PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Trevor Barnes (ranked 1125 p4p, 1289 weight class) and Venali Paetmar (ranked 150 p4p, 177 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Paetmar's choice of entrance music: Powerwolf - Amen & Attack. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barnes
vs
Paetmar

180 cm
24
162
7 - 5 - 1

168 cm
31
153
6 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, 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 Sydney, Venali Paetmar!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Ben Hemmingworth and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paetmar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Paetmar throws a half hearted mid kick.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes tries to counter by clinching up but Paetmar breaks away and moves out of range.
Paetmar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barnes.
Barnes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Paetmar manages to circle out of the way.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Paetmar, as that shot connected.
Barnes 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.
Paetmar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Paetmar slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Paetmar misses with a body kick.
Barnes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Paetmar manages to circle out of the way.
Paetmar misses with a body kick.
Paetmar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barnes.
Paetmar throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Barnes counters by clinching up.
Paetmar struggles to land a body shot inside as Barnes controls his hands.
A shot in the inside from Barnes.
Barnes lands a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Barnes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Paetmar.
Barnes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Paetmar manages to circle out of the way.
Paetmar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paetmar throws a right and a left that Barnes avoids nicely.
Barnes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Paetmar manages to circle out of the way.
A chopping leg kick lands by Paetmar.
Paetmar connects with a nice looking jab.
Barnes on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Paetmar throws a big shot that misses.
Paetmar misses with a few strikes there.
Venali Paetmar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paetmar throws a leg kick

and Barnes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Paetmar is trying to push Barnes away but Barnes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Barnes leaning against his opponent.
Barnes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Paetmar's elbow.

Barnes breaks from the clinch.
Paetmar throws a chopping leg kick but Barnes manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Paetmar scores with a hook to the body. Barnes takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Paetmar misses with a low kick.
Paetmar throws a right and a left that both miss.
Paetmar connects with a single shot there.
Paetmar has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Paetmar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paetmar looks to land a right hand but Barnes moved out of range.
Barnes is looking to counter the offense by Paetmar and move into the clinch.
Paetmar fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barnes.
That kick from Paetmar tenderised Barnes's leg. Barnes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Paetmar misses the shot to the body.
As Paetmar tries to get set, Barnes tries to push him back and clinch up but Paetmar manages to avoid the attempt.
Paetmar catches Barnes with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Paetmar attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Barnes throws the left hand but Paetmar avoids the punch easily.
Paetmar tries to bum rush Barnes with a series of wild strikes but Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Paetmar tries to bum rush Barnes with a series of wild strikes but Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Paetmar wants to land a leg kick but Barnes is out of range.
Barnes checks a leg kick.
Barnes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Paetmar manages to circle out of the way.
Paetmar misses with a low kick.
Paetmar connects with a single shot there.
Paetmar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A good leg kick by Paetmar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paetmar is looking to chop away at Barnes's legs.
Paetmar looks to land a left hand but Barnes moved out of range nicely.
Paetmar chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Paetmar keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Paetmar on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barnes. Barnes obviously looking to wear him down.
Paetmar misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Paetmar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Paetmar tries to land a front kick but Barnes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Barnes seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Paetmar pushes Barnes away with a front kick.
No joy there for Paetmar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Paetmar throws a body shot but no joy.
Paetmar misses with a straight right.
Barnes checks a leg kick.
Barnes tries to counter with a takedown but Paetmar is quick to defend against it.
Some wild striking there from Paetmar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paetmar throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
Paetmar throws a right and a left that Barnes avoids nicely.
Paetmar throws a series of punches but Barnes moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes connects with a leg kick.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Barnes moves forwards but Paetmar connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Paetmar feints and then cracks Barnes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Barnes down.
Paetmar swings widly with a right hand
and Barnes counters with a two punch combo.
Barnes lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Paetmar feints a jab promting Barnes to slip. Paetmar then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Barnes slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Paetmar misses with a wild body shot.
Barnes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Paetmar manages to circle out of the way.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes throws a nice outside leg kick.
Barnes misses with a two punch combination.
Barnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Paetmar.
Paetmar misses with a two punch combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Venali Paetmar dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Barnes connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Paetmar's hands.
Barnes lands with a slapping head kick.
Paetmar tries a head kick but it misses.
Paetmar throws a nice looking combination but Barnes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Paetmar throws a hook but Barnes blocks it.
Barnes is looking to counter the offense by Paetmar and move into the clinch.
Paetmar throws a right hand that Barnes ducks under and follows up with a left that Barnes also avoids with ease.
As Paetmar tries to get set, Barnes tries to push him back and clinch up but Paetmar manages to avoid the attempt.
Venali Paetmar seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Paetmar throws a wild body kick that Barnes sees coming a mile off.
Barnes wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Paetmar avoids a punch combination nicely.
Paetmar throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Paetmar misses.
A combination from Paetmar does no damage.
Barnes wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Paetmar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Paetmar misses with the combination.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Paetmar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
The fighters circling - Paetmar throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Paetmar bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Barnes's head.
Paetmar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes blocks a jab.
Paetmar throws a hook but Barnes avoids it easily.
Paetmar misses with a looping right.
Barnes tries to counter by clinching up but Paetmar breaks away and moves out of range.
A big right from Paetmar misses.
Barnes is looking to counter the offense by Paetmar and move into the clinch.
Paetmar scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Paetmar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Paetmar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Paetmar fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barnes.
Paetmar misses the jab.
Paetmar misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paetmar misses with a combination

and Barnes moves into the clinch.
Barnes presses Paetmar against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Barnes is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Paetmar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Paetmar.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Paetmar trying to land knees to the body.

