PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Asylum Shaco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Barnet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shaco
vs
Barnet

190 cm
26
250 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

191 cm
24
261 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Asylum Shaco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Josh Barnet!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barnet clinches up with Shaco and pushes him back against the cage.
Shaco is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Shaco trying to land knees to the body.
Barnet is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Shaco goes for a takedown in the clinch but Barnet prevents it.
Shaco trying to control the position but instead, Barnet has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shaco into the cage.
Shaco has had enough of the clinch but Barnet keeps him there for the moment.
Shaco tries for a takedown but Barnet manages to get underhooks.
Barnet tries to break the clinch but Shaco is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaco stalls.

Barnet turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Barnet manages to end up in side control.
Shaco could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Shaco tries to bench press Barnet off him but Barnet keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shaco is working hard here to advance position.
Barnet controls the position.
Shaco looks to move to half guard but instead Barnet has passed into mount! Damn!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaco is desperately trying to improve his position but Barnet has a good base and remains in mount.
Barnet is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Shaco can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Barnet working for a submission but Shaco is keeping him at bay.
Shaco is desperately trying to improve his position but Barnet has a good base and remains in mount.
Barnet controlling the pace for now.

Barnet looking to secure an arm triangle but Shaco defends it well.
Shaco tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Barnet controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaco is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shaco is trying to reverse the position but instead Barnet has taken his back - oops!
Barnet trying to control momentarily.

Barnet is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Shaco is defending well though. Barnet let's go of the attempt for now.
Shaco is covering up but some of the strikes from Barnet are getting through and doing damage.
Shaco breaks Barnet's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Shaco postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Barnet is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Shaco, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Shaco working for a triangle but Barnet defends it easily.
Shaco is breathing heavily.

Shaco looking for subs off his back but Barnet has passed one foot through into half guard.
Barnet with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnet wants to free his trapped foot but Shaco is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Shaco looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shaco with a lazy takedown attempt

and Barnet counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barnet.

Shaco throws his legs up looking for a submission but Barnet uses it to pass to side control.
Shaco is looking for a sweep.
Barnet tries to advance to mount but can't.
Barnet in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Shaco tries to bench press Barnet off him but Barnet keeps the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Shaco tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Barnet is looking to take a break and control but Shaco is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnet creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Barnet lands a nice forearm strike.
Shaco tries to bench press Barnet off him but Barnet keeps the position.
Barnet is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Shaco is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barnet scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnet is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Shaco is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnet has knee on belly and moves into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaco can't escape the position.
Barnet controlling from mount.
Shaco tries to improve his position but instead Barnet has taken his back!
Barnet is hanging on to Shaco's back as he tries to escape.
Barnet trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Shaco rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Barnet sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnet is looking to advance position but Shaco won't allow it.
Shaco has hold of Barnet's hands but Barnet slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Shaco is looking to improve his position.
Barnet seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Barnet moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Shaco.
The referee asks Barnet politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Barnet prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaco is not content to let Barnet control the position.
Shaco is looking for a sweep.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnet is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Josh Barnet hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Shaco with a poor takedown

and Barnet counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Barnet seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shaco does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Barnet showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Barnet.
Shaco is looking to regain half guard here but Barnet keeps moving and retains side control.
Barnet tries to advance to mount but Shaco denies him.
Shaco tries to buck Barnet off but Barnet is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Barnet wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shaco, who protects the arm well.
Barnet trying to control the position but Shaco is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnet is working Shaco over with some ground and pound from side control.
Barnet grinds an elbow into Shaco's temple.
Shaco takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Barnet wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shaco keeps working.
Shaco tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barnet wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Barnet wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shaco keeps working.
Barnet cracks Shaco with an elbow. That is naaassty.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shaco tries to buck Barnet off but Barnet is having none of it.
The referee asks Barnet politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Barnet prefers to stall for the moment though.
Barnet working the body and head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaco seems a little lost for a moment, as Barnet dominates the positioning.
Check out the look on Barnet's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Barnet wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shaco, who protects the arm well.
Barnet wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shaco keeps working.
Shaco is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Shaco is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barnet pulls his head out easily.

Shaco looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Barnet pushes past his half guard into mount!
Barnet connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Barnet landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnet with the ground and pound from mount.
Barnet looking to control and managing it successfully.
Barnet prevents Shaco from getting the reversal.
Barnet controlling from the full mount.
Barnet looking to control but Shaco is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Barnet controlling his opponent.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Barnet with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnet controlling from the full mount.
Barnet breaks from Shaco's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Shaco is wriggling around trying to escape.
Barnet breaks from Shaco's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Barnet controlling from the full mount.
Shaco is trying to reverse the position but instead Barnet has taken his back - oops!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shaco can't escape the position.
Josh Barnet has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barnet just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Asylum Shaco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Barnet is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Barnet's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Barnet comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barnet winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Barnet!
Josh Barnet gave a mention to Valhalla Fight Wear in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).