PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frank Andersson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 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.

Andersson
vs
Barnes

186 cm
28
160 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

178 cm
31
158 lbs
23 - 17 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

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 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Frank Andersson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 17 - 3, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Barnes, right into the meat.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Barnes throws a leg kick but Andersson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Barnes with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Andersson throws a low kick but Barnes avoids it.
Barnes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Andersson counters with a leg kick.
Barnes misses with a looping left.
Barnes misses with a body punch
and Andersson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A low kick from Barnes is predictable there
and Andersson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Barnes's knee momentarily.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Barnes throws a body punch but Andersson moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andersson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Barnes finds it's way round the side to connect with Andersson's head.
Andersson moves out of range of the body kick from Barnes.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Andersson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Andersson tries a head kick but it misses.
Andersson takes a swing at Barnes's ribcage but misses.
Barnes fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Andersson is out of range.
Andersson takes a swing at Barnes's ribcage but misses.
Barnes thows a leg kick but Andersson checks it
and Andersson counters with a good low kick that Barnes was not able to check.
An inside leg kick from Andersson misses.
Barnes walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andersson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Andersson lands with a hook. Barnes tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes throws a right and a left that Andersson avoids nicely.
Barnes tries to clinch up.
Mike Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Andersson throws a leg kick that misses.
Barnes misses with an uppercut. Andersson saw that one coming.
Barnes thows a leg kick but Andersson checks it
and Andersson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Barnes throws a jab when Andersson was well out of range.
Andersson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andersson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Andersson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Barnes checks it well.
A clash of legs there as Andersson blocks the low kick.
Barnes jabs Andersson right on the nose. Andersson blinks but takes it well.
Andersson misses with an uppercut.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Andersson, right into the meat.
Andersson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Andersson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Andersson throws a front kick aimed at Barnes's knee but Barnes avoids it well.
Barnes has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Andersson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andersson thuds his right hand into Barnes's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Barnes throws a right hand that Andersson ducks under and follows up with a left that Andersson also avoids with ease.
Barnes throws a hook but Andersson avoids it easily.
Andersson keeps Barnes at a distance using the push kick.
Barnes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Barnes misses with a left hand
and Andersson counters with a right hand to the body.
Barnes lands a nice shot to the body.
Andersson is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Barnes throws a head kick but Andersson moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes moves out of range of the body kick.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Barnes will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Andersson tests Barnes's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Andersson is just out of range.
Barnes loads up on a big right hand but Andersson slips the punch.
Barnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Andersson.
Barnes throws a leg kick but Andersson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Andersson misses with a straight right.

Barnes moves into range and clinches up with Andersson.
Andersson avoids the elbow strike from Barnes, against the cage.
Andersson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Barnes backwards.
Andersson misses with a hook to the ribs.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Andersson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A short right from Andersson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Andersson.
Andersson gets through Barnes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Barnes.
Andersson misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Andersson.
Andersson lands a shot to the body.
Barnes prevents Andersson from breaking the clinch.
Barnes missing with knees to the body.
Barnes can't find room to land a body shot as Andersson controls the action.

Andersson breaks from the clinch.
Barnes throws a right hand that misses
and Barnes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A nice inside leg kick there by Andersson. That's going to slow Barnes down.
Andersson is looking to score with low kicks.
Barnes throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Andersson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Andersson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A left lands for Andersson.
Andersson avoids the head kick by Barnes.
Barnes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Andersson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Andersson lands a head shot.
Andersson lands a jab to the nose.
Barnes wants to clinch up but Andersson keeps it at a distance.
Barnes tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Andersson is able to avoid easily.
Barnes lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Barnes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a right hand
letting Andersson counter with a right hand.
Andersson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barnes.
Barnes throws a left and a right that both miss
and Andersson counters with a body kick.

Barnes rushes Andersson and presses him up against the cage.
Andersson jumps guard but Barnes stands there with Andersson around his waist. Andersson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Andersson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Barnes walks away with a smile on his face. Andersson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Barnes smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Barnes lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Barnes misses the body punch
and Andersson counters with a good low kick that Barnes was not able to check.
Andersson lands a jab to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Andersson.
Barnes takes one to the side of the head.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Andersson.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Andersson blocks the leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Barnes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes misses with a combination
and Andersson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Frank Andersson is winning the standup battle so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A good leg kick by Andersson.
Barnes misses with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Andersson dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Andersson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barnes moves away.
Barnes lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Barnes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Andersson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A big left from Barnes misses.
Barnes throws a head kick but Andersson moves out of range.
Andersson throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
Andersson loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.
Andersson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barnes.
Barnes moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A low kick from Barnes is predictable there
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Andersson throws a hook but Barnes avoids it easily.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Andersson moves out of range easily.
Andersson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Andersson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A leg kick checked by Andersson.
Barnes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barnes misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Andersson counters with a stiff right hand.
Andersson checks a low kick from Barnes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to work over Andersson's front leg with a kick but Andersson checks it.
Barnes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Andersson scores with a jab.
Barnes scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Andersson throws a low kick but Barnes moves out of range easily.
Donk. Andersson catches Barnes right on the button with a cross.
Barnes throws a low kick, looking for Andersson's leg but Andersson calmly moves out of range.
Barnes tries to bum rush Andersson with a series of wild strikes but Andersson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barnes swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Andersson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Barnes misses
and Andersson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Andersson scores with a punch to the head.
Andersson connects with a solid leg kick.
Barnes's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Andersson throws a leg kick
and Barnes counters with a thumping low kick.
Andersson misses with an uppercut. Barnes saw that one coming.
Andersson scores with a nice right hand.
Barnes drops his hands momentarily and Andersson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Andersson lands a right hook to the body.
Barnes throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Barnes thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes misses with an uppercut
and Andersson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Andersson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Barnes checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Barnes scores with a head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes misses with an uppercut. Andersson saw that one coming.
Barnes looks to land a right hand but Andersson moved out of range.
Barnes throws a shot from downtown. Andersson moves away and avoids it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Andersson does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Andersson throws a big shot that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike Barnes.
I think Barnes 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 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Barnes!
A less than humble Mike Barnes misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.