PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clifton Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugo Zalcock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zalcock has chosen El Metro as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Barnes
vs
Zalcock

192 cm
22
267 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

195 cm
20
245 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Behold The Beast
Behold The Beast

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Clifton Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hugo Zalcock!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Chris Edwards and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Barnes with that takedown attempt.
Zalcock doesn't manage to clinch there - Barnes circles away.
Barnes looks to land a left hand but Zalcock moved out of range nicely.
Barnes defending well as Zalcock loads up on a big left hand.
Barnes swats away the attempt to clinch by Zalcock.
Zalcock tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barnes is defended easily by Zalcock.
Zalcock scores with a decent looking hook.
Zalcock throws a series of punches but Barnes avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zalcock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barnes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zalcock wants to clinch up but Barnes keeps it at a distance.
Zalcock looks to land a combination but Barnes avoids it well.
A big right from Barnes misses.
Zalcock waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barnes.
Zalcock fails to land with a series of punches.
Hugo Zalcock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalcock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barnes is defended easily by Zalcock.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clifton Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zalcock.

Zalcock moves into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zalcock.
Barnes is trying to drag Zalcock to the mat but Zalcock just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zalcock has a couple of punches blocked by Barnes.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Zalcock takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Barnes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zalcock's elbow.
Zalcock holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalcock misses with some punches.
Zalcock pushes Barnes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barnes blocking some punches.
Barnes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zalcock swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Barnes is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zalcock gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Zalcock lands with a left to the head.
Barnes is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zalcock pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Zalcock gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Barnes.
A short right from Zalcock on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zalcock.
Barnes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zalcock prevents it.
Zalcock swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Barnes can't find room to land a body shot as Zalcock controls the action.
Barnes is trying to break the clinch but Zalcock has him pressed against the cage.
Zalcock keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Barnes's efforts to push away.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Barnes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zalcock gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Barnes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zalcock gets underhooks to prevent Barnes's takedown attempt.
Zalcock lands with a short shot to the head.
Zalcock lands a shoulder strike.
Barnes blocks an uppercut.
Zalcock scores with a shoulder strike.
Zalcock gets through Barnes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zalcock lands with a short shot to the head.
Zalcock misses with a punch on the inside.
Zalcock swings wildly with an uppercut but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zalcock has a couple of punches blocked by Barnes.
Zalcock lands with a short shot to the head.
Zalcock lands a hook that snaps the head of Barnes backwards.
Zalcock manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Zalcock lands a right hand.
Zalcock working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Zalcock stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes can't get the takedown.
Zalcock holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Zalcock swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zalcock controlling the action here for a moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Hugo Zalcock.

Zalcock instigates a clinch.
Zalcock's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Zalcock misses with the head strike.
Barnes tries for a takedown. No joy.
Zalcock stalling.
Barnes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zalcock prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Zalcock dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zalcock fails to land with a series of punches.
Barnes takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zalcock scores with a hook.

Zalcock forces Barnes back against the cage and clinches.
Zalcock lands with a light punch inside.
Zalcock leaning against his opponent.
Zalcock lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zalcock pressing his opponent against the cage.
Zalcock throws a head punch that misses.
Zalcock gets underhooks to prevent Barnes's takedown attempt.
Zalcock slows down the pace here.
Zalcock misses with a punch on the inside.
Zalcock doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zalcock is pushing Barnes up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Barnes can't find room to land a body shot as Zalcock controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalcock makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zalcock prevents a body shot from Barnes.
Zalcock gets underhooks to prevent Barnes's takedown attempt.
Zalcock lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barnes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clifton Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zalcock is struggling to control the position.
Zalcock tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zalcock gets through Barnes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zalcock pushes Barnes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Barnes.
Zalcock has a couple of punches blocked by Barnes.
Zalcock gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Barnes.
Barnes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stalling in the clinch from Zalcock.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalcock doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zalcock slowing the pace effectively.
Barnes digs a right hand underneath Zalcock's ribcage. Zalcock let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Zalcock tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Barnes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zalcock working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Zalcock misses with the head strike.
Still in the clinch, Zalcock scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zalcock misses with the head strike.
Zalcock misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zalcock.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zalcock misses with a wild body shot.
Nice shot lands for Zalcock.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Zalcock. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Zalcock tries to clinch but Barnes is having none of it.
Zalcock tries to clinch there but Barnes circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zalcock looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zalcock moves in looking to clinch but Barnes pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Zalcock throws a hook but Barnes blocks it.

Barnes feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Zalcock wants to stand but Barnes is controlling the position.

Zalcock uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Zalcock lands a jab to the head.
Zalcock wants to clinch up but Barnes keeps it at a distance.
Barnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zalcock.
Zalcock tries to clinch up.
A jab from Zalcock does it's job there.
Nice body punch from Zalcock.
Barnes swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zalcock clinches.
Zalcock scores with a nice hook to the head.
Barnes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zalcock avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Barnes looking for a takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zalcock.
A short right from Zalcock.
Zalcock doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Barnes being controlled against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Zalcock.
Zalcock blocks a body shot from Barnes.
Barnes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A short right from Zalcock on the inside.
Zalcock throws a punch but it's blocked by Barnes.
Barnes wants a takedown.
Barnes's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Zalcock showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Zalcock closes the distance and clinches.
Zalcock is pressed up against the cage. Barnes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zalcock down to the mat. Zalcock avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Barnes throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zalcock was covering up waiting for the punch and Barnes finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zalcock is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zalcock is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Barnes throws and elbow that misses. Zalcock uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barnes's guard. Nice move by Zalcock!
Zalcock looking to pass the guard.
Zalcock has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Barnes is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalcock trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zalcock throwing strikes but missing.
Barnes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zalcock is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zalcock stuffs the takedown.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
A jab from Zalcock finds it's way through Barnes's defenses.
Zalcock misses the shot to the body.
Zalcock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zalcock misses with a jab to the body

and Barnes counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Barnes is keen to just control but Zalcock is a slippery customer.
Barnes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zalcock is trying to stand back up but Barnes is controlling him
Barnes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Barnes with the ground and pound but Zalcock uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Zalcock preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barnes has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clifton Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zalcock tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Barnes counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Barnes is trying to control. Zalcock wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zalcock is trying to stand.
Barnes is keen to just control but Zalcock is a slippery customer.
Barnes tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zalcock knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Barnes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barnes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zalcock is trying to stand up here but Barnes is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barnes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zalcock sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barnes somewhat.
Zalcock tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zalcock.
Zalcock tries to clinch but Barnes moves out of range.
Zalcock looks to land a combination but Barnes avoids it well.
Barnes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zalcock circles away.

Zalcock fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Barnes, pushing him back against the cage.
Hugo Zalcock seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A left hand lands to the body for Barnes.
Zalcock lands with a light punch inside.
Zalcock lands a left hand that snaps the head of Barnes backwards.
Zalcock softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Zalcock slows down the pace here.
Zalcock lands a shoulder strike.
Clifton Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zalcock misses with the head strike.
Hugo Zalcock is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zalcock throws a punch but it's blocked by Barnes.
Zalcock swings away with an uppercut that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clifton Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zalcock 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugo Zalcock!