PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Barnes (ranked 2044 p4p, 1263 weight class) and James Murray (ranked 275 p4p, 180 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Murray's choice of entrance music: Walkin - Denzel Curry. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Barnes
vs
Murray

185 cm
28
201
10 - 11 - 0

185 cm
25
197
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reggie Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Murray!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murray moves out of range of the leg kick from Barnes.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barnes.
Barnes takes a swing at Murray's ribcage but misses.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Murray moves out of range easily.
Murray avoids a kick to the body.
Barnes on the wrong end of a nice jab.
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.
Barnes connects with an inside leg kick.
Barnes misses with a body shot
and Murray counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Murray 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.
Murray throws a hook but Barnes avoids it easily.
Murray checks a leg kick.
Barnes slips a jab from Murray.
Barnes misses the jab.
Murray looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Barnes throws a head kick but Murray moves out of range.
Murray looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fighters circling - Murray throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murray misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barnes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes jabs at Murray's body.
Murray takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Murray throws out a leg kick but Barnes moves out of range and Murray only half commits.
Barnes checks a leg kick nicely.
Murray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Murray takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murray manages to avoid it.
Barnes defending well as Murray loads up on a big left hand.
Murray scores with a sloppy right hand. Barnes should have avoided that one.
A combination from Murray does no damage.
As Murray looks to move away, Barnes throws a big counter combo but Murray just gets out of the way.
Murray moves out of range of the leg kick from Barnes.
Barnes tried to score with a low kick but Murray checks it.
Barnes throws a leg kick which misses Murray's front leg but catches the back leg as Murray tries to avoid it.
Murray slips a jab from Barnes.
Murray looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Murray throws a big shot that misses.
Murray has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Barnes finds it's way round the side to connect with Murray's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes tried to score with a low kick but Murray checks it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barnes.
Murray misses with a series of wild punches.
Murray checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Murray will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Murray attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Murray misses with a wild combination.
Barnes wants to slow Murray down by chopping away at his legs.
Murray looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Barnes lands a leg kick that knocks Murray off balance momentarily.
Barnes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barnes throws out a leg kick but Murray moves out of range and Barnes only half commits.
Barnes scores with a head kick.
Murray thows a left - swing and a miss!
Murray tests Barnes's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Murray.
Barnes with the inside leg kick.
Murray misses with a body shot.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Murray looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A leg kick checked by Murray.
Murray's jab looks to have found its range, popping Barnes under the eye.
Murray throws a predictable looking body shot
and Barnes counters with a thumping low kick.
Barnes checks a leg kick nicely.
Murray thows a leg kick but Barnes checks it
and Barnes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Murray shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Barnes lands a leg kick that knocks Murray off balance momentarily.
Murray misses the jab.
Murray fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Barnes is out of range.
The fighters circling - Murray throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Barnes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a series of wild punches.
Murray raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murray lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Barnes scores with a nice body kick.
Murray throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Barnes.
Murray throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Murray walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
No joy there for Barnes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A good leg kick by Barnes.
James Murray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes feints and then cracks Murray's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Murray down.
Murray checks the leg kick.
Murray misses with a hook. Barnes ducked under it nicely.
Murray misses with the combination.
As Murray looks to move away, Barnes throws a big counter combo but Murray just gets out of the way.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murray.
Barnes swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Reggie Barnes dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Murray's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Murray duly obliges.
Barnes blocks a head kick by Murray.
Barnes jabs Murray to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Barnes moves out of range as Murray strikes.
Barnes wants to land a leg kick but Murray is out of range.
Murray's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Murray throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barnes chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Murray is looking to chop away at Barnes's legs.
Barnes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murray.
Murray is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Murray throws a looping overhand right but Barnes ducks down to avoid it.
Barnes is looking for a counter combo.
Barnes connects with a high kick.
A cross from Murray lands.
Murray moves out of range of the strikes.
Murray misses with the combination.
A quick step to the side and Barnes tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray misses with a two punch combination.
Murray avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Barnes tried to score with a low kick but Murray checks it.
Barnes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Barnes takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Barnes lands a nice looking body kick.
Murray takes a swing at Barnes's ribcage but misses.
Murray uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barnes.
Barnes pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Barnes throws a leg kick but Murray sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Barnes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sloppy strikes from Barnes. Those never looked like landing.
Barnes looks to land a right hand but Murray moved out of range.
Murray appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Barnes throws a series of punches but Murray moves out of range.
Murray throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Murray moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes avoids the body shot from Murray.
Barnes walks into a stiff left hand from Murray.
Murray connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barnes. Barnes circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnes throws a shot from downtown. Murray moves away and avoids it.
Barnes throws a leg kick that is checked
and Murray counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Murray 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 Barnes has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Barnes and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
