PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Barnes (ranked 887 p4p, 1004 weight class) and Aleks Nik (ranked 114 p4p, 131 weight class). Barnes comes into the arena with We Want The Funk blaring out of the sound system. Aleks Nik has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Barnes
vs
Nik

180 cm
30
178
23 - 16 - 0

178 cm
31
171
10 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Shadow Realm Apparel

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derrick Barnes !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleks Nik!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nik digs a good hook to Barnes 's body.
Nik walks into a straight right hand from Barnes .
Nik takes a swing at Barnes 's ribcage but misses.
Barnes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nik throws out the jab.
Nik throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barnes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Barnes punishes Nik's body with a nice straight punch.

Nik clinches up with Barnes and pushes him back against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Nik.
Nik dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Barnes is trying to drag Nik to the mat but Nik just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Nik pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nik scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Derrick Barnes has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Barnes avoids the body shot from Nik.
Barnes looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Barnes throws an off balance right hand
and Barnes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barnes 's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nik under the eye.
Barnes dives in for a single leg takedown but Nik sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Barnes being controlled against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Nik.
Nik misses with the head strike.
Nik slows down the pace here.
Barnes is defending well against a takedown attempt.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Nik 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 lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Barnes misses with a head shot. Nik uses the momentum to regain guard.
Barnes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes wants to control from the top but Nik keeps moving.
Nik is controlling Barnes 's posture.
Barnes works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Barnes working over Nik with some ground and pound. Nik looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nik regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Barnes .
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nik holds on and takes a little breather.
Nik bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barnes 's guard.

Nik won't allow Barnes to sweep him here.
Nik wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nik connects with a couple of short punches.
Nik postures up in Barnes 's guard and throws a big left but Barnes blocks it.
Barnes wants to sweep here but Nik controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nik cracks Barnes with a solid left hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nik's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nik lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Barnes keeping moving, preventing Nik from controlling successfully.
Barnes can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nik controls the pace.
Nik chips away with some ground and pound.
Barnes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nik cracks Barnes with a solid left hand.
Nik wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
Nik has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nik cracks Barnes with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nik engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Barnes has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Nik has passed into side control.
Nik lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Barnes down.
Check out the look on Nik's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Nik working the ground and pound.
Barnes is trying to control Nik's posture but Nik avoids it.
Nik looks up at the clock and then as Barnes takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Nik smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Barnes is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nik's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Barnes tries to roll over but Nik keeps him under control.
Barnes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aleks Nik dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Derrick Barnes 's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nik ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Barnes looks to land a right hand but Nik moved out of range.
Barnes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Nik counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nik misses with a looping left.
Barnes looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nik. Barnes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nik avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nik has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barnes throws a jab but it's blocked by Nik.
Nik swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nik is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes .
Barnes feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nik scores with a shot to the body.
Derrick Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nik works Barnes 's body with a nice hook.
Barnes blocks a jab.
As Nik backs away, Barnes returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Barnes throws a low kick but Nik avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nik misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barnes .
Barnes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Barnes punishes Nik's body with a nice straight punch.
Barnes looks to throw the jab but Nik is out of range.
Barnes slips a straight right by Nik.
Nik swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Barnes .
Nik thuds a left hand into Barnes 's body.
Barnes jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nik tests Barnes 's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nik lands a nice looking body shot.
Nik throws a hook but Barnes blocks it.
Some wild striking there from Barnes .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nik misses with a wild body shot.
Nik scores with a hook to the body. Barnes takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
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 telegraphed right hand from Barnes misses the target.
Nik loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.
Nik looks to throw the jab but Barnes is out of range.
Nik throws a series of punches but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes misses with a takedown attempt - Nik sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Barnes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nik did well to prevent Barnes getting side control.
Nik is trying to control but can't.
Barnes lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Barnes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nik is controlling Barnes 's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Nik is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nik controlling the position well.
Barnes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nik has his hands clasped together around Barnes 's back. He's all about the action.
Nik wants to get back to full guard.
Barnes is pressing down on Nik's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nik is holding on for now.
Nik keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Barnes is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aleks Nik showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Derrick Barnes 's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nik throws a predictable looking body shot
and Barnes counters with a nice uppercut.
Barnes throws a leg kick that misses.
Nik wants to counter with a clinch but Barnes pushes him away.
Nik fails with a takedown attempt.
Barnes misses with an uppercut
enabling Nik to counter with a crisp jab.
Nik throws an off balance right hand

and Barnes counters with a single leg into guard. Nik didn't expect that.
Nik pulls Barnes in to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nik's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Barnes is looking to work some ground and pound but Nik has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nik pulls Barnes in close to prevent any damage.
Barnes won't allow Nik to sweep him here.
Nik 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 Nik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Nik darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Barnes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nik throws out the jab.
Barnes misses with a takedown
and Nik counters with a stiff right hand.
A punch lands to the side of Barnes 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Barnes connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Nik's hands.
Aleks Nik is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes slips under a jab from Nik.
Good exchange - Nik coming out on top.
A slapping leg kick lands for Barnes .
Barnes digs a good hook to Nik's body.
Nik misses with an uppercut.
Barnes appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nik misses with a looping left.
Nik throws an off balance right hand
and Barnes counters with a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes leaves Nik with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Barnes throws a right hand that Nik ducks under and follows up with a left that Nik also avoids with ease.
Aleks Nik seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barnes has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nik finds it's way round the side to connect with Barnes 's head.
Barnes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Nik catches Barnes right on the button with a cross.
A swing and a miss from Nik.

Barnes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Barnes is thwarting Nik's attempts to control the position.
Barnes prevents Nik from improving his position.
Derrick Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nik is staying active underneath Barnes , who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nik on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nik trying to control but Barnes postures up.
Nik desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Derrick Barnes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nik is looking for a sweep. Barnes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barnes tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nik knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nik tries to get to full guard but Barnes has control of the leg.
Nik trying to control but Barnes postures up.
Barnes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derrick Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nik 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleks Nik!
A victorious Aleks Nik thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.