Barnes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Paetmar throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Paetmar.
A punch combination from Paetmar misses.
Barnes wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Paetmar connects with a body shot.
Barnes takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Paetmar swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Barnes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Paetmar throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Barnes stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Paetmar misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paetmar throws a solid leg kick but Barnes takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Paetmar.
Paetmar misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Paetmar chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barnes can pounce on him.
Paetmar throws a hook but Barnes avoids it easily.
A jab from Paetmar misses.
A little feinted left hand from Barnes on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Barnes is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Paetmar walks into a jab.
Paetmar throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Paetmar lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barnes's sensitive parts.
Barnes connects with a solid leg kick.
Paetmar takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Paetmar looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnes is just out of range.
Paetmar scores with a crisp jab that stopped Barnes in his tracks.
Paetmar misses with a head kick.
Paetmar throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barnes swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Paetmar misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barnes tries to counter by clinching up but Paetmar breaks away and moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paetmar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barnes was well out of range. Poor timing from Paetmar.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paetmar throws a big shot that misses.
Paetmar misses with a jab, cross combination.
Barnes tries to counter by clinching up but Paetmar breaks away and moves out of range.
Paetmar is breathing heavily.
Paetmar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barnes was well out of range. Poor timing from Paetmar.
Paetmar rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barnes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Paetmar rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barnes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Paetmar swings away with a body shot that misses

and Barnes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nice body punch from Barnes.
Barnes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Paetmar or not.
Barnes lands a right hand.
A short body shot lands from Barnes as the two fighters clinch.

Barnes manages to break the clinch.
Good work by Barnes as he checks the leg kick.
Barnes is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Paetmar.
Paetmar looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Paetmar drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Paetmar throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Venali Paetmar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Paetmar misses with a wild body shot.
Paetmar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barnes was well out of range. Poor timing from Paetmar.
Barnes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Paetmar.
Paetmar throws a nice looking combination but Barnes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Paetmar missing with a left hand there. Barnes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Trevor Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paetmar misses with a wild body shot.
Barnes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Paetmar can pounce on him.
Barnes staying out of range there.
Barnes appears to be looking for a big counter.
Nice cross by Paetmar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paetmar throws a low kick but Barnes moves out of range easily.
Paetmar with a hook.
Paetmar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Paetmar throws a sloppy body shot
and Barnes counters with an outside leg kick.
Paetmar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Paetmar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes digs a good hook to Paetmar's body.
Paetmar misses with a combination
letting Barnes counter with a right hand.
Barnes chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Barnes pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Paetmar throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Barnes on the side of the head.
Paetmar looks for the body kick but Barnes saw that one coming.
Paetmar misses with a body shot.
Paetmar throws a hook but Barnes blocks it.
Paetmar has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barnes.
Paetmar dips to his left and cracks Barnes with an uppercut!
Paetmar tries to bum rush Barnes with a series of wild strikes but Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Paetmar looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnes is just out of range.
Paetmar jabs at Barnes's body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Paetmar. Barnes does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paetmar missing with a left hand there. Barnes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barnes is looking to counter the offense by Paetmar and move into the clinch.
Barnes connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
That kick from Paetmar tenderised Barnes's leg. Barnes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Paetmar connects with a jab.
Paetmar throws a sloppy head kick
and Barnes counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Barnes needs to keep his hands up - Paetmar had a free shot at his head there.
Paetmar throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
As Paetmar tries to get set, Barnes tries to push him back and clinch up but Paetmar manages to avoid the attempt.
Paetmar throws a leg kick that is checked

and Barnes counters by clinching up.
Barnes lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Paetmar backwards.
Barnes gets through Paetmar's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Barnes scores with a nice short uppercut.
Paetmar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barnes working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Paetmar misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barnes.
Paetmar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barnes is pushing Paetmar up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Paetmar works on Barnes's body with a couple of short punches.
Barnes works on Paetmar's body with a couple of short punches.
Paetmar has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A frustrated look appears on Paetmar's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Paetmar blocks a body shot from Barnes.
A shot in the inside from Barnes.
Trevor Barnes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Paetmar is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Barnes.
Barnes lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Paetmar.
Barnes lands a body punch in the clinch.
Barnes lands a hook to the side of the head.

Barnes breaks the clinch.
Barnes scores with a leg kick.
Paetmar is looking to land body kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paetmar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Paetmar checks a leg kick.
Barnes takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Paetmar stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barnes.
Barnes slips a jab from Paetmar.
Barnes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Paetmar manages to circle out of the way.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Paetmar thows a left - swing and a miss!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes lands with a cross.
Paetmar misses with a looping right.
Trevor Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Venali Paetmar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Paetmar walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Barnes lands with a kick to the temple. Paetmar shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Paetmar thows a left - swing and a miss!
Paetmar lands a nice shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Trevor Barnes.
I think Paetmar 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Venali Paetmar!