PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Casey Barrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Faust Nava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faust Nava has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barrera
vs
Nava

223 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

167 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Casey Barrera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Faust Nava!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nava shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barrera but Barrera pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nava avoids the head kick by Barrera.
Nava looks for a takedown but Barrera sprawls well.
A head kick misses from Barrera.

Barrera gets a clinch.
Barrera looking to slow down the pace here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barrera is looking to control Nava's arms but Nava gets an underhook and turns him. Now Barrera has his back to the cage.
Barrera stalling in the clinch.

Nava breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nava tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nava shoots in but Barrera avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Casey Barrera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Faust Nava.
Nava tries for a takedown but Barrera sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Barrera changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Barrera avoids the head kick by Nava.
Barrera swats away the attempt to clinch by Nava.
Nava thuds a left hand into Barrera's body.
Nava shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Barrera holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Barrera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nava.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrera looking for a takedown.

Barrera ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Barrera no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Barrera is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nava is aware though and is defending well.
Nava pushing down on Barrera's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Barrera has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nava is working away from the top position though.
Nava controlling the action here.
Barrera wants to get back to his feet.

Nava is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Barrera sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nava content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A left and a right from Nava both land. Nice combination.

Barrera is rocked!

It looks like Casey Barrera has been cut.
Nava looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Oh Barrera is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Nava scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Barrera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nava throwing shots but Barrera is blocking nicely.
Nava has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nava is controlling the pace.
Nava trying to pass the guard but Barrera defending well.
Nava seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nava trying to pass the guard but Barrera defending well.
Barrera is looking to escape.
Still in half guard, Nava seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barrera blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nava.
Nava trying to control the pace.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Barrera looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Barrera is breathing heavily.
Nava thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barrera's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Faust Nava will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Casey Barrera's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nava misses with a head kick.
Barrera wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Barrera seems to have got his legs back now.
Nava shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barrera but Barrera pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Barrera thinks about countering with a body kick.
Barrera ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Nava closes the distance and clinches.
Barrera really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nava jumps guard but Barrera turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nava changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Barrera fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Casey Barrera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Faust Nava.
Nava shoots in looking for a takedown but Barrera manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nava's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nava looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nava is breathing heavily.
Nava throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrera moves out of range of the leg kick from Nava.
Barrera tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nava swivels and escapes.
Nava on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nava shoots in for a takedown but Barrera shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Nava clinches.
Nava keeps control of Barrera as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Barrera stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Barrera is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Barrera manages to pull guard.
Barrera keeping moving, preventing Nava from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nava got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barrera has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nava has managed to get both his arms back between Barrera's legs - danger averted.

Barrera working for a triangle but Nava defends it easily.
Barrera wants to get back to his feet but Nava is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nava postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Faust Nava seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice takedown defense from Barrera. No joy for Nava on that attempt.
Barrera tries to counter with a takedown but Nava is quick to defend against it.
Nice defenses there by Barrera.
Nava closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barrera circles away.
Nava tries to clinch there but Barrera circles away.
Nava fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

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.
Nava is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barrera sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nava shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barrera as he avoids it easily.
Barrera ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barrera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Barrera clinches up against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barrera missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Casey Barrera dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Casey Barrera's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Barrera tries to clinch but Nava is having none of it.
Nava swats away the attempt to clinch by Barrera.
Nava misses with a body kick.
Nava shoots in looking for a takedown. Barrera tries to sprawl out of it but Nava keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barrera manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nava chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nava tries to bum rush Barrera with a series of wild strikes but Barrera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barrera tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nava counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Nava rushes Barrera and presses him up against the cage.
Nava jumps guard but Barrera stands there with Nava around his waist. Nava gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Barrera taking a breather.
Nava is trying to drag Barrera to the mat but Barrera just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Casey Barrera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Faust Nava.
Nava takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barrera is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nava is keeping busy.
Barrera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nava is defending well for now.
Barrera is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Nava to keep the fight standing.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Barrera.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barrera jumps guard.
Nava sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nava works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nava wants to pass the guard but Barrera is defending well.
Barrera is trying to stand back up but Nava is controlling him
Nava seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barrera does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nava throws a right and a left that Barrera avoids nicely.
Nava fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nava misses with a takedown

and Barrera counters by moving into the clinch.
Nava changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Barrera fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nava shoots in and drives through. Barrera sprawls well.
Barrera tries to work over Nava's front leg with a kick but Nava checks it.
Barrera tries to close the distance and clinch but Nava swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrera is looking to clinch but Nava is avoiding it.
Nava blocks a head kick by Barrera.
Nava fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barrera avoids it really well and circles away.
It looked like Barrera was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Nava.
Barrera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barrera tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nava throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nava shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barrera but Barrera pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Faust Nava.
I think Nava 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!