PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Slenzy Johnson (ranked 4861 p4p, 5678 weight class) and Steve Barnes (ranked 210 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnson
vs
Barnes

182 cm
22
140
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
141
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Slenzy Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steve Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Barnes looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Johnson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Barnes.
Johnson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Barnes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson shoots and misses
and Barnes counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Barnes to acknowledge the strikes.
Johnson moves out of range of the leg kick from Barnes.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Barnes throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slenzy Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
Johnson seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Johnson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barnes.
Barnes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Barnes circles away.
An inside leg kick lands from Barnes.
Barnes's coach down at Qube MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Barnes's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Barnes throws a shot from downtown. Johnson moves away and avoids it.
Barnes avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Barnes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barnes as he avoids it easily.
Barnes looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Steve Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Barnes throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fails with the takedown
and Johnson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Barnes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Barnes.
Barnes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Johnson.
Barnes stalling in the clinch.
Johnson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Barnes throws a head punch that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes prevents a takedown attempt there.
Barnes displaying some good clinch control by pressing Johnson up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barnes makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Barnes will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Johnson up against the cage.
Johnson tries to circle away but Barnes has him pinned against the cage.
Barnes's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short left from Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes has Johnson pressed against the cage, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Barnes has him pressed against the cage.

Barnes breaks from the clinch.
Barnes throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
Barnes loads up on a big right hand but Johnson slips the punch.
Johnson scores with a jab to the head.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson feinted with a counter takedown.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Barnes.
Barnes throws a low kick but Johnson moves out of range easily.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barnes chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Barnes dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Barnes bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Slenzy Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnes tries to score with a low kick but Johnson moves his leg out of the way.
Barnes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Steve Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson dives in for a single leg takedown but Barnes sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Barnes throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Slenzy Johnson has been cut.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.

Barnes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Barnes is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Barnes moves out of range easily.
Barnes scores with a head kick. Johnson tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Barnes thuds a left hand into Johnson's body.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barnes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Johnson has time to react.
Barnes lands a high kick!
Barnes turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Johnson jabs Barnes to the body, keeping him at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barnes throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barnes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Johnson somewhat.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Barnes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slenzy Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Barnes misses.
Johnson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barnes as he avoids it easily.
Barnes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Barnes with the inside leg kick.
Barnes is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Johnson rather than just go for the knockout.
Barnes thumps Johnson with a low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barnes avoids it really well and circles away.
A low kick lands for Barnes.
Steve Barnes seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes feints and then cracks Johnson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Johnson down.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barnes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barnes throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Barnes with a nice calf kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barnes.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Barnes throws a leg kick which misses Johnson's front leg but catches the back leg as Johnson tries to avoid it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barnes throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Barnes.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barnes circles away.
Johnson sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson walks into a left hand.
Barnes chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Barnes with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Barnes throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Johnson.
Nice body kick from Barnes.
A slapping leg kick lands for Barnes.
Barnes fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Barnes scores with a head kick. Johnson tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Johnson is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Barnes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Slenzy Johnson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Barnes lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Johnson backs up against the cage.
Oh Johnson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Barnes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barnes can pounce on him.
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Barnes! Johnson is out on his feet! Barnes rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Johnson is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Johnson is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:13 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Steve Barnes!