PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Barnes (ranked 1883 p4p, 1726 weight class) and Nick Rodriquez (ranked 241 p4p, 228 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Barnes
vs
Rodriquez

200 cm
24
265
7 - 7 - 0

190 cm
26
255
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Rodriquez!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriquez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barnes as he avoids it easily.
Barnes swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodriquez is just out of range.
Rodriquez looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Barnes drops Rodriquez with a beautiful combination! Rodriquez stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Barnes is looking for the KO!

It looks like Nick Rodriquez has been cut.
Barnes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rodriquez was well out of range. Poor timing from Barnes.
Barnes looks to land a combination but Rodriquez avoids it well.
Barnes throws a half hearted mid kick.
Barnes tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodriquez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rodriquez checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A little jabbing left from Rodriquez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rodriquez wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes looks for the body kick but Rodriquez saw that one coming.

Rodriquez rushes Barnes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barnes has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Rodriquez wants the takedown. Barnes is fighting it off but Rodriquez persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Barnes's guard against the cage.
Rodriquez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Barnes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rodriquez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rodriquez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rodriquez throwing strikes from guard but Barnes blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes being controlled here, momentarily.
Rodriquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rodriquez forces his way into half guard.
Rodriquez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barnes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rodriquez on the ground.
Barnes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rodriquez.
Rodriquez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rodriquez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rodriquez is keen to just control but Barnes is a slippery customer.
Barnes is pressing down on Rodriquez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes keeping full guard, as Rodriquez tries to pass.
Rodriquez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rodriquez preventing the sweep.
Barnes keeping full guard, as Rodriquez tries to pass.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Barnes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rodriquez.
Rodriquez wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rodriquez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rodriquez avoids a kick to the body.
Barnes fails to land with a series of punches.
Rodriquez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnes swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes circles away from the clinch attempt.

Barnes lands a big head kick that sends Rodriquez tumbling to the mat! Barnes takes a step backwards and waves Rodriquez back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Rodriquez is rocked!
Barnes lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rodriquez is still on wobbly legs! Can Barnes finish him?
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 with a right and another and another! Rodriquez is in big trouble! Barnes lands again and this time it's lights out for Rodriquez! A quality knockout there for Barnes.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Matt Barnes!
Matt Barnes decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.