PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Don Barnes (ranked 1548 p4p, 2660 weight class) and Danny Raggazza (ranked 216 p4p, 348 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barnes
vs
Raggazza

180 cm
21
176
6 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
165
4 - 5 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Don Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Danny Raggazza!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paulsen Ambrosius and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raggazza checks a leg kick nicely.

Barnes gets a takedown into half guard.
Raggazza is trying to get back to full guard.
Raggazza is not content to let Barnes control the position.
Barnes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Barnes trying to control from half guard but Raggazza is working away.
Raggazza is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barnes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barnes's back!
Barnes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Raggazza on the ground.
Barnes is really stuck here.
Raggazza lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Barnes rolls, trying to escape but Raggazza keeps control of the position.
Barnes covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raggazza controlling the position well here. Barnes rolled but Raggazza kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Barnes trying to control the action but Raggazza just sinks the hooks in.
Barnes is trying to remain composed but Raggazza is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Well, with Raggazza on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Barnes is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes tries to roll but Raggazza sticks to his back.
Raggazza lands a shot to the body.
Raggazza keeps control of the position as Barnes tries to break free.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Raggazza.
Raggazza is punishing Barnes with strikes - can he finish him?!
Barnes can't escape the position.

Raggazza is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Barnes is defending well though. Raggazza let's go of the attempt for now.
Raggazza cracks Barnes with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Barnes from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

Raggazza looking to break Barnes's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Barnes remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Raggazza will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raggazza controlling well, preventing Barnes from escaping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raggazza gets his hands free as Barnes looks to control.
I really don't envy Barnes right now.
Barnes's coaches at Qube MMA have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Raggazza scores with punches from the back.
Raggazza scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Barnes is looking for a way out.
The referee is taking a good look at Barnes as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Raggazza!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raggazza is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Barnes. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

Raggazza is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Raggazza scores with punches from the back.

Raggazza looking for the choke but no joy.

Raggazza working for the choke.
Raggazza keeps control of the position as Barnes tries to break free.
Barnes just trying to survive but Raggazza is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Raggazza is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Barnes up.
Raggazza scores with punches to the body.
Raggazza lands shots from the back.
Raggazza scores with punches from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raggazza is landing with strikes from the back.
Barnes is keeping busy.
Raggazza lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Barnes.
Raggazza is hanging on to Barnes's back as he tries to escape.
Raggazza loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Barnes hold on?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raggazza keeps control of the position as Barnes tries to break free.
Raggazza gets his hands free as Barnes looks to control.
Raggazza scores with punches from the back.
Barnes rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Raggazza lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Raggazza landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raggazza landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Raggazza connects with a nice short shot to Barnes's temple.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Raggazza lands a nice short elbow.
Barnes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Barnes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Barnes moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Raggazza chips away with some ground and pound.
Raggazza connects with a couple of short punches.
Raggazza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barnes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raggazza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Raggazza trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barnes is on top in guard.

Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Raggazza manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barnes manages to get himself to full guard.

Barnes looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Raggazza cracks Barnes with a solid left hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Raggazza dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Barnes shoots for a takedown but Raggazza saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice defenses there by Barnes.
Barnes takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Barnes shoots in and drives through. Raggazza sprawls well.
Barnes throws a hook but Raggazza blocks it.
Don Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Raggazza does a little dance to reset his feet.
Raggazza wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Barnes is looking to score with low kicks.
Barnes checks a leg kick.
Barnes takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Barnes uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Raggazza throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Barnes stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Raggazza scores with a jab.
Raggazza ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barnes moves away.
Barnes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Raggazza.
Raggazza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barnes's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Raggazza connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barnes scrambles back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes misses with a hook.
Raggazza let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Raggazza throws a jab but it's blocked by Barnes.
Barnes throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raggazza steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barnes.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Raggazza manages to avoid it.
Barnes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Raggazza comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Raggazza lands a right hook to the body.
Raggazza ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Danny Raggazza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barnes misses with a wild combination.

