PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Extor Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Holden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes comes to the cage accompanied by Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be. Nathan Holden has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Barnes
vs
Holden

178 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Extor Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan Holden!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Holden.
Barnes cracks a nice hook into Holden's ribs.
A big right from Barnes misses.
Barnes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Holden gets a takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Barnes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Holden.
Barnes tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Holden lands strikes from half guard.
Barnes trying to control but Holden postures up.
Holden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Barnes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Holden.
Barnes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Holden.
Barnes trying to control but Holden postures up.
Barnes tries to get to full guard but Holden has control of the leg.
Barnes is trying to stand back up but Holden is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holden looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Holden tries to pass to full mount but Barnes defends it.
Holden scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Barnes is in trouble now - Holden has advanced to mount!
A nice elbow there by Holden.
Holden unloading with bombs!
Holden postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Barnes looks a forlorn figure.
Barnes gets back to half guard.
Holden lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Holden takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Holden not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Holden thows a huge punch but Barnes dodges it nicely.
Holden takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holden throwing shots but Barnes is blocking nicely.
Holden drops an elbow to the side of Barnes's head.
Barnes is looking for a sweep. Holden is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Holden working the head and body with strikes.
Holden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barnes keeps working.
Barnes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Holden trying to control from half guard but Barnes is working away.
Barnes manages to get to full guard.
Holden postures up.
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.
Holden trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holden preventing the sweep.
Barnes is looking to stand up but Holden isn't so interested in that idea.
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.
Holden lands a couple of elbows.
Barnes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barnes wants to stand up but Holden is controlling him.
Holden stopping the sweep attempt from Barnes.
Holden working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Barnes's head.
Holden wants to control from the top but Barnes keeps moving.
Holden is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

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.
Holden chips away with some ground and pound.
Barnes trying to control the position.
Holden postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Holden lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Holden lands a couple of digs.
Holden prevents Barnes from getting back to his feet.
Holden scoring with some ground and pound.
Holden distracts Barnes with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Holden stopping the sweep attempt from Barnes.
Holden content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Holden stays in close to Barnes's body and controls the position.
Barnes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Holden dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barnes tries to land a leg kick but Holden saw it coming and moves away.
Barnes throws a series of punches but Holden moves out of range.
Extor Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes misses with a double jab.
Barnes keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Barnes. Those never looked like landing.
Barnes misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Barnes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Holden gets the takedown into side control.
Holden cracks Barnes with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holden scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Barnes to see if he's OK.
Holden grinds an elbow into Barnes's temple.
Barnes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Holden wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holden connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Barnes some visible discomfort.
Barnes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Barnes taking a bit of punishment here - Holden scoring with strikes.
Holden working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Holden cracks Barnes with a big right hand but Barnes just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Holden grinds an elbow into Barnes's temple.
Barnes sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Barnes is trying to get back to full guard.
Holden lands with a punch from half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Holden connects with a nice short shot to Barnes's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes won't allow Holden to pass to mount.
Barnes wants to get back to full guard.
Barnes is working hard here to advance position.
Nathan Holden has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barnes is not content to let Holden control the position.
Barnes wants to improve his position but Holden is controlling well.
Barnes wants to control but Holden is keeping busy.
Holden takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Holden lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Holden frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Barnes that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Holden putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Barnes tries to lock up and control but Holden gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Holden can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Barnes is looking to escape.
Barnes wants to hold on but Holden pushes him away.
Holden landing punches.
Barnes working to try and regain half guard.
Holden raining down hammerfists from mount.
Holden is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Holden cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Holden.
Barnes is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to lock up and control but Holden gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Holden lands a nice shot to the head.
Barnes in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Holden scoring with strikes but Barnes is staying in there.
Barnes is in a horrible position here. Holden smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Barnes takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
A nice elbow there by Holden.
Holden working the ground and pound effectively.
Barnes is trying to escape the mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Holden cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Barnes regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Holden 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Barnes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Barnes misses the shot to the body.
Holden keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Holden is looking to score with low kicks.
Barnes is looking to clinch.
Holden ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Holden has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Holden there as he acknowledges the shot.
Holden ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
Barnes lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Holden backs up against the cage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Holden is defended easily by Barnes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes jabs at Holden's body.
Holden on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Barnes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Holden does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barnes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Holden was well out of range. Poor timing from Barnes.
Holden moves out of range of the strikes.
Barnes thuds his right hand into Holden's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Barnes misses the shot to the body.
Holden lands a slapping body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barnes just misses with a punch to the body.
Holden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barnes.
Barnes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barnes lands with a nice combination. Holden backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Nathan Holden has been cut.
Barnes moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Barnes tries to bum rush Holden with a series of wild strikes but Holden uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Holden takes a jab right on the kisser.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes tries to clinch up but Holden circles away and keeps his distance.
Nathan Holden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Holden forces Barnes back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is looking to break free of the clinch but Holden has double underhooks.
A short right from Holden on the inside.
Holden changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Barnes fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Barnes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Holden.
Barnes misses with an uppercut.
Barnes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Holden moves away from the strike by Barnes.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Holden manages to avoid it.
Barnes throws a hook but Holden avoids it easily.
Barnes thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barnes with a jab.
Holden shoots in for a takedown but Barnes shows good takedown defense.
Extor Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Holden.
Barnes thows a body shot but no joy.
Holden slips a straight right by Barnes.
Barnes tries to clinch
and Holden counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Extor Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Holden takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Holden gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Barnes.
Barnes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Holden.
Holden has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barnes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes works Holden's body with a nice hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Extor Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Holden 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Holden!