That kick from Barnes tenderised Murray's leg. Murray is trying to keep his angry face on.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barnes walks into a straight right hand from Murray.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Murray.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Murray wants to slow Barnes down by chopping away at his legs.
Barnes feinted with a counter takedown.
Murray defending well as Barnes loads up on a big left hand.
Murray cracks a nice hook into Barnes's ribs.
Barnes throws a shot from downtown. Murray moves away and avoids it.
Barnes lands a nice hook to Murray's body. Murray takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murray bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Murray throws a lazy right hand but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barnes's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Murray connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barnes scrambles back to his feet.
Barnes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A slapping body kick lands there for Barnes.
Barnes feints and then cracks Murray's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Murray down.
Barnes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Murray throws a hook to the side of Barnes's head but Barnes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murray misses with a wild body shot.
Murray throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Good work by Barnes as he checks the leg kick.
Barnes throws a series of punches but Murray avoids them all with ease.
Murray looks to land a right hand but Barnes moved out of range.
Barnes lands a high kick!
Barnes misses with a low kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Barnes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A leg kick checked by Barnes.
Murray misses with a leg kick
and Barnes counters with a two punch combo.
Murray throws a nice looking combination but Barnes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barnes lands a nice shot that snaps Murray's head back.
An inside leg kick from Murray misses.
Murray scores with a jab to the jaw.
Reggie Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnes 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.
A big right from Barnes misses.
Murray throws a lazy right hand but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Murray scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Barnes scores with a jab to the head.
Murray misses with a looping left.
Barnes will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barnes moves out of range of the leg kick from Murray.
Murray jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Reggie Barnes is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes throws a low kick but Murray avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Reggie Barnes will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Murray on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barnes. Barnes obviously looking to wear him down.
Barnes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Murray. Murray obviously looking to wear him down.
Murray tried to score with a low kick but Barnes checks it.
Murray throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A clash of legs there as Murray blocks the low kick.
Murray keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes tries a low kick but Murray avoids it.
Barnes misses with a wild body shot.
Barnes plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Barnes blocks a jab.
Barnes scores with a three punch combo!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes lands the left hand.
Barnes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Murray.
Barnes feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Murray throws a head kick but Barnes moves out of range.
Murray throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barnes looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Barnes is looking to chop away at Murray's legs.
Barnes tries to work over Murray's front leg with a kick but Murray checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes lands with a right hand.
Murray connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Barnes's hands.
Murray connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Barnes misses with a wild body shot.
Barnes is looking to slow Murray down with leg kicks.
Murray swings widly with a right hand
and Barnes counters with a nice body shot.
Barnes tries a head kick but it misses.
Barnes on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Murray moves out of range as Barnes throws a body kick.
Barnes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Murray throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Murray.
Murray keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Murray.
A big left from Murray misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murray fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a front kick aimed at Murray's knee but Murray avoids it well.
Murray looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Murray blocks the body kick.
Murray throws a series of punches but Barnes avoids them all with ease.
Murray misses with a straight left.
Barnes blocks a head kick by Murray.
Jab, jab by Murray - just one landing.
Barnes slips under a jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Murray checks a leg kick.
Barnes with a hook.
Murray throws a jab when Barnes was well out of range.
Murray connects with a solid leg kick.
Barnes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barnes misses with a hook.
Barnes goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Barnes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murray was well out of range. Poor timing from Barnes.
A little jabbing left from Murray on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
James Murray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes 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.
Murray fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Murray misses with a straight right.
Barnes half committed to a counter leg kick.
Barnes looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Barnes throws a lazy right hand but Murray sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barnes avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Murray.
Murray throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barnes throws a head kick but Murray moves out of range.
Murray lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Murray moves out of range as Barnes strikes.
A nice inside leg kick there by Barnes. That's going to slow Murray down.
Murray will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barnes scores with a punch to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray tries to bum rush Barnes with a series of wild strikes but Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barnes tries to score with a low kick but Murray moves his leg out of the way.
Murray looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Murray looks to land a left hand but Barnes moved out of range nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnes avoids the head kick by Murray.
Barnes misses with a low kick as Murray jumps back.
Barnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murray.
A leg kick checked by Murray.
Murray looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barnes cracks Murray with an open hand slap.
Barnes scores with a head kick.
Murray thuds his right hand into Barnes's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Murray misses with an uppercut. Barnes saw that one coming.
Murray loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.
Murray throws a jab but it's blocked by Barnes.
Murray throws a hook to the side of Barnes's head but Barnes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

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 Reggie Barnes.
Well Barnes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reggie Barnes!
Reggie Barnes tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.