PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hannibal Barca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barca comes into the arena with Across the Alps blaring out of the sound system. This should be a great matchup!

Barca
vs
Barnes

195 cm
22
215 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
210 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Phoenix Nutrition - 158 recovery $99

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hannibal Barca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nate Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barca lands a jab-cross combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Barca.
Barca is looking to clinch but Barnes is avoiding it.
Barca misses with the combination.
Barca throws a looping overhand right but Barnes ducks down to avoid it.
Barnes tries to clinch up.
Barnes moves in looking to clinch but Barca pushes him off.
Barnes misses with a wild body shot.

Barca scores a takedown into full mount!

Barca looking for a guillotine from mount but Barnes is having none of it.

Barca working for a submission but Barnes is keeping him at bay.

Barca working for a guillotine from mount but Barnes is in no mood to give up.

Barca is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Barnes can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barca looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Barnes is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barca throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Barnes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Barca lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Barca throws some wild stikes that Barnes manages to avoid easily.

Barca wants to finish this one by submission but Barnes is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Barca.

Barca is working for a guillotine from mount but Barnes frees his head quite easily.
Barca is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Barnes keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Barnes is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Barca looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Barnes regains full guard. Nicely done.

Barca drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Barnes dives on top into guard.
Barnes wants to stand but Barca is controlling his posture from full guard.
Barnes wants to pass the guard but Barca is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barca keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.

Barca working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barnes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barnes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Barnes tries to free his leg and advance position but Barca is retaining full guard.
Barca keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
Barnes postures up.
Barnes wanted to stand there but Barca had control of the position.
Barnes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Barnes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barca swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Barnes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barca tries to clinch

and Barnes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Barca pulls Barnes into guard.

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

Barca throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Barnes escapes and throws Barca's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Barca prevents Barnes from moving into mount.

Barnes stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Hannibal Barca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barca lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barnes circles away quickly and effectively.

Barnes clinches up with Barca and pushes him back against the cage.
Barca misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barnes presses Barca against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Barnes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A short left from Barnes.

Barca manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
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 wanted to stand there but Barca had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hannibal Barca will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Barnes tries to move into range but Barca moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Barca keeps the fight on the outside.
Barca misses with a takedown attempt
and Barnes counters with a thumping low kick.
Barnes tries to clinch but Barca moves away
and Barca counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barnes lands a glancing blow to the side of Barca's head.
Barca tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Barnes looks to clinch

and Barca counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Barnes!
Barca in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Barnes manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Barnes wants to get back to full guard.
Barca is thwarting Barnes's attempts to control the position.
Barca is keen to just control but Barnes is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barca is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Barnes doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Barca.
Barnes wants to get back to full guard.
Barnes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Barca is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Barnes sees it coming and defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barnes misses with a body shot.

Barnes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A left hand lands to the body for Barnes.
Barnes lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Barca jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Barnes walks away with a smile on his face. Barca gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Barnes has closed the distance and engaged Barca in a clinch.
Barnes throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Barca 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 Hannibal Barca. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Barnes.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Barnes.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Barnes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Barnes effectively controlling the action here.
A shot in the inside from Barnes.
A short right from Barnes on the inside.
Barnes taking a breather.
Barca takes a shot to the head.
Barnes digs a right hand into Barca's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Barca's gas tank.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Barca as Barnes tries to tie him up.
Barca jumps guard but Barnes stands there with Barca around his waist. Barca gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barnes tests Barca's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Barnes works the jab nicely.
Barnes scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Barca on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barnes. Barnes obviously looking to wear him down.
Barca circles away from the clinch attempt
and Barca counters with a three punch combo that has Barnes backing up. Barnes nods at Barca to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.
Barnes chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Barca misses with a double jab
and Barca takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Barca swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barnes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barnes doesn't manage to clinch there - Barca circles away.
Barca swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnes.
Barca misses with a jab to the body
and Barnes makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Barca avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hannibal Barca is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barca swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnes.
Barnes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Barnes, right into the meat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes moves in looking to clinch but Barca pushes him off.
Good leg kick by Barca there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Barnes tries to clinch up.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Barca.
Barnes stuffs the takedown attempt from Barca. Barca gets slowly back to his feet.
Barca stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barca wants it to stay on the feet.

Barnes moves into the clinch successfully.
Barca tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Barnes's elbow.
Barnes stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Barca takes a shot to the head.
Barca goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barnes cracks Barca with a nice body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right handed body shot lands from Barnes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes stalling.
Barnes lands a body shot.
A body shot lands from Barnes.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barnes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barca's sensitive parts.
Barca circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Barnes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Barnes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barca circles away.
Barnes moves in looking to clinch but Barca pushes him off.
Barca shoots for a double leg takedown but Barnes sprawls well. He's pushed Barca's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Barca misses with a takedown
and Barnes counters with a head kick.
Barnes tries to clinch there but Barca circles away.
Barnes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barnes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barnes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barca swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barnes lands a nice shot to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barca is defended easily by Barnes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannibal Barca. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Barnes clinches up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barca backwards.
Barnes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Barca backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes taking a breather.
A left hand lands to the body for Barnes.

Barnes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barca shoots for a takedown but Barnes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Barnes closes the distance and clinches.
Barnes cracks Barca with a nice body shot.

Barnes manages to break the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Barnes.
Barca is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Barnes turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Barnes lands with a nice body punch.

Barnes clinches.
Barnes works on Barca's body with a couple of short punches.
Barnes lands a right hand.
Barnes digs a right hand into Barca's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Barca's gas tank.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnes lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Barca.
Barnes lands with a left to the head.
Barnes lands a body shot in the clinch.
Barnes is working Barca over against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Barnes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Barcas head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Barnes.
Barnes pushes Barca back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Barnes.
Barnes lands a body shot in the clinch.
Barnes is leaning against Barca and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Barnes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A left hand lands to the body for Barnes.
Barnes stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Barnes throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nice body punch from Barnes.
Barnes slows down the pace here.
Barnes lands a left hand.
A body shot lands from Barnes.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nate Barnes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Barnes manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Barnes digs a right hand underneath Barca's ribcage. Barca let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barca shoots in for a double leg but Barnes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barnes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Barnes closes the distance and clinches.
Barnes scores with a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Barnes.
Barca letting Barnes take a breather here.
Barnes pushes Barca back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A right handed body shot lands from Barnes.
Barnes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Barnes lands a shot to the body.
Barnes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barca is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Barnes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barnes looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Barnes instigates a clinch.
Barnes works on Barca's body with a couple of short punches.
Barnes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barca takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A good leg kick by Barnes.
Barnes lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes wants to clinch up but Barca keeps it at a distance.
Barca circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barnes scores with a nice right hand.
Barnes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barnes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Barnes stuffs the takedown.
Barnes throws a quick inside leg kick.
Barnes tries to clinch but Barca moves out of range.
Barnes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barnes shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barca avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barnes tries to clinch but Barca moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Barca tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barnes smiles and moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Barnes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barnes 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Barnes!