PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andre Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esko Salo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Barnes
vs
Salo

178 cm
22
170 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
184 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Vicious Apparel

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andre Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Esko Salo!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes throws out a loose jab but Salo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes blocks a jab.
A punch combination from Barnes misses.
Barnes wants to land a leg kick but Salo is out of range.
Barnes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Salo scores with a hook.
Salo throws a sloppy head kick and Barnes moves out of range easily.
Barnes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Salo.
Salo tries to clinch up.
Salo throws a hook but Barnes blocks it.
Salo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Salo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A right-left combo lands from Salo.

Salo moves into range and clinches up with Barnes.
A nice right hand lands inside from Salo.
Still in the clinch, Salo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Salo tries to land a knee to the head but Barnes blocks with his arms.
Salo blocks a body shot from Barnes.
Barnes misses with some punches.
Salo leaning against his opponent.
Salo lands a nice shot to the body.
A short body shot lands from Salo as the two fighters clinch.
Salo pushes Barnes back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Barnes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Salo does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salo clinches with his opponent.
The referee is keeping an eye on Salo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A nice left hand lands by Salo.
Salo lands a shoulder strike.
Barnes misses with a body punch.
Barnes tries to work over Salo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Salo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Barnes up against the cage.
Salo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Salo prevents a body shot from Barnes.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Barnes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Barnes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barnes avoids a wild elbow strike from Salo.
Salo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Salo lands a shoulder strike.
Salo scores with a shot to the side of Barnes's head.
A right handed body shot lands from Salo.
Salo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Salo stalling.
Salo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Barness head.
Salo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Salo pressing his opponent against the cage.
Salo lands a damaging elbow.
Salo lands with a short shot to the head.
Salo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Barnes lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Barnes is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Salo breaks the clinch.
Salo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barnes.
Salo scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Salo cracks Barnes with an open hand slap.
Barnes misses with a series of wild punches.
Salo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barnes. Barnes obviously looking to wear him down.
Salo misses with a two punch combination.
Salo lands a jab to the head.
Salo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Barnes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Salo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Salo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Barnes is able to avoid easily.
Barnes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Salo slips under a jab.

