PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harold Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Howard

175 cm
20
160 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

225 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harold Howard!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good standup being displayed there by Howard as he connects with a hook.
No joy there for Howard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Some wild striking there from Howard.
Barnes walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Howard is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Barnes slips a jab and a cross from Howard.
No joy there for Howard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Howard throws a right and a left that Barnes avoids nicely.
Barnes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Howard.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Howard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Howard misses.
Howard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barnes tries to avoid it but Howard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barnes to the ground. Barnes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Howard swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Howard!
Howard is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Jab by Howard.
Howard lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Howard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barnes's waist but Barnes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Howard off to one side.
Barnes tries to clinch up.
Howard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Howard's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Howard duly obliges.
Howard lands with a nice combination. Barnes backs away looking to recover.
Howard scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Howard misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Howard goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A punch lands to the side of Barnes 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Barnes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Howard.
Howard throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Barnes clinches up with Howard and pushes him back against the cage.
Howard working hard to break the clinch.
Howard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Howard can't break the clinch.
Howard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Howard wants to break the clinch but can't.
Barnes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Barnes is breathing heavily.
Howard has had enough of the clinch but Barnes keeps him there for the moment.
Howard wants to get back to striking at distance but Barnes won't allow it.
Howard is trying to break the clinch but Barnes has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes lands with a right to the head.

It looks like Harold Howard has been cut.
Barnes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Barnes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Barnes creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Howard with a big uppercut! Howard tries to clinch up but Barnes pushes him back against the cage and lands another moster strike that crumples Howard to the mat! Howard covers up and Barnes unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:17 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Joe Barnes!