PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Scot Barnes (ranked 25398 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lester John Mate Jr (ranked 25438 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barnes
vs
John Mate Jr

174 cm
18
151 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

174 cm
18
142 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Scot Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Lester John Mate Jr!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mate Jr throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Barnes tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mate Jr is in Barnes's guard.

Barnes has an active guard here but Mate Jr has managed to pass into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes is in trouble now - Mate Jr has advanced to mount!
Barnes blocking the ground and pound.
Barnes is trying desperately to improve position.
Barnes tries to hold on but Mate Jr pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mate Jr can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Barnes is looking to escape.
Barnes is desperately trying to improve his position but Mate Jr has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes has given up his back here.
Barnes tries to escape the position.
Mate Jr controlling from the back.
Mate Jr trying to control momentarily.
Mate Jr is not going to allow Barnes to sit and survive in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mate Jr controlling the position well here. Barnes rolled but Mate Jr kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Mate Jr struggling to keep hold of the position.
Barnes breaks Mate Jr's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mate Jr has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Barnes has passed into side control.

Barnes wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mate Jr, who protects the arm well.
Mate Jr looks to move to half guard but instead Barnes has passed into mount! Damn!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mate Jr tries to control the position but Barnes now has his back.
Mate Jr trying to control the position but Barnes manages to sink in the hooks.
Mate Jr looks winded!

Mate Jr defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Barnes's arms.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
You can see the frustration on Mate Jr's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Mate Jr really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barnes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnes patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Mate Jr wants to escape the position.
Mate Jr is trying to get back to his feet but Barnes has full control of the position and if anything, Mate Jr has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Barnes throwing damaging strikes from the back! Mate Jr could be in trouble here!

Barnes working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mate Jr defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Barnes's arms.

Barnes tightening his grip on Mate Jr, looking for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scot Barnes dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mate Jr fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mate Jr doesn't manage to clinch there - Barnes circles away.
Mate Jr tries to clinch

and Barnes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mate Jr's guard.
Barnes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Barnes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mate Jr can do to turn this around?

Barnes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Mate Jr counter with a right hand.

Mate Jr moves into the clinch successfully.

Barnes gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes controlling the action here.

Mate Jr is defending against the submission attempts here by Barnes.

Barnes stands up out of the half guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mate Jr wants to control but Barnes is keeping him busy.
Barnes is trying is best to control the position here.
Mate Jr sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barnes defending well though.
Scot Barnes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mate Jr trying to control from Barnes's half guard. Barnes has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Barnes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mate Jr can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barnes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Mate Jr postures up.
Barnes will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Barnes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Mate Jr closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Barnes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Barnes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mate Jr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barnes swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Barnes looking for a triangle here. Mate Jr is fighting it but it looks tight! Barnes pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Mate Jr is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Scot Barnes!