PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shang Tsung (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tsung comes to the cage accompanied by Mortal Kombat Theme Remix. Barnes has chosen Red Right Hand - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Tsung
vs
Barnes

186 cm
25
199 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

180 cm
25
190 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Supersize Me

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shang Tsung!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brad Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tsung moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Barnes checks a low kick from Tsung.
Brad Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice uppercut lands for Barnes. That snapped Tsung's head back.
Barnes tries to clinch there but Tsung circles away.
Tsung keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barnes.
Barnes loads up on a big right hand but Tsung slips the punch.
Tsung keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Barnes does it's job there.
Barnes tries to clinch up.

Tsung drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tsung loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barnes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tsung has gone for a leg lock! Barnes slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tsung's guard.
Barnes stays in close to Tsung's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsung is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Tsung is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes looking to sit in guard and control but Tsung gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barnes is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Tsung has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barnes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barnes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tsung swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tsung looking to control.
Tsung is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Barnes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Tsung has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Barnes is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Tsung.
Tsung struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tsung tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barnes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Barnes advances to full mount.
Tsung tries to lock up and control but Barnes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tsung keeps the fight on the outside.
Barnes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tsung circles away quickly and effectively.
Crunch! Barnes slams his shin into Tsung's torso.

Barnes moves into the clinch.
Barnes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tsung lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tsung dodges an elbow strike from Barnes.
Barnes pushes Tsung back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tsung on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barnes with a knee to the head.
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!
A right hand to the body from Barnes.
Tsung blocks an elbow strike from Barnes.
With the fighters up against the cage, Barnes throws an elbow but misses.
Tsung on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Barnes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barnes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Barnes pushes off an throws an elbow but Tsung leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Barnes missing with knees to the body.
Barnes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tsung lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Barnes misses with a knee strike.
Barnes trying to land knees to the body.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the head but Tsung blocks with his arms.
Barnes landing knees to the head.
Barnes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Barnes tries to land knees in the clinch but Tsung avoids the damage to the body.
Barnes connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tsung's face.
Barnes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Barnes presses Tsung against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Barnes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tsung.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but Tsung blocks it.
Tsung's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tsung blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tsung is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Barnes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tsung.
Tsung avoiding damage as Barnes throws knees to the body.
Barnes lands an uppercut.
Barnes throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsung has a couple of punches blocked by Barnes.
A short body shot lands from Barnes as the two fighters clinch.
Tsung blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barnes lands a nice shot to the body.
Barnes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tsung on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tsung on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tsung avoiding damage as Barnes throws knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Barnes.
Barnes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tsung lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Barnes throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tsung on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barnes prevents a body shot from Tsung.
Nice body punch from Barnes.
A short right from Barnes.
Tsung can't find room to land a body shot as Barnes controls the action.
Tsung managing to block the knees to the body from Barnes.
Barnes lands a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tsung has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barnes misses with a knee strike.
Barnes scores a nice knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Barnes.
Tsung takes a shot to the head.
Barnes missing with knees to the body.
Barnes lands a damaging elbow.
Barnes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Barnes landing knees to the body.
Barnes lands a body shot in the clinch.
Barnes scores with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Barnes.
Tsung avoiding damage as Barnes throws knees to the body.
Tsung blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barnes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tsung blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barnes tries to land knees in the clinch but Tsung avoids the damage to the body.
Barnes misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsung blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Tsung breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barnes looks for the body kick but Tsung saw that one coming.
Barnes misses with a hook.
Tsung thumps Barnes with a low kick.
Barnes keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Barnes defending well as Tsung loads up on a big left hand.
Barnes throws a good cross that connects.
Barnes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barnes is looking to clinch.
Barnes tries to clinch up but Tsung circles away and keeps his distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tsung moves away.
Tsung throws a leg kick but Barnes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Barnes tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Barnes wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Barnes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Barnes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A combination from Barnes does no damage.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.
Barnes throws a right and a left that Tsung avoids nicely.
Barnes misses with a straight left.
Barnes takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Barnes tries to clinch but Tsung is having none of it.
Tsung tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barnes swivels and escapes.
Barnes tries to clinch but Tsung is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tsung scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Tsung tries to move to mount but Barnes blocks the move with his legs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnes is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tsung's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes is not content to let Tsung control the position.
Barnes tries to kick Tsung off but Tsung keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Tsung misses with a head shot. Barnes uses the momentum to regain guard.
Tsung trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Barnes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tsung doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tsung manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tsung scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes looking for a sweep. Not yet Barnes, not yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Barnes keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Barnes is looking to clinch but Tsung is avoiding it.
Tsung takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Barnes rushes Tsung and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barnes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tsung.
Shang Tsung has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A right hook to the body lands for Barnes.
Barnes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tsung lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Barnes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tsung lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
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 lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Barnes throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Tsung fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Barnes scores with a hook to the body.
Barnes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tsungs head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes lands a knee to the body.
Barnes missing with knees to the body.
Barnes landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tsung dodges an elbow strike from Barnes.
Barnes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tsung lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Barnes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Barnes missing with knees to the body.
Barnes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tsung.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shang Tsung. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good body shot from Tsung.
Barnes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barnes looking to throw knees to the head but Tsung is blocking nicely.
Barnes trying to land knees to the body.
Tsung on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tsung goes for a takedown attempt but Barnes pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes looks to throw a body kick
and Tsung counters with a stiff right hand.
Tsung walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Barnes tries to clinch up but Tsung circles away and keeps his distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Barnes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barnes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brad Barnes!