Salo moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Salo.
A short body shot lands from Salo as the two fighters clinch.
Salo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barnes.
Salo digs a right hand underneath Barnes's ribcage. Barnes let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A nice right hand lands inside from Salo.
Salo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Barnes can't find room to land a body shot as Salo controls the action.
Still in the clinch, Salo scores with a nice short uppercut.
A body shot lands from Salo.
Salo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Barness head.
Barnes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A body shot lands from Salo.
Barnes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Salo's elbow.
Salo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nice elbow from Salo.
Barnes takes a shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Salo.
Salo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Salo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Barnes up against the cage.
Barnes working aggressively here.
Salo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Barnes's efforts to push away.
Salo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Barnes backwards.
Salo missing with knees to the body.
Salo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salo lands a shot to the body.
Salo avoiding damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Salo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Salo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barnes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Salo scores with a shot to the body.
Barnes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Salo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Salo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Salo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Salo lands a slapping body shot.
Barnes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice shot lands for Salo.
Barnes lands with a shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Salo connects with a solid leg kick.
Salo tries to clinch but Barnes moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Salo pushes Barnes up against the cage in a clinch.
Salo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Barnes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barnes is trying to force a seperation but Salo has the dominant position.
Salo prevents a body shot from Barnes.
Barnes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barnes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Salo lands with a right to the head.
Salo scores with a shot to the side of Barnes's head.
A hook to the body from Barnes.
Salo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Salo lands a knee to the head.
Salo pushes Barnes back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Barnes takes an elbow to the forehead.
Barnes is looking to break free of the clinch but Salo has double underhooks.
Salo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Barnes.
A short right from Salo on the inside.
Salo digs a right hand underneath Barnes's ribcage. Barnes let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A body shot lands from Salo.
Salo gets through Barnes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Barnes tries to score a body lock takedown but Salo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nice body punch from Salo - that landed with a thud.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salo lands a nice shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Salo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Salo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A punch lands to the side of Barnes 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A low kick from Barnes is predictable there
and Salo counters with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salo tests Barnes's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Barnes gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Salo.
Salo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Salo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barnes walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Barnes clobbers Salo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Barnes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Salo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Salo walks into a stiff left hand from Barnes.
Salo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Salo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Barnes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Salo to score with a decent uppercut.
Barnes misses the body punch
and Salo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barnes falls off balance throwing a combination
and Salo counters with a left and a right that stings Barnes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes misses the body punch
and Salo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Esko Salo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salo lands with a thumping leg kick.
Salo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Barnes counters with a thumping low kick.
Salo tries to clinch but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes throws a leg kick
and Salo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Barnes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Salo. Salo obviously looking to wear him down.
A low kick from Salo is predictable there
and Barnes counters with a nice uppercut.
Barnes throws a low kick, looking for Salo's leg but Salo calmly moves out of range.
Salo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barnes.
Salo tries to work over Barnes's front leg with a kick but Barnes checks it.
Salo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barnes scores with a hook to the body. Salo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Salo thows a leg kick but Barnes checks it
and Barnes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A right-left combo lands from Salo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salo looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnes is just out of range.
Barnes will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Salo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Salo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A leg kick checked by Salo.
Salo misses with a hook. Barnes ducked under it nicely.
Salo thumps Barnes with a low kick.
Salo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barnes feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Salo's calf.
Barnes fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Salo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Salo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Salo is looking to clinch.
Salo throws a lazy right hand but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barnes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salo.
Salo thumps Barnes with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Salo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Barnes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barnes throws a combination that misses
and Salo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Salo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Barnes counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Salo scores with a jab to the head.
Salo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Salo darts in and clinches Barnes up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Salo or not.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes works on Salo's body with a couple of short punches.
Salo avoiding damage as Barnes throws knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Barnes.
Salo blocks an elbow strike from Barnes.
Salo tries to work over Barnes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Barnes manages to break the clinch.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Salo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Barnes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from Salo misses.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salo moves away.
Barnes scores with a decent looking hook.
A cross from Barnes lands.
Barnes lands with a right hand.
Salo tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Salo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Barnes counters with a nice leg kick.
Barnes misses with a wild combination.
Salo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Salo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Barnes scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Salo connects with the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Salo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barnes uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Salo tries to clinch up.
Salo moves out of range of the strikes.
Salo just misses with a punch to the body.
Salo looks to throw the jab but Barnes is out of range.
Barnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Salo.
Barnes cracks Salo with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Salo works Barnes's body with a nice hook.
Barnes scores with a shot to the body.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salo manages to avoid it.
Salo is looking to clinch.
Barnes is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Salo misses the jab.
Barnes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Salo.
Barnes misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salo tries to clinch
and Barnes counters with a low kick, right behind Salo 's knee.
Salo wants to clinch
letting Barnes counter with a right hand.
Salo throws a hook but Barnes blocks it.
Salo throws a shot from downtown. Barnes moves away and avoids it.
Barnes clobbers Salo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Salo throws a front kick aimed at Barnes's knee but Barnes avoids it well.
Barnes pivots, looking for a leg kick but Salo is out of range and Barnes settles back down.
A big right from Barnes misses.
Barnes swats away the attempt to clinch by Salo.
Barnes misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Salo counters with a thumping low kick.
Salo closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Barnes counter with a right hand.
Barnes fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Salo.
Salo blocks a leg kick.
Barnes scores with a shot to the body.
Barnes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Salo. Salo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Salo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Salo has managed to clinch.
Salo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Salo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Salo managing to block the knees to the body from Barnes.
Barnes is trying to break the clinch but Salo is controlling him.
Salo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barnes struggles to land a body shot inside as Salo controls his hands.
Barnes is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Barnes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Esko Salo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A right hand to the body from Barnes.
Barnes lands a body punch.

Barnes breaks from the clinch.
Barnes cracks Salo with a good jab.
Salo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Barnes lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Barnes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes lands a right hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Salo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barnes.
Salo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Salo checks the leg kick.
Salo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Barnes counters with a right hand to the body.
Barnes cracks Salo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Salo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes scores with a jab to the body.
Barnes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Salo ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
A jab from Barnes does it's job there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andre Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Salo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Esko Salo!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Esko Salo!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Esko Salo!

Esko Salo wins by unanimous decision!