PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wille Thai (ranked 2447 p4p, 4136 weight class) and Abraham Barnes (ranked 312 p4p, 515 weight class). Abraham Barnes told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Thai
vs
Barnes

195 cm
24
212
9 - 5 - 0

185 cm
23
210
4 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Urban Fighter

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Wille Thai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abraham Barnes!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Donatello Bradman and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes throws a body punch but Thai moves out of range.
Thai tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Barnes manages to circle out of the way.
Barnes looks to land a left hand but Thai moved out of range nicely.
Thai attempts a counter takedown but Barnes avoids it well and moves away.
Thai with a lazy takedown attempt
and Thai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Barnes throws a lazy uppercut

and Thai counters with a single leg into guard. Barnes didn't expect that.
Barnes looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Thai puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Barnes tries to roll over but Thai keeps him under control.
Thai has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Barnes looking for submissions off his back.

Thai is looking for a kimura here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Barnes looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes wants to get back to full guard.
Barnes is in trouble now - Thai has advanced to mount!

Thai jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Barnes manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Barnes tries to bench press Thai off him but Thai keeps the position.

Thai is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Barnes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Barnes manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thai's best efforts.
Thai is pressing down on Barnes's thigh, looking to free his foot. Barnes is holding on for now.

Thai is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes manages to get to full guard.
Barnes keeping full guard, as Thai tries to pass.
Barnes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barnes pulls Thai in close to his closed guard and prevents Thai from doing any damage or advancing position.
Thai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barnes swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Barnes has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Thai is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Barnes.

Thai tries for a kimura but Barnes is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Barnes regains half guard.

Barnes actively working from the bottom here.

Thai is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Barnes doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thai.

Thai is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thai is pressing down on Barnes's thigh, looking to free his foot. Barnes is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is trying to get back to full guard.

Thai is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Barnes doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thai.

Thai is looking for a kimura but Barnes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thai to get the leverage.

Thai is working for a submission of some sort.
Barnes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barnes tries to kick Thai off in order to stand up. Thai Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barnes throws the left hand but Thai avoids the punch easily.
Thai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Barnes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thai fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes misses with a combination

and Thai counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thai.
Thai works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Thai looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thai is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Barnes looking for submissions off his back.

Thai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Thai is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Barnes defends it well.
Barnes moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barnes trying to keep a closed guard but Thai is proving a slippery customer.
Thai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thai forces his way into half guard.

Thai is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Barnes defends it well.
Barnes gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barnes is on top in guard.

Barnes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thai's head.
Thai is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barnes can do to turn this around?

Thai had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barnes defends it easily.
Barnes lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Thai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Thai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Barnes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thai has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barnes has managed to get both his arms back between Thai's legs - danger averted.

Thai throws his legs up looking for a submission but Barnes uses it to pass to side control.

Barnes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Barnes trying to control the position but Thai is working away.
Thai is looking to reverse the position.
Barnes trying to control the position but Thai is working away.
Wille Thai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Barnes decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai walks into a stiff left hand from Barnes.
Thai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barnes swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wille Thai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab from Barnes does it's job there.
Abraham Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barnes avoids it really well and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thai with a lazy takedown attempt
and Barnes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barnes displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abraham Barnes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Barnes stuffs the takedown attempt from Thai. Thai gets slowly back to his feet.
Barnes fails to land with a series of punches.
Thai dives in and grabs Barnes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Barnes pushes down on Thai's head and hops out.
Barnes scores with a shot to the body.
Abraham Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thai takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A leg kick checked by Thai.
Thai feinted with a counter takedown.
Thai fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wille Thai. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Thai has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Barnes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Barnes with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Barnes tries to bum rush Thai with a series of wild strikes but Thai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barnes throws the left hand but Thai avoids the punch easily.
Barnes throws a body punch but Thai moves out of range.
Thai changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Barnes lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai tries for a takedown but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A little jabbing left from Barnes on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Barnes throws a left and a right that both miss

and Thai counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Barnes!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes regains half guard.

Thai wants to work for an arm triangle but Barnes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Thai seems to be working for a kimura but Barnes defends the submission attempt.
Barnes wants to get back to full guard.

Thai wants to work for an arm triangle but Barnes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Barnes looks like he's trying to stand up.

Thai is trying to work for a kimura but Barnes is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barnes trying to control from the bottom.

Thai is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Barnes has managed to free his arm - good work.

Thai is looking for submissions but instead, Barnes has regained full guard.
Barnes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thai manages to get himself to full guard.

Barnes advances to half guard.
Barnes is trying to control the action in half guard but Thai is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai is looking for a sweep. Barnes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Thai is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barnes pulls his head out easily.
Barnes scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Barnes passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Thai!
Thai tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thai in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Barnes cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Thai tries to reverse the position but Barnes maintains control.
Barnes looking to control but Thai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Barnes is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Thai can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnes lands a heavy elbow.
Barnes connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Thai is looking to improve his position but Barnes isn't that keen on the idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abraham Barnes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barnes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abraham Barnes!
Abraham Barnes was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.