PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alex Barnes (ranked 2684 p4p, 3726 weight class) and Rousso Phobe (ranked 154 p4p, 208 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barnes
vs
Phobe

170 cm
20
145
3 - 3 - 0

173 cm
23
142
4 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Voodoo Nutrition

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rousso Phobe!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Phobe manages to avoid it.
Phobe steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Barnes.
Phobe closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The fighters circle momentarily. Barnes darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A punch combination from Barnes misses.

Phobe drives through with a takedown into Barnes's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Phobe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Phobe trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Phobe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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.
Phobe cracks Barnes with a solid left hand.
Barnes controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phobe trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Barnes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barnes looking to control.
Phobe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Phobe must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barnes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Barnes lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes wants to sweep here but Phobe controlling him for the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Phobe wants to clinch.
Alex Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Phobe tries for a takedown but Barnes circles away easily
and Barnes counters with a straight right hand.
Barnes misses with a straight right.

Phobe scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Barnes is trying to get back to full guard.
Barnes is concentrating on defense, preventing Phobe from advancing position.
Barnes wants to sweep but Phobe has passed to side control!
Phobe working the body and head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is trying to improve his position.
Barnes has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Barnes is letting Phobe control him for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes can't do much from the bottom here.
Sloppy strikes there by Phobe.
Barnes tries to bench press Phobe off him but Phobe keeps the position.
Barnes regains half guard.
Barnes is in trouble now - Phobe has advanced to mount!
Phobe tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to hold on but Phobe postures up.
Barnes is trying to escape the mount.
Barnes manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Barnes is looking for a sweep. Phobe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Phobe drops an elbow to the side of Barnes's head.
Barnes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phobe is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Phobe lands with a punch from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rousso Phobe dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Barnes misses with a hook

and Phobe counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Barnes!
Barnes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Phobe trying to control the position but Barnes is working away.
Barnes sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
We've been informed that Phobe has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Barnes moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Phobe won't allow Barnes to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phobe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Phobe throws a big elbow that misses.
Phobe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Phobe wants to pass the guard but Barnes is keeping the position.
Barnes keeping moving, preventing Phobe from controlling successfully.
Phobe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Barnes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Phobe is one step ahead there.
Barnes trying to control the position.
Phobe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Barnes's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Phobe is stalling in the full guard.
Barnes controlling Phobe's posture.
Barnes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Phobe manages to get himself to full guard.

Phobe keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
Phobe wants to sweep but no luck.
Barnes landing with the ground and pound.
Barnes is pushing down on Phobe's leg trying to pass to half guard. Phobe is fighting to maintain full guard but Barnes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Phobe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phobe is trying to get back to full guard.
Phobe throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Barnes is nestled in close to Phobe, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Phobe has hold of Barnes's hands but Barnes slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Phobe is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Barnes scores with a couple of nice shots.
Barnes working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Phobe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barnes.
Barnes throwing shots but Phobe is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phobe looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barnes is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Barnes lands with a punch from half guard.
Barnes is trying to control. Phobe wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Phobe trying to control but Barnes postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Phobe looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Barnes dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Barnes throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Phobe stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Barnes is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Barnes misses with a body kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Phobe is defended easily by Barnes.
Barnes throws out a loose jab but Phobe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phobe wants to counter with a clinch but Barnes pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Barnes lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Phobe takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes swings for the body but Phobe moves out of range.
Barnes darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Phobe misses with a takedown attempt - Barnes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Phobe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barnes as he jumps to the side.
Alex Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rousso Phobe.
Barnes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Phobe misses with a takedown attempt
and Barnes counters with a nice leg kick.
Phobe tries to clinch but Barnes moves out of range.
Phobe shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Barnes defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is looking to slow Phobe down with leg kicks.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Barnes!
Barnes throws a leg kick that misses.
Barnes lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Phobe has a takedown stuffed.
Alex Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes stuffs the takedown.
Phobe gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Barnes.
Alex Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnes lands a head shot.
Barnes's corner calls for a 1-2. Barnes obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Phobe tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Barnes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Phobe darts in looking for a takedown but Barnes gets double underhooks and turns Phobe into the cage.
Phobe shoots for a takedown but Barnes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Barnes throws a jab but it's blocked by Phobe.
Phobe tries to counter by closing the distance.
Barnes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a solid leg kick but Phobe takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barnes.
Phobe is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Phobe has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barnes.
Barnes lunges at Phobe with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Phobe's hand.
Phobe slips under a jab from Barnes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes lands with a nice body punch.
Phobe shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barnes as he avoids it easily.
Phobe just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromBarnes.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Barnes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A swing and a miss from Barnes.
Barnes lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Barnes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Barnes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Barnes!
Alex Barnes decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.