PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Slinger (ranked 4123 p4p, 2322 weight class) and Michael Barnes (ranked 371 p4p, 245 weight class). Slinger's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Hail Mary. Michael 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!

Slinger
vs
Barnes

170 cm
26
145
8 - 12 - 0

170 cm
26
149
10 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Patrick Slinger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Barnes!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slinger throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Barnes misses with an uppercut. Slinger saw that one coming.
Barnes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Slinger's sensitive parts.
Barnes misses with a hook. Slinger ducked under it nicely.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barnes.
Barnes stuffs the takedown.
Barnes tries to work over Slinger's front leg with a kick but Slinger checks it.
Slinger misses with a kick to the body.
Barnes is looking to slow Slinger down with leg kicks.
Barnes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Slinger.
Slinger 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slinger tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barnes swivels and escapes.
Slinger looks to land a body kick but Barnes moved away.
Barnes now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Slinger shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barnes as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Slinger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Slinger.
A jab from Barnes finds it's way through Slinger's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Barnes as he checks the leg kick.
Barnes scores with a leg kick.
Slinger fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barnes avoids it really well and circles away.
Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Slinger.
Barnes lands with a shot to the body.
Barnes scores with a nice body kick.
Barnes throws a nice inside leg kick.
Barnes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Barnes misses with a wild body shot.
Slinger fails with a takedown attempt.
Barnes has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Slinger is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Slinger shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barnes sprawls well. Barnes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Slinger gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slinger darts in looking for a takedown but Barnes gets double underhooks and turns Slinger into the cage.

Barnes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barnes checks the leg kick nicely there.
Barnes misses the shot to the body.
Barnes thows a body kick. Slinger tries to catch it but that hurt him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnes takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Slinger moves out of range of the strikes.
Slinger pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Slinger motions for Barnes to come forward. Slinger throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes pushes Slinger away with a front kick.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Slinger moves away.
Barnes connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Slinger shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barnes as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slinger on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Slinger has been working on his balance at Crapollas Gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Barnes.
Slinger throws a sloppy head kick and Barnes moves out of range easily.
Slinger throws a front kick aimed at Barnes's knee but Barnes avoids it well.
Barnes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Slinger defends it well.
Barnes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Barnes shoots in and gets a takedown into Slinger's guard.
Barnes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barnes wants to pass the guard but Slinger is keeping the position.
Barnes is pushing down on Slinger's leg trying to pass to half guard. Slinger is fighting to maintain full guard but Barnes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Barnes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Barnes trying to control the pace.
Ground and pound from Barnes.
Barnes frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slinger is in all sorts of trouble here.
Barnes putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Barnes is landing with some decent strikes but Slinger is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Barnes looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Barnes trying to control but Slinger is having none of it.
Barnes with a couple of short strikes.
Slinger is wriggling around trying to escape.
Barnes lands a big shot there that rocks Slinger but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Barnes avoids the attempt from Slinger to control.
Barnes unloading with bombs!
Slinger sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Barnes looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Slinger with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Barnes scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Barnes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Slinger keeps working.
Slinger wants to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Barnes dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Barnes is looking to land body kicks.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Slinger moves away.
Slinger shoots in looking for a takedown but Barnes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Slinger's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Slinger looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Slinger tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Barnes is able to avoid easily.
And Barnes responds with a good body kick, but Slinger manages to step out the way in time.
The fighters circle momentarily. Barnes darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Barnes is looking to slow Slinger down with leg kicks.

Barnes drives through with a takedown into Slinger's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Slinger had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barnes defends it easily.
Barnes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Slinger is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slinger keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
Barnes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Barnes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Slinger keeping full guard, as Barnes tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Michael Barnes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barnes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Barnes forces his way into half guard.
Barnes seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Barnes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Slinger trying to control here.

Slinger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barnes is nestled in close to Slinger, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Barnes wants to take a breather but Slinger is having none of it.
Slinger is looking to get back to full guard here but Barnes has managed to pass to side control instead.
Barnes scoring with punches from side control.
Slinger is not content to let Barnes control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnes tries for a kimura but Slinger is defending well.
Slinger is trying to control Barnes's posture but Barnes avoids it.
Barnes creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes landing strikes.
Barnes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Slinger keeps working.
Slinger is looking for a sweep.
Barnes is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Slinger's shoulder. That is not cool.
Slinger on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Slinger is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Barnes lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slinger is looking to regain half guard here but Barnes keeps moving and retains side control.
Slinger takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Slinger tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barnes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Barnes is working Slinger over with some ground and pound from side control.
Slinger is looking for a sweep.
Barnes controls the position from side control.

Barnes tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Slinger is looking for a sweep.
Barnes is looking to take a break and control but Slinger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Slinger struggling a bit here.
Slinger controls the position for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Barnes landing a few strikes.
Slinger manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Slinger looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Slinger is refusing to be controlled, as Barnes sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slinger wants to control but Barnes is keeping busy.
Barnes is keen to just control but Slinger is a slippery customer.
Barnes lands with a punch from half guard.
Barnes works his foot free and advances to mount.
Barnes dominating with strikes here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Slinger takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Barnes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

An inside leg kick lands from Barnes.
Slinger fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barnes avoids it really well and circles away.
Barnes tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Barnes fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Slinger on the side of the head.
Slinger is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Slinger tries a head kick but it misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Barnes lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Slinger has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Slinger and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Slinger takes one on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good work by Slinger as he checks the leg kick.
Slinger fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Barnes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Slinger defends it well.
Slinger is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barnes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Barnes tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Slinger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Slinger.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slinger scores with a crisp jab that stopped Barnes in his tracks.
Barnes lands with an overhand left.
Slinger tries a head kick but it misses.
Barnes bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Barnes scores with a body shot.
Barnes scores with a jab.
Barnes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Barnes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Slinger.
Slinger changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Slinger moves away.
Barnes feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Slingers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Barnes's jab looks to have found its range, popping Slinger under the eye.
Slinger ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
Slinger attempts a counter takedown but Barnes avoids it well and moves away.
Michael Barnes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barnes is looking to score with low kicks.
Slinger with a lazy takedown attempt
and Barnes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Patrick Slinger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes feints and then cracks Slinger's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Slinger down.
Slinger on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Slinger on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Slinger moves away from the strike by Barnes.
Slinger tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barnes defends well and Slinger ends up having to push Barnes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Barnes breaks from the clinch.
A left lands for Barnes.
Slinger misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Slinger takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Slinger walks into a straight right hand from Barnes.
Barnes scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Barnes looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Barnes looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Slinger with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes trying to pass the guard but Slinger defending well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Barnes lands a nice short elbow.
Barnes working Slinger over with strikes.
Barnes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Slinger looking for submissions off his back.
Barnes trying to mount his opponent but Slinger defends it.
Barnes is thwarting Slinger's attempts to control the position.
Barnes working Slinger over with strikes.
Slinger is staying active underneath Barnes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Barnes wants to pass the guard but Slinger is defending well.
Barnes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Slinger does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Slinger looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Barnes wants to pass to mount but Slinger is defending the position.

Slinger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Slinger wants to get back to full guard.

Barnes is working for a kimura but Slinger is defending it quite comfortably.
Barnes tries to pass to full mount but Slinger defends it.
Barnes scoring with strikes to the body and head.
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. Barnes connects with a nice short shot to Slinger's temple.
Barnes frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Michael Barnes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Slinger is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Barnes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barnes has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Barnes!
Our winner, Michael Barnes, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
The defeated Patrick Slinger had this to say: 'Congratulations to my opponent. He got the better of me, and deserves all the credit in the world for his hard work. I hope we meet again.'.