PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Weirdman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rashad Barnes has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Barnes
vs
Weirdman

183 cm
19
210 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

197 cm
25
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rashad Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Chris Weirdman!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Barnes misses.
Jab from Weirdman.

It looks like Rashad Barnes has been cut.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Weirdman.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Weirdman moves out of range easily.
Weirdman tries to bum rush Barnes with a series of wild strikes but Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Weirdman connects with a looping right hand.
Barnes walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Weirdman checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A combination from Weirdman does no damage.
Weirdman's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Weirdman duly obliges.
Barnes slips under a jab from Weirdman.
Barnes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Barnes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Weirdman throws out the jab.
Barnes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Weirdman was well out of range. Poor timing from Barnes.
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!
Weirdman avoids the head kick by Barnes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weirdman tests Barnes's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Weirdman takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Barnes connects with an inside leg kick.
Barnes is looking to chop away at Weirdman's legs.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Weirdman.
Barnes throws a low kick, looking for Weirdman's leg but Weirdman calmly moves out of range.
Barnes throws a lazy right hand but Weirdman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barnes attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Weirdman is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Barnes misses with a low kick as Weirdman jumps back.
Barnes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Weirdman blocks a low kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is looking to clinch but Weirdman is avoiding it.
Weirdman stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barnes.
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!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Weirdman!
Barnes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Barnes misses with a wild body shot.
Weirdman connects with a crisp jab.
Weirdman lands a really nice looking cross but Barnes seems unphased.
Weirdman misses with a straight right.
Weirdman tests Barnes's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Barnes avoids the body shot from Weirdman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weirdman throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes throws a solid leg kick but Weirdman takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barnes.
Weirdman ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
A jab from Barnes misses.
Barnes is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Weirdman.

Rashad Barnes's cut is getting worse.
Barnes throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Weirdman lands a head shot.
Barnes lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Barnes checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Barnes throws a leg kick but Weirdman sees it coming and moves out of range.
Barnes is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Weirdman scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Weirdman to score with a decent uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnes throws a right hand that misses
and Weirdman makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Barnes wants to clinch
and Weirdman counters with a three punch combo that has Barnes backing up. Barnes nods at Weirdman to acknowledge the strikes.
Weirdman scores with a crisp jab that stopped Barnes in his tracks.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Weirdman.
Weirdman has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Barnes connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Weirdman connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Barnes's hands.

Rashad Barnes's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Weirdman catches Barnes with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barnes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barnes misses with a looping right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Weirdman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rashad Barnes's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Barnes misses with a low kick.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Barnes gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sloppy strikes from Barnes. Those never looked like landing.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Weirdman moves away.
Barnes scores with a leg kick.
Weirdman scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Weirdman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Weirdman connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Barnes momentarily.
Barnes is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Weirdman's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Barnes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barnes connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes scores with a head kick.
Chris Weirdman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A solid leg kick lands there for Barnes.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Weirdman.
Weirdman looks to land a left hand but Barnes moved out of range nicely.
Barnes fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Weirdman.
Weirdman scores with a punch to the head.
Weirdman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barnes cracks Weirdman with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Weirdman looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnes is just out of range.
Barnes looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nice defenses there by Barnes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Barnes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Weirdman scores with a three punch combo!
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!
Barnes misses with an uppercut. Weirdman saw that one coming.
Barnes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barnes misses with a straight right.
Weirdman connects with a single shot there.

Jeez, Rashad Barnes's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Nice shot by Barnes.
Weirdman might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Barnes lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Barnes.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Weirdman moves out of range easily.
Weirdman lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weirdman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barnes.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Barnes lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Weirdman has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Weirdman and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Barnes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Weirdman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barnes throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Weirdman misses the shot to the body.
Barnes slips a jab and a cross from Weirdman.
Weirdman throws a poor cross that misses

and Barnes counters by clinching up.
Barnes throws a punch but it's blocked by Weirdman.
Barnes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Weirdman's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Weirdman blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Weirdman blocking some punches.
Barnes swings wildly with an uppercut but Weirdman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Barnes misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Barnes fails to land.
Weirdman's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Barnes misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Weirdman blocks an uppercut.
Barnes scores with a shoulder strike.
Weirdman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rashad Barnes will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rashad Barnes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Weirdman lands a two punch combo.
Barnes tries a head kick but it misses.
Barnes misses with a looping left.
Barnes moves in looking to clinch but Weirdman pushes him off.
Weirdman lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Barnes doesn't manage to clinch there - Weirdman circles away.
Weirdman misses with the combination.
A big left from Weirdman misses.
Weirdman lands a body shot.

Barnes clinches with his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Weirdman tries to break the clinch but Barnes is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Barnes struggles to land a body shot inside as Weirdman controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Weirdman fails to land.
Barnes misses with a punch on the inside.
Weirdman jumps guard but Barnes stands there with Weirdman around his waist. Weirdman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Barnes misses with a punch to the body.
Barnes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Weirdman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barnes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Barnes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Weirdman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weirdman jumps guard but Barnes stands there with Weirdman around his waist. Weirdman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Weirdman blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Barnes fails to land.
Barnes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Weirdman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Weirdman is looking to break free of the clinch but Barnes has double underhooks.
Barnes throws a punch but it's blocked by Weirdman.
Weirdman tries to break free but Barnes pushes him back against the cage.
Barnes scores with a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnes working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Weirdman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barnes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Weirdman is trying to maintain a safe position but Barnes gets an underhook and turns Weirdman into the cage.
Weirdman wants to get back to striking at distance but Barnes won't allow it.
Weirdman tries to break the clinch but Barnes is controlling the position.
Weirdman working hard to break the clinch.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Barnes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Weirdman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barnes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Weirdman wants to break free but Barnes has control.
Barnes misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Barnes swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Barnes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Weirdman blocks an uppercut.
Barnes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Weirdman blocks it with crossed arms.
Rashad Barnes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Barnes looking to throw knees to the head but Weirdman is blocking nicely.
Barnes lands a nice uppercut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Weirdman tries to break the clinch but Barnes is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes lands a shoulder strike.
Weirdman tries to circle away but Barnes has him pinned against the cage.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but Weirdman blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashad Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Barnes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rashad Barnes!
An out of breath Rashad Barnes thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.