PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chevaun Barthus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Reilly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Barthus
vs
Reilly

158 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chevaun Barthus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Josh Reilly!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barthus shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Reilly sprawls well. Reilly wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barthus gets slowly back to his feet.
Reilly misses with a takedown attempt

and Barthus counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Reilly pushes Barthus off looking to stand but Barthus dives back in and keeps control.
Reilly is looking for a sweep. Barthus is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Reilly trying to hold on to Barthus's head to control him but Barthus postures up.
Reilly wants to get back to his feet.
Barthus is stalling here. Reilly is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Barthus seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Reilly has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Reilly looks to land a combination but Barthus avoids it well.
Barthus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Reilly counters with a single leg into guard. Barthus didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Reilly accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Reilly trying to control but Barthus is working from the bottom.
Reilly won't allow Barthus to sweep him here.
Reilly missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barthus wants to sweep but no luck.

Barthus is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Reilly passes into half guard.
Barthus is breathing heavily.
Barthus is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Reilly's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Reilly's back!
Barthus trying to control momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barthus doesn't have the hooks in and Reilly manages to turn into his guard.

Barthus looking for a guillotine here but Reilly defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Barthus looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Reilly has picked Barthus up and slammed him! Barthus can't keep hold of the triangle and Reilly manages to pass to side control!
Reilly lands a decent elbow from side control.
Reilly trying to control the position but Barthus is working away.
Barthus is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Barthus tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Reilly presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reilly controlling from mount.
Barthus tries to hold on but Reilly postures up.
Reilly controlling from mount.
Reilly is landing with some decent strikes but Barthus is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Reilly scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Barthus?
Barthus is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Barthus taking shots to the head.
Reilly looking to control but Barthus is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Reilly tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Reilly is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Barthus is surviving well by controlling Reilly's body position as best he can.
Reilly can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Barthus is looking to escape.
Barthus might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josh Reilly will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Reilly scores a takedown into full mount!
Barthus is desperately trying to improve his position but Reilly has a good base and remains in mount.
Barthus manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Barthus won't allow Reilly to pass to mount.

Barthus is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Reilly pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Still in half guard, Reilly seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barthus is not content to let Reilly control the position.
Reilly seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Reilly is thwarting Barthus's attempts to control the position.
Reilly trying to control the action but Barthus is working from the bottom.
Barthus wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Barthus is working hard here to advance position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Reilly misses with a jab, cross combination.

Reilly gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Reilly escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barthus shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Reilly counters with a takedown into side control.
Josh Reilly has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barthus is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Reilly asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Barthus sneaks back into half guard.
Reilly wants to stand but Barthus has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barthus has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Reilly is working away from the top position though.
Barthus tries to roll over but Reilly keeps him under control.
Reilly perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Reilly looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Barthus actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barthus blocking the ground and pound attempt from Reilly.
Barthus gets back to full guard.
Reilly won't allow Barthus to sweep him here.
Barthus wants to stand but Reilly is controlling the position.

Barthus is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Reilly is aware though and is defending well.
Barthus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Reilly is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Reilly closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Reilly showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Barthus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Barthus gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Reilly to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Reilly stopping the sweep attempt from Barthus.
Reilly wants to control from the top but Barthus keeps moving.

Barthus is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Reilly defends well.
Reilly wants to control from the top but Barthus keeps moving.
Reilly pushing down on Barthus's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reilly trying to pass the guard but Barthus defending well.
Barthus tries to get to full guard but Reilly has control of the leg.
Reilly trying to pass the guard but Barthus defending well.
Reilly is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Barthus is refusing to be controlled, as Reilly sits in half guard.
Reilly seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Barthus closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Reilly did well to prevent Barthus getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barthus is looking to advance position but Reilly won't allow it.
Barthus is trying to control. Reilly wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Reilly tries to roll over but Barthus keeps him under control.
Barthus looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Reilly is looking to improve his position.

Reilly is defending against the submission attempts here by Barthus.
Reilly blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barthus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barthus wants to control but Reilly is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Reilly closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Barthus did well to prevent Reilly getting side control.
Reilly lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Barthus is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Reilly scores with a couple of nice shots.
Reilly prevents Barthus from improving his position.
Reilly not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Reilly seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barthus does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barthus is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Reilly scores with a couple of nice shots.
Barthus gets back to full guard.

Barthus is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Reilly trying to control the position from guard on top but Barthus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barthus lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Reilly!
Chevaun Barthus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reilly working to try and regain half guard.
Josh Reilly is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barthus throwing strikes but Reilly uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Josh Reilly.
Well Reilly 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Reilly!