PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Barnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Jones could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Matt Barnett's chin.

Jones
vs
Barnett

196 cm
24
230 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Steve Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Barnett!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jones closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jones lands in his opponent's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Jones lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Barnett avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jones throws a big elbow that misses.
Jones throws a big right hand that misses.
Barnett pulls Jones in to control the position.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jones throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jones throws a big right hand that misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jones throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Barnett looking for a sweep. Not yet Barnett, not yet.
Barnett pulls Jones in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Matt Barnett.
Barnett tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barnett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jones shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barnett pinned against the cage. Barnett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Barnett stuffs the takedown attempt from Jones. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.

Barnett closes the distance and clinches.

Barnett has hold of one of Jones's legs. Jones is fighting the takedown attempt but Barnett gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barnett missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barnett trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barnett accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnett is looking to work some ground and pound but Jones has wrist control.
Barnett wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Jones wants to sweep but no luck.
Barnett stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Jones has Barnett pulled in close to control his posture.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

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

and Barnett counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Barnett cracks Jones with a solid left hand.
Barnett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnett scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Barnett wants to pass the guard but Jones is keeping the position.
Barnett is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Jones preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barnett works over Jones with some ground and pound from guard.
Jones wants to stand and escape but Barnett is having none of it.
Barnett lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Barnett postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barnett working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jones's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett postures up and lands a big shot to Jones's brow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jones avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jones working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barnett.
Barnett trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnett missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnett pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jones is keeping the position for now.
Jones is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barnett is controlling him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jones keeping full guard, as Barnett tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Barnett dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jones tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barnett sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones somewhat.
Jones has his takedown stuffed

and Barnett counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barnett.
Barnett stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Matt Barnett has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barnett not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Barnett trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jones pushes Barnett off and scrambles back to his feet.

Jones rushes Barnett and presses him up against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones goes for a takedown in the clinch but Barnett prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barnett has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Jones regains guard immediately.
Barnett postures up in Jones's guard and throws a big left but Jones blocks it.
Barnett has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Barnett drops back, looking for a kneebar! Jones looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Jones looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Jones!
Jones throws an elbow but Barnett slips to the side and avoids it well.
Barnett struggling a bit here.
Barnett gets back to half guard.

Barnett has one foot on Jones's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnett shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Barnett showed some decent athleticism there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jones is trying to stand back up but Barnett is controlling him
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Barnett connects with a nice short shot to Jones's temple.

Barnett is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jones doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Barnett.
Jones keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnett is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Barnett wants to advance to full mount but Jones doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Jones looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barnett is one step ahead there.
Jones keeping full guard, as Barnett tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett tries to stand but Jones is controlling from the bottom.
Barnett throwing strikes but missing.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Barnett from controlling successfully.

Jones has his feet on Barnett's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.

Barnett clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Barnett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Barnett shoots in and bounces Jones off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Barnett seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Jones working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barnett.
Barnett trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jones controlling the position.

Barnett drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Barnett seems to have locked his on tight now - Jones screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Barnett, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Matt Barnett!
In his post fight interview, Matt Barnett started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.