PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zak Foley (ranked 1449 p4p, 817 weight class) and Don Barnes (ranked 191 p4p, 110 weight class). Zak Foley could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Don Barnes's chin.

Foley
vs
Barnes

185 cm
32
180
19 - 6 - 0

180 cm
28
176
20 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zak Foley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Don Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Foley thumps Barnes with a low kick.
Foley slips a straight right by Barnes.
Foley misses with an uppercut.
Foley misses with a kick to the body
and Barnes counters with a nice uppercut.
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.
Foley throws a lazy body kick

and Barnes counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Foley is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barnes is aware though and is defending well.
Barnes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Foley controls Barnes momentarily but Barnes frees himself.
Barnes lands a couple of elbows.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Foley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Foley keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Foley holds on and takes a little breather.
Barnes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foley is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barnes is controlling him.
Foley is looking to sweep but instead, Barnes has passed into half guard.
Barnes works his way into side control.
You can see the frustration on Foley's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Barnes swings around for an armbar but Foley sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Barnes's guard.
Barnes wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Foley defends well.
Barnes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Foley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barnes working a defensive guard but Foley manages to pass into side control anyway.
The referee asks Foley politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Foley prefers to stall for the moment though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barnes parries the strikes from Foley easily there. Foley is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Barnes to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foley trying to control the position but Barnes is working away.
Foley remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Barnes is looking for a sweep.
Barnes is still trying to improve position.
Foley working the ground and pound but Barnes is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Foley controlling the position.
Barnes manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Barnes is trying to stand up here but Foley is controlling him well.
Foley is looking to take a break and control but Barnes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Barnes slips a jab and a cross from Foley.
Foley jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barnes with a nice cross.
Foley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.
Foley with the inside leg kick.
Foley tests Barnes's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zak Foley will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Barnes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Foley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes cracks a nice hook into Foley's ribs.
Barnes thuds his shin into the meat of Foley's side.
Foley stuffs the takedown attempt from Barnes. Barnes gets slowly back to his feet.
Foley throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.

Foley gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Barnes to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Foley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barnes is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Barnes landing some decent shots from guard.
Foley wants to sweep here but Barnes controlling him for the moment.
Barnes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barnes distracts Foley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Barnes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barnes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Foley avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Foley 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.
Barnes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Foley's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Foley manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Foley has control of Barnes's left arm, preventing Barnes from doing any damage.
Barnes stands up over Foley, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Barnes distracts Foley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Foley is wriggling around but Barnes manages to pass to half guard.
Foley has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barnes is working away from the top position though.
Foley is pressing down on Barnes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Foley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Foley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barnes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Foley is looking to sweep but instead, Barnes has passed into half guard.
Foley is not content to let Barnes control the position.
Barnes is thwarting Foley's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
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 scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Foley is staying active underneath Barnes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Foley wants to control but Barnes is keeping busy.
Foley is trying to get back to full guard.
Foley is positioning himself well to prevent Barnes advancing to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Foley is trying to control but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Don Barnes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Foley tries a head kick but it misses.
Zak Foley is winning the standup battle so far.
Both fighters circling a little - Barnes finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Zak Foley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Foley.
Barnes lands a slapping body shot.
Foley takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Foley misses with the body kick

and Barnes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Foley won't be happy with that.
Barnes working the ground and pound from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Foley is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Foley is trying to control Barnes's posture but Barnes avoids it.
Barnes fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Barnes scoring with punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The ground and pound from Barnes seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes cracks Foley with a big elbow.
Foley taking punishment in the form of punches.
Foley dodges the ground and pound from Barnes.
Barnes tries to move to mount but Foley blocks the move with his legs.
Foley struggling a bit here.
Foley is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes working the body and head with strikes.
Foley sneaks back into half guard.
Foley is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at LA Fitness, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Barnes looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Barnes working the head and body with strikes.
Barnes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Foley taking some punishment here, with Barnes in his half guard.
Foley taking some punishment here, with Barnes in his half guard.
Foley tries to roll over but Barnes keeps him under control.
Foley is staying active underneath Barnes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes lands strikes from half guard.
Barnes thows a huge punch but Foley dodges it nicely.
Barnes keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Barnes looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Barnes is looking to take a break and control but Foley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barnes is nestled in close to Foley, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Foley trying to control from the bottom.
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 throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes winds up and cracks Foley with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Foley works his way to full guard. Good work.
Barnes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Foley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Foley utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Foley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barnes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Barnes works a leg free and moves 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Barnes!
Don Barnes bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.