Barnes changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Raggazza looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Raggazza sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Raggazza is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barnes pulls his head out easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Barnes looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Raggazza with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Raggazza makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Raggazza.
Raggazza lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Raggazza connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes has momentary wrist control but Raggazza slips an elbow through the middle.
Barnes looking for a sweep. Not yet Barnes, not yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Raggazza's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Raggazza postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Raggazza's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Raggazza stopping the sweep attempt from Barnes.
Raggazza works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Raggazza stops Barnes from getting back to his feet.
Raggazza wants to take a breather but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes is looking to improve his position.
Raggazza has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Raggazza takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Barnes is pressing down on Raggazza's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Barnes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Raggazza wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
Raggazza is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Raggazza's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Raggazza slips nicely into half guard.
Danny Raggazza has got the better of the ground game so far.

Raggazza seems to be working for a kimura but Barnes defends the submission attempt.
Raggazza is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Barnes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Raggazza landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Barnes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Raggazza.
Barnes is trying to get back to full guard.
Barnes is in trouble now - Raggazza has advanced to mount!
Raggazza lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Raggazza controlling from the full mount.
Barnes is looking to improve his position but Raggazza isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raggazza raining down hammerfists from mount.
Barnes taking shots to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Barnes is bucking up trying to escape but Raggazza cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Barnes working to try and regain half guard.
Raggazza raining down shots from the mount!
Barnes is trying desperately to improve position.
Barnes is in a horrible position here. Raggazza smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Barnes is in a horrible position here. Raggazza smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Barnes is rocked!
Raggazza working Barnes over with strikes here.
Oh Barnes is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Raggazza prevents Barnes from getting the reversal.
Barnes seems to have got his legs back now.

Raggazza looking to secure an arm triangle but Barnes defends it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Raggazza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Barnes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barnes misses with a takedown
enabling Raggazza to counter with a crisp jab.
Barnes takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Raggazza blocks a low kick nicely.
Raggazza cracks Barnes with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Barnes has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Raggazza finds it's way round the side to connect with Barnes's head.
Don Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Raggazza lands a right hook to the body.
Raggazza defending well as Barnes loads up on a big left hand.
Raggazza flicks out a counter leg kick but Barnes steps away.
Raggazza digs a good body shot into Barnes's ribs.
Barnes on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Barnes throws a hook but Raggazza avoids it easily.
Barnes takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Raggazza throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barnes on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raggazza tests Barnes's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Barnes misses with an uppercut.
Raggazza comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jab from Raggazza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Raggazza.
Barnes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Raggazza is fending him off so far but Barnes persists. Nope, Raggazza circles away and we're back to standing.
Barnes throws a front kick aimed at Raggazza's knee but Raggazza avoids it well.
Raggazza moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Raggazza moves away.
Barnes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Raggazza dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Raggazza lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Barnes misses with a hook. Raggazza ducked under it nicely.
Raggazza misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barnes.
Raggazza connects with a nice looking jab.
Barnes throws out a loose jab but Raggazza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raggazza cracks a nice hook into Barnes's ribs.
Barnes misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Raggazza counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raggazza jabs at Barnes's body.
Raggazza throws a shot to the body.
Raggazza scores with a nice strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes looks to land a right hand but Raggazza moved out of range.
Barnes misses with a right hand
and Raggazza counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Raggazza ducks down to avoid it.
Raggazza lands a right hook to the body.
A punch combination from Raggazza misses.
Raggazza scores with a crisp jab that stopped Barnes in his tracks.
Barnes walks into a stiff left hand from Raggazza.
Raggazza fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Raggazza throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barnes.
Raggazza fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Barnes checks it well.
Barnes looks to land a right hand but Raggazza moved out of range.
Barnes takes one to the chin there.
Raggazza checks the leg kick nicely there.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Raggazza moves away.
A shot to the liver by Raggazza. Beautiful body shot.
Barnes shoots in for a double leg but Raggazza sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnes shoots for a takedown but Raggazza saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raggazza lands a lovely overhand right.

Barnes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Raggazza moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Raggazza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barnes won't allow Raggazza to sweep him here.
Barnes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Raggazza trying to keep a closed guard but Barnes is proving a slippery customer.

Barnes is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Raggazza has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Barnes is looking to defend but Raggazza has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Barnes! Raggazza pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Barnes taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Danny Raggazza!
Danny Raggazza decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.