PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mansour Barnaoui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Ash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barnaoui
vs
Ash

182 cm
25
167 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

178 cm
35
161 lbs
18 - 17 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mansour Barnaoui!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 17 - 2, fighting out of New York, Adam Ash!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ash pushes Barnaoui up against the cage in a clinch.

Ash escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ash scores with a decent looking hook.

Barnaoui gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Ash working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Ash postures up.
Ash trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnaoui 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.
Ash stops Barnaoui from standing up.

Barnaoui had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ash defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ash postures up in Barnaoui's guard and throws a big left but Barnaoui blocks it.
Ash must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barnaoui wants to get back to his feet but Ash is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Barnaoui controlling Ash's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ash avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Barnaoui controls Ash momentarily but Ash frees himself.
Barnaoui is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ash accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ash landing with the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ash accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ash cracks Barnaoui with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnaoui keeping moving, preventing Ash from controlling successfully.
Barnaoui preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ash scoring with punches to the head and body.

Barnaoui looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Barnaoui wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ash's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barnaoui controlling Ash's posture.
Barnaoui trying to control the position.
Barnaoui controlling Ash's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnaoui looking to control.
Barnaoui keeping moving, preventing Ash from controlling successfully.

Barnaoui looking for a guillotine here but Ash defends easily.
Ash preventing the sweep.
Barnaoui is pulling down on Ash's head. It's preventing any offense from Ash, at least for the moment.
Ash wants to control from the top but Barnaoui keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barnaoui manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ash manages to get himself to full guard.

Ash wants to sweep here but Barnaoui controlling him for the moment.
Ash keeping moving, preventing Barnaoui from controlling successfully.
Ash is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barnaoui is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at World Combat Sports Academy that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnaoui is in close to Ash's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barnaoui scoring with some ground and pound.
Ash is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Barnaoui trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Ash dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A jab from Ash does it's job there.
Ash closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ash will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A jab from Barnaoui finds it's way through Ash's defenses.
Barnaoui takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Barnaoui throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ash comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A big right from Ash misses.
Ash looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barnaoui.
Barnaoui avoids the body shot from Ash.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ash moves into the clinch successfully.
Ash is leaning against Barnaoui and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Barnaoui manages to break the clinch.
Nice body punch from Barnaoui.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ash gets a double leg takedown into Barnaoui's guard.

Barnaoui is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Ash breaks the clinch.
Ash cracks Barnaoui with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Barnaoui gets the takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Barnaoui tries for a kimura but Ash is defending well.
Barnaoui is working Ash over with some ground and pound from side control.
Ash is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Barnaoui off and has taken his back!
Ash scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Barnaoui is looking for a way out.
Ash has the hooks in. Barnaoui is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ash tries to keep control of the position but Barnaoui is staying busy.
Barnaoui trying to control but not successfully.
Ash is trying to stick to Barnaoui's back but Barnaoui is turning into Ash. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ash's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Barnaoui.
Ash striking off his back but it's not causing Barnaoui any problems.

Ash is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ash trying to keep a closed guard but Barnaoui is proving a slippery customer.
Ash is looking to sweep but instead, Barnaoui has passed into half guard.

Barnaoui is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnaoui trying to control the pace.
Barnaoui scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ash manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ash utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mansour Barnaoui overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ash throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Barnaoui stopping the sweep attempt from Ash.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ash is looking to stand up but Barnaoui isn't so interested in that idea.
Barnaoui postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Barnaoui avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ash looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barnaoui scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ash looking for a sweep. Not yet Ash, not yet.
Barnaoui keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ash's head.
Ash lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Barnaoui trying to control the position here.
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 Mansour Barnaoui will probably get the nod.
That's time! Barnaoui's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A jab lands there for Ash.
Ash shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barnaoui as he jumps to the side.
Ash punishes Barnaoui's body with a nice straight punch.
Ash throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ash throws out a powerful jab.
Barnaoui misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ash.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ash throws a jab but it's blocked by Barnaoui.
Barnaoui half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Barnaoui throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ash's waist but Ash gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barnaoui off to one side.
Ash tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ash takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ash moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ash stuffs the takedown attempt from Barnaoui. Barnaoui gets slowly back to his feet.
A jab from Barnaoui misses.
Ash lunges at Barnaoui with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Barnaoui's hand.
Barnaoui slips a jab and a cross from Ash.
Ash misses with an uppercut. Barnaoui saw that one coming.
Barnaoui throws a leg kick but Ash moved away.
Barnaoui steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ash.
Ash getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Barnaoui blocks a head kick by Ash.
Barnaoui slips under a jab from Ash.
Barnaoui throws a hook to the side of Ash's head but Ash sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ash tries to work over Barnaoui's front leg with a kick but Barnaoui checks it.
Ash moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ash fails to land with a series of punches.
Barnaoui attempts a counter takedown but Ash avoids it well and moves away.
Barnaoui has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mansour Barnaoui. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ash throws a right hand that Barnaoui ducks under and follows up with a left that Barnaoui also avoids with ease.
Barnaoui throws a head kick but Ash moves out of range.
Ash just misses with a punch to the body.
Barnaoui throws an overhand right that lands on Ash's shoulder, as Ash tries to avoid the shot.
Ash throws a lazy uppercut

and Barnaoui counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ash is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Ash looking for submissions off his back.
Ash is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnaoui scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ash is looking for a sweep. Barnaoui is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ash is staying active underneath Barnaoui, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ash is trying to get back to full guard.
Barnaoui is trying to control. Ash wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Barnaoui scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Barnaoui takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnaoui uses his free foot to push down on Ash's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ash.
Barnaoui fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ash tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Barnaoui avoids the attempt from Ash to control.
Ash sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Barnaoui is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Barnaoui seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ash does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Adam Ash.
I think Ash 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Adam Ash!
Adam Ash seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.