PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes's entrance music is Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barnes
vs
Penn

178 cm
22
160 lbs
8 - 2 - 1

175 cm
28
165 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

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 8 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Mike Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes throws the left hand but Penn avoids the punch easily.
Penn shoots in but no luck this time.

Barnes rushes Penn and presses him up against the cage.
Barnes is struggling to control the position.
Barnes pushes Penn back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Penn is looking to break free of the clinch but Barnes has double underhooks.
Barnes misses with a punch on the inside.
Penn fails to pull guard.
Barnes holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Barnes misses with a body punch.

Barnes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Penn drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Barnes defending against the ground and pound.
Barnes is looking for a sweep.
Penn postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
You can see the frustration on Barnes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Barnes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Barnes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Penn on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes taking a bit of punishment here - Penn scoring with strikes.

Penn tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Penn has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Penn postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Barnes tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Penn is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Barnes has escaped the position, nice work there.
Penn scores with a couple of short elbows.
Penn throws an elbow but Barnes slips to the side and avoids it well.
Penn cracks Barnes with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Barnes is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn in side control lands a decent elbow.
Barnes manages to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Penn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barnes's head.

Barnes is defending against the submission attempts here by Penn.
Penn missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Penn trying to control the action but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Barnes trying to hold on to Penn's head to control him but Penn postures up.
Penn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barnes wants to improve his position but Penn is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Penn lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Penn wants to pass to mount but Barnes is defending the position.
Penn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Penn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Penn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Barnes is looking to improve his position.
Barnes wants to get back to his feet.
Penn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Penn is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barnes is just riding it out for now. Penn eventually gives up the hold.
Barnes is trying to stand back up but Penn is controlling him
Barnes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Penn wants to free his trapped foot but Barnes is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Penn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes is looking to improve his position.
Barnes is trying to maintain the position but Penn is very close to passing his half guard.
Barnes taking some punishment here, with Penn in his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Penn dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice sprawl there from Barnes as Penn shoots in.
Penn blocks the body kick.
Penn tries for a takedown but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mike Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.
Penn keeps the fight on the outside.

Penn darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Penn working the head and body with strikes.
Penn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Barnes trying to control here.
Penn prevents Barnes from improving his position.
Barnes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Penn.
Penn sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barnes defending well though.
Penn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Penn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Barnes tries to roll over but Penn keeps him under control.
Penn stops Barnes from getting back to his feet.
Barnes gets full guard.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
Barnes looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Penn puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Barnes looks like he's trying to stand up.
Penn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Barnes tries to kick Penn off but Penn keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but Barnes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Barnes wants to control but Penn is keeping busy.
Penn throwing shots but Barnes is blocking nicely.
Penn throwing shots but Barnes is blocking nicely.
Penn drops an elbow to the side of Barnes's head.
Penn prevents Barnes from improving his position.
Penn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Barnes wants to get back to his feet.
Penn thows a huge punch but Barnes dodges it nicely.
Barnes regains full guard. Nicely done.
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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Penn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Penn controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Barnes controls Penn momentarily but Penn frees himself.
Penn thows a big elbow that misses.
Barnes trying to keep a closed guard but Penn is proving a slippery customer.
Barnes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Penn stopping the sweep attempt from Barnes.
Penn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barnes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Penn trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Penn fails with the takedown.
BJ Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Penn walks into a straight right hand from Barnes.
Penn shoots in but Barnes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Penn will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Penn misses with a takedown attempt - Barnes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Barnes misses with a double jab.
Penn shoots in looking for a takedown. Barnes tries to sprawl out of it but Penn keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barnes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A cross from Barnes lands.
Barnes dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Penn. That did some damage!
Penn shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barnes as he jumps to the side.
Barnes displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Barnes rushes Penn and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Barnes has picked Penn up - he's going for a ride! Barnes dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Barnes dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Penn looks for a takedown but Barnes sprawls well.
Penn moves out of range of the strikes.
Penn shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Penn moves forwards but Barnes connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Barnes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barnes lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Barnes slaps away a takedown attempt from Penn, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mike Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.

Barnes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barnes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Still in the clinch, Barnes scores with a nice short uppercut.
Barnes is leaning against Penn and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Penn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt.
Barnes tests Penn's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barnes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barnes instigates a clinch.
Barnes lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Barnes as the two fighters clinch.
Barnes works on Penn's body with a couple of short punches.
A shot in the inside from Barnes.
Barnes digs a right hand underneath Penn's ribcage. Penn let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A right handed body shot lands from Barnes.
Barnes effectively controlling the action here.
A body shot lands from Barnes.
Barnes scores with a hook to the body.
Barnes is working Penn over against the cage.
Barnes lands a body punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short body shot lands from Barnes as the two fighters clinch.

Barnes lands a takedown into guard.

Barnes stands up and waves to Penn to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnes instigates a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Barnes.
Barnes controlling the action here for a moment.
Barnes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Barnes lands a nice shot to the body.
Barnes lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Barnes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Barnes effectively controlling the action here.
Barnes lands a shot to the body.
Barnes has Penn pushed against the cage.
A hook to the body from Barnes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes struggles to land a body shot inside as Penn controls his hands.
Barnes lands a hook to the side of the head.

Barnes has picked Penn up - he's going for a ride! Barnes dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Penn trying to hold on to Barnes's head to control him but Barnes postures up.
Barnes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Penn defending well though.

Penn looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Penn regains full guard. Nicely done.
Barnes passes Penn's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Barnes working the head and body with strikes.
Barnes moves into full mount! Penn won't be happy about that!
Penn is trying to escape the mount.
BJ Penn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Penn in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes landing punches.
Penn really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Barnes with a couple of short strikes.
Barnes lands a big shot there that rocks Penn but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Penn sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Penn is trying to get back to full guard.
Penn is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Barnes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Barnes gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Mike Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barnes lands with a good body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes leaves Penn with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnes lands a head kick. Penn smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Barnes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:27

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