PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Trevor Barnes (ranked 5325 p4p, 3568 weight class) and Tua Graves (ranked 510 p4p, 383 weight class). Tua Graves is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Barnes
vs
Graves

180 cm
21
162
2 - 3 - 1

179 cm
27
155
6 - 7 - 1

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

ALPHAwear

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 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Trevor Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tua Graves!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, John Mangel and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A nice leg kick from Barnes, right into the meat of the thigh.

Barnes drives through and clinches with Graves against the cage.
Graves is trying to pull guard but Barnes has him pressed against the cage.
Graves is working for takedown but Barnes is calmly controlling the position for now.
Barnes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Graves's elbow.
Barnes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
I was talking to Barnes's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Barnes lands a left hand.
The referee is keeping an eye on Barnes - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Barnes misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes lands a left hand.
Barnes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barnes lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Graves has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Barnes after a bit of a struggle.
Trevor Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tua Graves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Graves is looking to take this one to the mat.
Graves jumps guard but Barnes turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've been informed that Graves has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Barnes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Graves is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Barnes to keep the fight standing.

Graves pulls Barnes into guard.

Barnes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Graves has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barnes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Graves wants to sweep here but Barnes controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barnes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Graves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Graves is keeping the position for now.

Graves is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barnes is aware though and is defending well.
Graves wants to sweep here but Barnes controlling him for the moment.
Barnes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a big right hand that misses.
Graves keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
Barnes throwing strikes from guard but Graves blocks nicely.
Graves utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Graves is adopting a defensive guard.

Graves is looking for a triangle but Barnes pushes his legs off easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Graves is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barnes wants to sweep but no luck.
Graves trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Graves.
Graves is working Barnes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Graves looking to sit in guard and control but Barnes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barnes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Graves keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Graves with a poor takedown
and Barnes counters with a leg kick.
Barnes lands a really nice looking cross but Graves seems unphased.
Graves keeps the fight on the outside.
Graves shoots for a takedown but Barnes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Barnes appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Graves shoots in and drives through. Barnes sprawls well.
Trevor Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tua Graves.
Graves tries for a takedown but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Graves closes the distance and clinches up with Barnes, looking for a takedown. Graves pushes Barnes against the cage but Barnes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barnes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Graves can do to turn this around?
Graves tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barnes defends well and Graves ends up having to push Barnes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Barnes has taken the fight to the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Barnes.
Barnes tries to throw a body punch but Graves avoids it by throwing Barnes back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes misses with a punch to the body.
Graves tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Barnes scores with a nice hook to the head.
Barnes creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Graves's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Graves drops to his knees and Barnes pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Trevor Barnes!
Trevor Barnes managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Voodoo Nutrition, into his post fight interview.