PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sonny Barella (ranked 2806 p4p, 3132 weight class) and Scottie Lamez (ranked 188 p4p, 203 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barella
vs
Lamez

167 cm
27
135
9 - 15 - 0

170 cm
33
138
12 - 13 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Heavy handed

Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sonny Barella!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Scottie Lamez!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barella shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lamez's guard.
Lamez pulls Barella in to control the position.
Barella trying to control the position from guard on top but Lamez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lamez managing to control the position.
Lamez's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Barella drops back looking for a leg! Lamez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lamez manages to kick Barella off! Barella jumps back into Lamez's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barella trying to control the position from guard on top but Lamez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lamez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamez can't keep his opponent in guard - Barella advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lamez trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Barella wants to get back to his feet but Lamez is holding on tight.
Lamez tries to hold on but Barella pushes him away.
Barella wants to stand but Lamez is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Lamez wants to hold on but Barella pushes him away.
Barella lands a big shot there that rocks Lamez but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Barella is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Lamez can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Barella is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Lamez has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Barella misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Barella working for a submission but Lamez is keeping him at bay.
Lamez wants to hold on but Barella pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barella throwing strikes here but Lamez is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Lamez wants to hold on but Barella pushes him away.
Barella has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lamez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Barella working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lamez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lamez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Barella wants to control the position but Lamez says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Barella is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamez prevents Barella from standing back up.
Lamez not doing much here.
Barella wants to control but Lamez is keeping busy.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lamez in particular looking to stall.

Barella looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Lamez is thwarting Barella's attempts to control the position.

Barella looking for submissions off his back.
Barella trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barella tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Barella is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barella throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lamez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Barella is in Lamez's guard.
Barella stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lamez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barella looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Lamez pulls Barella in close to prevent any damage.
Lamez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barella is one step ahead there.
Lamez seems keen to control Barella's posture.
Barella stands and throws Lamez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Lamez struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Barella is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lamez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lamez is trying to control Barella's posture but Barella avoids it.
Sonny Barella overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lamez isn't going anywhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamez struggling a bit here.

Barella looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lamez wants to control but Barella postures up.
Barella tries to advance to mount but can't.
Lamez is trying to control Barella's posture but Barella avoids it.

Barella is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lamez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Barella is trying to get an arm triangle but Lamez is defending well.
Lamez struggling a bit here.

Barella is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lamez has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Barella looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lamez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barella wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Barella wants to control but Lamez is keeping him busy.
Lamez can't do much from the bottom here.

Barella is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lamez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Barella wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lamez, who protects the arm well.

Barella tries for a kimura but Lamez is defending well.

Barella thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
I wouldn't like to be where Lamez is right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamez is trying to control Barella's posture but Barella avoids it.
Barella is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lamez can do to turn this around?
Lamez keeping his opponent close.
Lamez struggling a bit here.
Barella tries to advance to mount but can't.
Lamez can't do much from the bottom here.

Barella is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lamez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Barella is trying to get an arm triangle but Lamez is defending well.

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.
Barella working away.
Lamez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Lamez is holding Barella down, trying to stall.
Barella creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lamez sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Barella looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lamez stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Barella working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barella trying to control the position but Lamez is working away.
Barella working away.
Lamez is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Barella dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lamez scores with a decent looking hook.
Barella shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A lazy left from Lamez finds it's target.
Scottie Lamez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barella throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barella takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sonny Barella is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lamez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Barella with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lamez to score with a decent uppercut.
Lamez works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Barella tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lamez swivels and escapes.
Lamez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barella.
Barella throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barella gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Barella tries a head kick but it misses.
Barella wants to clinch.
Barella looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barella misses with a few strikes there.
Lamez stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Lamez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Barella shoots in for a double leg but Lamez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lamez has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sonny Barella. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barella takes one to the chin there.
Barella tries to clinch but Lamez is having none of it.
Barella walks into a straight right hand from Lamez.
Lamez moves out of range of the strikes.
Lamez lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Lamez connects with a jab.
Barella fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barella uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lamez.
Barella fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lamez throws a good cross that connects.
Barella takes a swing at Lamez's ribcage but misses.
Barella fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lamez avoids it really well and circles away.
Scottie Lamez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barella gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Barella tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lamez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barella somewhat.
Lamez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lamez throws out a counter right but Barella avoids it with no problem.
Lamez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barella.
Barella uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lamez.
Barella lands a jab to Lamez's midsection.
Barella throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barella tries to clinch but Lamez moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barella looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lamez scores with a crisp jab that stopped Barella in his tracks.
Barella tries to land a front kick but Lamez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lamez might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Barella gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lamez wants it to stay on the feet.
Lamez looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barella lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lamez at a distance.
Lamez's corner calls for a 1-2. Lamez obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Barella shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Lamez is controlling Barella's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Barella is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lamez is just riding it out for now. Barella eventually gives up the hold.

Barella is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lamez manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lamez managing to control the position.
Lamez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Lamez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Lamez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barella is aware though and is defending well.
Barella trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sonny Barella is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barella being controlled here momentarily.
Barella forces his way into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barella looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scottie Lamez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barella has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sonny Barella!
An out of breath Sonny Barella thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.