basington is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Basington misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Barnier blocks the strikes from Basington.
Basington punching from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A slow jab from Barnier misses its intended target.
Basington appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Basington staying out of range there.

Barnier drives through with a takedown into guard.
Basington wants to sweep here but Barnier controlling him for the moment.
Barnier missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basington wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Basington is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barnier can do to turn this around?
Basington lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Barnier trying to control the position.
Basington is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Barnier has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Basington can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Basington sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basington passes Barnier's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Basington content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Barnier trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Basington manages to pass to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Basington landing punches.
Barnier really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Basington takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Barnier is looking to improve his position but Basington isn't that keen on the idea.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Basington lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Barnier hang on?
Victor Barnier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Basington looking to control and managing it successfully.

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 Billy Basington.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Basington, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Basington!