PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between BJ Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bane Richerds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Barnes
vs
Richerds

195 cm
19
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, BJ Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bane Richerds!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Dean Styles and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes throws a series of punches but Richerds avoids them all with ease.
Richerds is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Barnes throws an overhand right that lands on Richerds's shoulder, as Richerds tries to avoid the shot.
Bane Richerds seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Barnes as Richerds shoots in.
Richerds wants to clinch up but Barnes keeps it at a distance.
Richerds will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Richerds forces Barnes back against the cage and clinches.

Barnes has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Richerds regains guard immediately.
Barnes pushing down on Richerds's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Richerds tries to roll over but Barnes keeps him under control.
Barnes thows a huge punch but Richerds dodges it nicely.
Richerds tries to get to full guard but Barnes has control of the leg.
Richerds controlling the position well.
Richerds tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes prevents Richerds from improving his position.
Richerds has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barnes is working away from the top position though.
Barnes prevents Richerds from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Richerds tries to clinch up but Barnes circles away and keeps his distance.
Barnes stuffs the takedown.
BJ Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bane Richerds.
Barnes misses with an uppercut. Richerds saw that one coming.

Barnes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Richerds won't allow Barnes to pass to mount.
Barnes is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Barnes landing strikes, looking to finish!
Barnes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
A nice elbow there by Barnes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richerds can't escape the position.

Barnes goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Richerds turns into him and now he's in Barnes's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Barnes holds on and takes a little breather.

Barnes has his foot on Richerds's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Richerds works his way back into a safe position though.
Barnes controls Richerds momentarily but Richerds frees himself.
Richerds working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Barnes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Richerds gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Barnes is breathing heavily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Barnes keeping moving, preventing Richerds from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Richerds is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Barnes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Barnes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Richerds trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richerds chips away with some ground and pound.
Richerds really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barnes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Richerds passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

Barnes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Richerds controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Richerds wants to free his trapped foot but Barnes is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Richerds is controlling the pace.
Richerds is thwarting Barnes's attempts to control the position.

Richerds is working for a kimura but Barnes is defending it quite comfortably.

Barnes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Barnes dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Richerds fails with the takedown

and Barnes counters with a takedown into side control.
Barnes in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Richerds is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Barnes wants to control but Richerds is keeping him busy.

Barnes tries for a kimura but Richerds is defending well.
Barnes works to advance to full mount. Richerds defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Barnes throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Richerds because Barnes loaded up on that one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Richerds tries to lock up and control but Barnes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Barnes wants to control the pace but Richerds is squirming around nicely.
Poor strikes thrown by Barnes there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes with good strikes from the mount here!
Richerds is bucking up trying to escape but Barnes cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Richerds is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Richerds is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Barnes is staying active.

Barnes goes for an armbar but Richerds turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Richerds.

Richerds gets to his feet. Barnes looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Richerds tries for a takedown but Barnes circles away easily

and Barnes counters with a shoot takedown. Richerds fights it but they end up in guard.
Barnes throws a big right hand that misses.
Barnes stopping the sweep attempt from Richerds.
Richerds manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barnes manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richerds trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
BJ Barnes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barnes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Richerds's guard.
Richerds trying to keep a closed guard but Barnes is proving a slippery customer.

Richerds looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Barnes slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Barnes landing a few strikes.
Richerds tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Richerds is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Barnes working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Richerds looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Barnes! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). BJ Barnes!