PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Scot Barnes (ranked 8484 p4p, 0 weight class) and RK Mate (ranked 5159 p4p, 0 weight class). RK Mate has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Scot Barnes's chin.

Barnes
vs
Mate

174 cm
18
151 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

168 cm
25
146 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Scot Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, RK Mate!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Mate manages to pull guard.
Barnes wants to stand but Mate is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mate looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barnes is one step ahead there.
Barnes connects with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mate utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Mate is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mate working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barnes.

Mate throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Barnes escapes and throws Mate's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Mate looks winded!

Barnes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mate has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes controlling the position from side mount.

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.
Barnes tries to stand but Mate is controlling his head.
Barnes creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Mate sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
A lull in the action here as Barnes stalls from top position.

Barnes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mate knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Barnes wants to stand but Mate is controlling his arm.
Barnes fails to land a wild elbow strike.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mate lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barnes wants to control but Mate is keeping busy.
Barnes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mate.
Barnes is looking to improve his position.

Barnes looking for submissions off his back.

Barnes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

RK Mate dominated that round.
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 clinches up against the cage.
Mate wants to get back to striking at distance but Barnes won't allow it.
Barnes tries to break free but Mate pushes him back against the cage.
Barnes has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mate after a bit of a struggle.
Barnes is working for takedown but Mate is calmly controlling the position for now.
Barnes is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scot Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Barnes breaks from the clinch.
Barnes looks for a takedown but Mate sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mate pushes Barnes up against the cage in a clinch.
Barnes changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mate fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Mate is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Barnes's half guard.
Mate is breathing heavily.
Barnes regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Mate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes wants to sweep here but Mate controlling him for the moment.
Barnes will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Barnes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mate manages to get himself to full guard.

Barnes stands up over Mate, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Barnes postures up in Mate's guard and throws a big left but Mate blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mate keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.

Mate working for a triangle but Barnes defends it easily.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Mate is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes stopping the sweep attempt from Mate.

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.
Mate has a closed guard, preventing Barnes from standing up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Mate being controlled here, momentarily.

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

Mate shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Barnes manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

RK Mate showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Mate tries to clinch up but Barnes circles away and keeps his distance.
Mate falls off balance throwing a combination

and Barnes counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mate!
Mate bucks up and tries to throw Barnes off but instead Barnes has got his back!

Mate defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Barnes is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Mate takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Mate's body.
Barnes has Mate flattened out and is raining down punches.
Barnes controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barnes seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mate for as long as he can get away with.
Mate tries to break free.
Mate is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Barnes.
Barnes connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Mate to escape the position.

Barnes tightening his grip on Mate, looking for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mate defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Barnes's arms.
Barnes is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Mate up.

Mate fending off the submission attempt from Barnes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mate wants to control his opponent's hands but Barnes gets his hands free.
You can see the frustration on Mate's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Mate grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barnes tries to get the hooks in deep but Mate pushed the leg off.
Scot Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
RK Mate is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Barnes has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Mate's body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scot Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mate has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... RK Mate!