PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Barnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alessandro Nestea (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.

Barnett
vs
Nestea

191 cm
25
261 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
24
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Josh Barnett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alessandro Nestea!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Albert Achterberg and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nestea walks into a jab.

Barnett has closed the distance and engaged Nestea in a clinch.

Nestea has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Barnett regains guard immediately.
Nestea wants to control from the top but Barnett keeps moving.
Barnett controlling the position.
Nestea postures up in Barnett's guard and throws a big left but Barnett blocks it.
Nestea wants to get up but he can't break Barnett's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nestea wants to control from the top but Barnett keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alessandro Nestea was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nestea is looking to clinch but Barnett is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nestea swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Barnett enables Nestea to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Barnett manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Nestea trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nestea sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nestea wants to control from the top but Barnett keeps moving.
Barnett working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nestea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alessandro Nestea has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Barnett clinches up against the cage.
Barnett tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nestea tries to land knees in the clinch but Barnett avoids the damage to the body.

Nestea ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nestea no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Nestea is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nestea is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nestea is looking to sweep but instead, Barnett has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nestea is looking to escape.
Barnett tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Barnett decides to return to a standing position.
Nestea stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nestea wants it to stay on the feet.
Barnett tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nestea swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Barnett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnett with a poor takedown

and Nestea counters with a shoot takedown. Barnett fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnett is breathing heavily.
Nestea trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nestea stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barnett swivels though and keeps the full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Alessandro Nestea has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
No luck for Nestea with that takedown attempt.
Nestea throws a head kick but Barnett moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nestea stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nestea wants it to stay on the feet.
Barnett misses with a takedown attempt - Nestea sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Nestea shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nestea showed some decent athleticism there.
Nestea wants to stand but Barnett has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Nestea is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Barnett is not content to let Nestea control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nestea missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Barnett is not content to let Nestea control the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alessandro Nestea wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nestea fails to land the takedown.

Barnett gets the takedown into side control.
Nestea gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Alessandro Nestea has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nestea is staying active underneath Barnett, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nestea wants to control but Barnett is keeping busy.
Nestea tries to roll over but Barnett keeps him under control.

Nestea looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nestea looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nestea wants to improve his position but Barnett is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nestea has a hand on Barnett's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Barnett takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Nestea keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nestea gets back to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nestea can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nestea looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alessandro Nestea showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nestea looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barnett is fending him off so far but Nestea persists. Nope, Barnett circles away and we're back to standing.

Nestea shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Barnett's guard.
Barnett trying to control the position.
Barnett is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nestea is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Nestea must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nestea forces his way into half guard.
Nestea wants to take a breather but Barnett is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnett trying to control but Nestea postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Josh Barnett just wasn't active enough.
Nestea feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Barnett's calf.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnett misses with a takedown attempt

and Nestea counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Barnett!
Nestea connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nestea trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Nestea looking to secure an arm triangle but Barnett defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nestea swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Barnett is now in Nestea's guard. A big mistake from Nestea there, giving up the dominant position!
Barnett will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Nestea is looking for a triangle but Barnett pushes his legs off easily.
Barnett passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nestea has a hand on Barnett's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Barnett takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Nestea is trying to escape the mount.
Barnett avoids the attempt from Nestea to control.
Josh Barnett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nestea is looking to improve his position but Barnett isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nestea is looking to improve his position but Barnett isn't that keen on the idea.
Barnett is in the full mount, landing strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nestea is desperately trying to improve his position but Barnett has a good base and remains in mount.
Alessandro Nestea is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alessandro Nestea comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nestea winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alessandro Nestea!