PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Lassiter (ranked 2683 p4p, 1949 weight class) and Freddy Barnes (ranked 337 p4p, 246 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lassiter
vs
Barnes

187 cm
20
215
4 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
212
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Conquer

Voodoo Nutrition

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kevin Lassiter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Freddy Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lassiter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lassiter uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Barnes.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lassiter, as that shot connected.

Lassiter clinches.
Good body shot from Lassiter.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Barnes has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Barnes looking for a takedown.
Barnes struggles to land a body shot inside as Lassiter controls his hands.
Lassiter lands a shot to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Barnes's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barnes has had enough of the clinch but Lassiter keeps him there for the moment.
Lassiter gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Barnes.
Lassiter lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes wants a takedown but no success here.
Kevin Lassiter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Freddy Barnes.
Lassiter goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lassiter misses with a punch to the body.

Barnes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lassiter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnes swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Barnes gets tackled into the cage by Lassiter. Lassiter maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Lassiter.
Barnes is working for takedown but Lassiter is calmly controlling the position for now.
Barnes blocks a body shot from Lassiter.
Barnes is looking for a takedown.
A nice left hand lands by Lassiter.
I was talking to Lassiter's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Lassiter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lassiter lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Barnes turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Barnes manages to end up in side control.
Lassiter parries the strikes from Barnes easily there. Barnes is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Lassiter to escape.
Lassiter on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lassiter tries to get out of the position.
Lassiter struggling a bit here.
Lassiter is looking to regain half guard here but Barnes keeps moving and retains side control.
Barnes postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Barnes trying to control the position but Lassiter is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes moves into full mount!
Barnes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnes misses with a head shot.
A nice elbow there by Barnes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lassiter blocking the ground and pound.
Barnes scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Lassiter?
Barnes throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Barnes is landing with some decent strikes but Lassiter is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws some wild stikes that Lassiter manages to avoid easily.
Barnes landing shots from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Barnes cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Barnes controlling from the full mount.
Barnes misses with a head shot.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barnes lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Barnes trying to control but Lassiter is having none of it.
Lassiter wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Barnes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Barnes lands a heavy elbow.
Barnes with shots to the head and body - Lassiter looks very uncomfortable down there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lassiter takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Barnes looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Barnes misses with a head shot.
Barnes lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lassiter hang on?
Barnes lands a nice shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy Barnes dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Lassiter misses with a right hand
letting Barnes counter with a right hand.
Lassiter tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lassiter tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barnes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lassiter looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barnes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lassiter.
Lassiter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lassiter swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Barnes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barnes circles away from the clinch attempt
and Barnes counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lassiter wants to clinch up but Barnes keeps it at a distance.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Lassiter is looking to counter the offense by Barnes and move into the clinch.
Lassiter tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barnes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lassiter stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barnes.
Lassiter scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Barnes doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lassiter lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Lassiter slips a jab from Barnes.
Lassiter throws a poor cross that misses
and Barnes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barnes stuns Lassiter with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Lassiter fails in his attempt to clinch.
Freddy Barnes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barnes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lassiter slips under a jab.
Lassiter misses with a body punch
and Barnes counters with a stiff right hand.
Barnes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lassiter.
Barnes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Barnes misses.
A shot to the liver by Lassiter. Beautiful body shot.
Lassiter moves in looking to clinch but Barnes pushes him off.
Barnes appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Barnes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lassiter.
Lassiter is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Barnes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lassiter closes the distance but Barnes moves to the side
and Lassiter takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lassiter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barnes moves into range and connects with a jab.
A head kick from Barnes lands but Lassiter takes it in his stride.
Lassiter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barnes.
Nice jab there from Barnes.
Lassiter tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barnes was well out of range. Poor timing from Lassiter.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lassiter moves away.
Lassiter moves away from the strike by Barnes.
Lassiter seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Lassiter wants to clinch up but Barnes keeps it at a distance.
Barnes appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Lassiter lands with a hook. Barnes tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lassiter works the jab nicely.
Barnes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barnes swats away the attempt to clinch by Lassiter.
Lassiter scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A telegraphed right hand from Barnes misses the target.
Barnes ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Barnes looks to land a body kick but Lassiter moved away.
Kevin Lassiter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lassiter pushes Barnes up against the cage in a clinch.
Barnes wants to take the fight to the mat but Lassiter manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Barnes pushes Lassiter back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Barnes prevents a body shot from Lassiter.
Barnes wants to take the fight to the mat but Lassiter manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Lassiter tries to work over Barnes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barnes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lassiter prevents it.
Kevin Lassiter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Freddy Barnes.
Lassiter lands a left hand that snaps the head of Barnes backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnes is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Lassiter can't fight it off and eventually Barnes manages to take the fight to the floor. Lassiter looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Barnes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes looking to pass the guard.
Barnes scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lassiter avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Barnes slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Barnes with the ground and pound but Lassiter regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy Barnes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lassiter avoids the body shot from Barnes.
Barnes connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Barnes lands an overhand right.
Barnes slips under a jab.
Lassiter throws a combination that misses
and Barnes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lassiter slips under a jab from Barnes.
Lassiter blocks a head kick by Barnes.
Lassiter tries to counter by clinching up but Barnes breaks away and moves out of range.
Barnes keeps the fight on the outside.
Lassiter cracks a nice hook into Barnes's ribs.
Barnes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lassiter was well out of range. Poor timing from Barnes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lassiter misses with a body shot.
Lassiter tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barnes looks to throw the jab but Lassiter is out of range.
Barnes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lassiter tries to counter by clinching up but Barnes breaks away and moves out of range.
Lassiter looks to clinch
and Barnes counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lassiter slips a jab from Barnes.
Lassiter seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Lassiter shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barnes but Barnes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Barnes misses the jab.
Lassiter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lassiter misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lassiter swings widly with a right hand
and Barnes counters with a stiff right hand.
Lassiter throws a lazy uppercut
and Barnes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Barnes throws a lazy right hand but Lassiter sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barnes lands with a hook. Lassiter tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Barnes attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Lassiter is just out of range.
Barnes shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Barnes swats away the attempt to clinch by Lassiter.
Kevin Lassiter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barnes flicks out a counter leg kick but Lassiter steps away.
Lassiter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lassiter scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lassiter stuns Barnes with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lassiter tries to clinch up but Barnes circles away and keeps his distance.
Barnes doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A slow jab from Barnes misses its intended target.

Lassiter has managed to clinch.
Lassiter digs a right hand into Barnes's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Barnes's gas tank.

Barnes gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Barnes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barnes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lassiter's head.
Lassiter is trying to maintain the position but Barnes is very close to passing his half guard.
Barnes throwing shots but Lassiter is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lassiter is trying to control but Barnes passes into side control!
Barnes moves into full mount!
Lassiter tries to hold on but Barnes postures up.
Barnes connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnes working for a guillotine from mount but Lassiter is in no mood to give up.
Barnes throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Barnes with good strikes from the mount here!
Barnes postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Lassiter looks a forlorn figure.
Barnes lands a big elbow.
Barnes putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee warns Lassiter that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Freddy 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Freddy Barnes!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Freddy Barnes!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Freddy Barnes!

Freddy Barnes wins by unanimous decision!
Freddy Barnes seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.