PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Calvin Barnes (ranked 4729 p4p, 4819 weight class) and Ranko Nanusevski (ranked 474 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Barnes
vs
Nanusevski

174 cm
25
160
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
164
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Calvin Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ranko Nanusevski!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left and a right from Barnes both land. Nice combination.
Barnes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nanusevski walks into a jab.
Barnes moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Barnes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Nanusevski is rocked!
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 scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nanusevski doesn't seem bothered though.
Barnes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Nanusevski decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barnes's guard.
Nanusevski seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Barnes looking for a guillotine here but Nanusevski defends easily.
Nanusevski looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nanusevski sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Nanusevski drops back looking for a leg! Barnes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Barnes manages to kick Nanusevski off! Nanusevski jumps back into Barnes's guard.

Barnes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nanusevski is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barnes controls Nanusevski momentarily but Nanusevski frees himself.
Nanusevski wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
Barnes wants to sweep here but Nanusevski controlling him for the moment.
Barnes trying to control the position here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nanusevski's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Nanusevski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nanusevski pushes down on Barnes's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Nanusevski trying to mount his opponent but Barnes defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nanusevski in particular looking to stall.

Nanusevski is looking for a kimura here.
Nanusevski is pressing down on Barnes's thigh, looking to free his foot. Barnes is holding on for now.
Barnes is looking to improve his position.
Nanusevski is looking to stall here but Barnes recovers full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Barnes 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.
Barnes working a defensive guard but Nanusevski manages to pass into side control anyway.
Barnes wants to control but Nanusevski postures up.
Barnes is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nanusevski is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nanusevski tries to move to mount but Barnes blocks the move with his legs.
Barnes is looking to reverse the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Calvin Barnes dominated that round.
That's time! Barnes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Barnes scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Nanusevski closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nanusevski lands in his opponent's guard.
Nanusevski tries to free his leg and advance position but Barnes is retaining full guard.
Nanusevski is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nanusevski slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nanusevski working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nanusevski is looking to take a break and control but Barnes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nanusevski tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nanusevski has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Barnes is trying to control Nanusevski's posture but Nanusevski avoids it.
Barnes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nanusevski wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Nanusevski tries for a kimura but Barnes is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
You can see the frustration on Barnes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Nanusevski is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Barnes has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nanusevski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barnes keeps working.
Barnes can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nanusevski looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nanusevski controlling from side mount.
Ranko Nanusevski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nanusevski has control of an arm but Barnes manages to advance to Nanusevski's back!
Barnes is looking to control Nanusevski but Nanusevski is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Barnes looking to hold on to the position here but Nanusevski rolls and ends up regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes trying to control but Nanusevski is working from the bottom.
Nanusevski has his hands on Barnes's head, controlling the position.

Nanusevski is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barnes defends well.

Nanusevski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nanusevski is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nanusevski looking for a guillotine here but Barnes defends easily.

Nanusevski is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barnes is aware though and is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ranko Nanusevski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nanusevski takes one on the button.

Nanusevski shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nanusevski showed some decent athleticism there.
Barnes wants to control but Nanusevski passes into side.
Nanusevski in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Barnes is trying to control Nanusevski's posture but Nanusevski avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nanusevski thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nanusevski is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Barnes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Nanusevski trying to control the action but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Barnes is trying to control Nanusevski's posture but Nanusevski avoids it.
Barnes is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Barnes sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Barnes wants to control but Nanusevski is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nanusevski works his way into side control.
Nanusevski tries to advance to mount but can't.
Nanusevski is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Nanusevski has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Barnes!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is wriggling around trying to escape.
Barnes is squirming around, avoiding Nanusevski's attempts to control the action.
Nanusevski controlling the position easily from mount.

Nanusevski is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Barnes is surviving well by controlling Nanusevski's body position as best he can.
Nanusevski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barnes tries to lock up and control but Nanusevski gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Barnes slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Nanusevski passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Barnes!
Nanusevski controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nanusevski looking for a guillotine from mount but Barnes is having none of it.
Nanusevski trying to control but Barnes is having none of it.
Nanusevski wants to take his opponent's back but Barnes doesn't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barnes tries to lock up and control but Nanusevski gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ranko Nanusevski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nanusevski 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ranko Nanusevski!
Our winner, Ranko Nanusevski, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.