PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mason Jones (ranked 917 p4p, 1149 weight class) and Eric Barnes (ranked 135 p4p, 173 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Barnes's choice of entrance music: Exterminate. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Jones
vs
Barnes

186 cm
24
178
8 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
180
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mason Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eric Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Decent striking displayed by Jones there.
Jones tries to clinch but Barnes moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Barnes.
Barnes throws a series of punches but Jones avoids them all with ease.
Jones throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jones tries to clinch up but Barnes circles away and keeps his distance.
Jones doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A slow jab from Jones misses its intended target.
Jones wants to clinch up but Barnes keeps it at a distance.
Sloppy strikes from Jones. Those never looked like landing.
Barnes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Jones defends it well.
Barnes keeps the fight on the outside.
Barnes swings widly with a right hand
and Jones counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones works Barnes's body with a nice hook.
Jones throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barnes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mason Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jones is looking to clinch.
Barnes has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes keeps the fight on the outside.
As Jones backs off Barnes throws a huge counter combo but Jones manages to avoid it all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barnes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Jones jabs Barnes to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Barnes shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jones looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Barnes takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Barnes has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Jones connects with a looping right hand.
Jones does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Barnes dodges the punch combination from Jones.
Jones connects with a single shot there.
A jab from Barnes misses.
Jones is looking for a counter combo.
Jones throws a front kick aimed at Barnes's knee but Barnes avoids it well.
Barnes tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Jones lands a jab to the head.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jones.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to clinch there but Barnes circles away.

Jones takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barnes.
Jones has a couple of punches blocked by Barnes.

Barnes tightens his grip and picks Jones up, before dumping him to the ground. Jones manages to land in guard.
Jones pulls Barnes in to control the position.
Jones controls Barnes momentarily but Barnes frees himself.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
Barnes lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Barnes postures up in Jones's guard and throws a big left but Jones blocks it.
Jones preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones has control of Barnes's left arm, preventing Barnes from doing any damage.
Barnes wants to get up but he can't break Jones's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Barnes trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones controlling Barnes's posture.
Jones looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Jones works the jab nicely.
Barnes throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Jones motions for Barnes to come forward. Jones throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Jones ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
Jones keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barnes.
Barnes falls off balance throwing a combination
and Jones counters with a slapping leg kick.
Barnes misses the jab.
Barnes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jones tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barnes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jones jabs Barnes right on the nose. Barnes blinks but takes it well.
Jones throws out a powerful jab.
Barnes throws an off balance right hand
and Jones counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
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!
Jones buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Jones tries to clinch but Barnes is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Jones dominated that round.
That's time! Jones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Barnes tries to work over Jones's front leg with a kick but Jones checks it.
It looked like Jones wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Barnes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Jones to score with a decent uppercut.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barnes gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jones.
Barnes takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jab, jab by Jones - just one landing.
Barnes takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Jones ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Jones throws a jab when Barnes was well out of range.
Jones blocks a head kick by Barnes.
Barnes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jones was well out of range. Poor timing from Barnes.
Barnes misses with a double jab
and Jones counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Eric Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnes takes one on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes misses with a head kick.
Barnes takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jones scores with a jab. Barnes acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Barnes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barnes misses with an uppercut.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Jones ducks down to avoid it.
Jones went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Barnes drops his hands momentarily and Jones takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big right from Barnes misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Jones. That snapped Barnes's head back.
Jones just misses with a punch to the body.
A left lands for Jones.
A jab from Jones misses.
A jab lands there for Jones.
Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Jones ducks down to avoid it.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.
Jones takes a swing at Barnes's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barnes.
Sloppy strikes from Barnes. Those never looked like landing.
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Barnes pushes him off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jones tries to clinch up but Barnes circles away and keeps his distance.
Barnes feints the counter takedown.

Jones rushes Barnes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Jones - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jones listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Barnes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jones looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jones throws a quick inside leg kick.
Jones uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barnes.
Jones lands a jab.
Jones doesn't manage to clinch there - Barnes circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones swings widly with a right hand

and Barnes counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barnes.
Barnes trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Barnes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Jones haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Barnes slips nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones works his way to full guard. Good work.
Jones is pulling down on Barnes's head to control his posture.
Barnes postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Jones is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barnes can do to turn this around?
Barnes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jones is keeping the position for now.
Jones trying to keep a closed guard but Barnes is proving a slippery customer.
Jones trying to control the position here.
Barnes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a big right hand that misses.
Jones is trying to control the position but Barnes postures up.
Barnes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barnes postures up.
Barnes wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Jones looking to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Jones pulls Barnes in close to his closed guard and prevents Barnes from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jones misses with a low kick.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barnes changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Jones dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Barnes checks a low kick from Jones.
Barnes throws a nice inside leg kick.
Jones misses with a straight right.
Barnes fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Jones on the side of the head.
Jones connects with a body shot that sends Barnes's belly button to the back.
Jones slips under a jab from Barnes.

Jones rushes Barnes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jones goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Jones.
Jones is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Jones lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones tries to work over Barnes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barnes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barnes manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Jones misses with some punches.
Barnes goes for a takedown attempt but Jones pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Jones - just one landing.
Barnes has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jones looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mason Jones is winning the standup battle so far.
Barnes throws an overhand right that lands on Jones's shoulder, as Jones tries to avoid the shot.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barnes throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Jones. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Jones.
Barnes swats away the attempt to clinch by Jones.
Barnes gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jones throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes with the counter takedown but Jones avoids it easily.
Jones checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses
and Jones counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jones lands with a thumping leg kick.
Barnes throws a hook but Jones avoids it easily.
Barnes slips under a jab from Jones.
Barnes throws a low kick but Jones moves out of range easily.
Jones scores with a hook.
Jones digs a good hook to Barnes's body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones misses with a hook.
Jones connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Nice jab there from Jones.
Jones misses with a double jab.
Barnes tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Barnes misses with a body punch
and Jones counters with a stiff right hand.
Barnes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Barnes fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones darts in trying to clinch

and Barnes counters with a shoot takedown. Jones fights it but they end up in guard.
Mason Jones is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barnes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jones is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barnes wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Eric Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barnes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Jones wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barnes works over Jones with some ground and pound from guard.
Jones working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barnes.
Barnes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jones is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Barnes trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones pulls Barnes in close to his closed guard and prevents Barnes from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Jones wants to clinch up but Barnes keeps it at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mason Jones showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jones, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mason Jones!
Mason Jones looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Chin. Power.'.
Eric Barnes was interviewed post fight and said 'I appreciate the opportunity. Wasn't my day but I'll be back'.