PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Barnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ron Ilay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnett comes to the cage accompanied by Hammerfall Restless Soul . Ron Ilay will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Barnett
vs
Ilay

191 cm
20
248 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

225 cm
23
229 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Josh Barnett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ron Ilay!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Chris Edwards and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ilay with a poor takedown
and Barnett counters with a nice body shot.
Josh Barnett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ilay looks winded!
An inside leg kick from Barnett misses.
Barnett throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barnett fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ilay is out of range.
Barnett throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barnett attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Barnett throws a sloppy head kick and Ilay moves out of range easily.
Barnett pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Good work by Ilay as he checks the leg kick.
Barnett throws out a loose jab but Ilay uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ilay slips a jab and a cross from Barnett.
Barnett misses with a head kick.
Barnett throws a head kick but Ilay moves out of range.
Barnett thows a body shot but no joy.
Barnett throws a hook to the side of Ilay's head but Ilay sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnett pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilay shoots in looking for a takedown but Barnett manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ilay's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Barnett has taken the fight to the clinch.

Barnett breaks the clinch.
Barnett looks to score with a jab to the body but Ilay is just out of range.
Barnett falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ilay counters with a takedown into side control.
Barnett pushes Ilay away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ilay gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Ilay is looking to take a break and control but Barnett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barnett is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Ilay asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Barnett bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnett throws the kick towards the body but Ilay avoids it.
Barnett lands with a good body shot.
Barnett will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Barnett takes the fight into the clinch.

Barnett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barnett throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ilay slips a jab and a cross from Barnett.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilay slips a jab and a cross from Barnett.
Barnett throws a head kick that misses

and Ilay counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barnett won't be happy with that.
Barnett wants to get back to his feet but Ilay drags him back down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnett trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Barnett bucks up and tries to throw Ilay off but instead Ilay has got his back!
Barnett is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ilay is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ilay just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Barnett is trying to stand back up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barnett grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Barnett dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Barnett throws a lazy head kick
and Ilay counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Barnett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ilay.
Barnett rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ilay moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ilay moves out of range of the leg kick from Barnett.
Barnett throws a sloppy head kick

and Ilay holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Barnett's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ilay is looking to take this one to the mat.

Barnett breaks from the clinch.
Barnett swings for the body but Ilay moves out of range.
Ilay is breathing heavily.
Barnett tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barnett avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barnett tried to score with a low kick but Ilay checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilay defending well as Barnett loads up on a big left hand.
Ilay shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barnett sprawls well. Barnett wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ilay gets slowly back to his feet.
Barnett lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ilay circles away quickly and effectively.
Josh Barnett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ilay slips a jab from Barnett.
Barnett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barnett wants to slow Ilay down by chopping away at his legs.
Barnett will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barnett throws a low kick but Ilay avoids it.
Barnett throws a half hearted mid kick.
Barnett throws a head kick that misses.
Barnett throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Ilay counters with an outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnett misses with a few strikes there.
Ilay turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Barnett throws the kick towards the body but Ilay avoids it.
Barnett throws a lazy head kick

and Ilay counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Barnett's guard now.
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!

Barnett pushes Ilay off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Ilay gets the takedown into side control.
Barnett wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Barnett tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Ilay won't let Barnett get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Ilay really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barnett. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilay can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Barnett is looking to escape.
Barnett is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Barnett tries to buck Ilay off but Ilay takes his back!
Barnett looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Ron Ilay has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnett defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Ilay has his opponent's back but Barnett is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Ilay.

Barnett closes the distance and pushes Ilay back into the cage.
Barnett keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ilay's efforts to push away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnett keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ilay's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Josh Barnett will probably get the nod.
That's time! Barnett's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Barnett throws a leg kick but Ilay sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ilay fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ilay buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barnett looks to throw a body kick
and Ilay counters with a one-two to the body.
Ilay shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barnett is looking to wear down Ilay with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ilay keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Josh Barnett is winning the standup battle so far.
Barnett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ilay was well out of range. Poor timing from Barnett.
Barnett misses with a body kick.
Ilay has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Barnett tries to close the distance and clinch but Ilay swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ilay dodges the punch combination from Barnett.
Barnett tries to land a leg kick but Ilay saw it coming and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnett throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barnett throws a head kick but Ilay moves out of range.
Ilay dodges the punch combination from Barnett.
Ilay tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barnett sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ilay somewhat.
Barnett will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barnett throws a series of punches but Ilay avoids them all with ease.
Barnett misses with a low kick.
Ilay avoids the head kick by Barnett.
Ilay scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilay avoids the head kick by Barnett.
Barnett misses with a hook to the body

and Ilay counters with a shoot takedown. Barnett fights it but they end up in guard.

Ilay thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ilay trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Barnett kicks Ilay off and gets to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ilay.
Josh Barnett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ron Ilay.
Barnett swings for the body but Ilay moves out of range.
Ilay swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnett.
Barnett swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ilay gets a double leg takedown into Barnett's guard.
Ilay trying to control but Barnett is working from the bottom.

Barnett manages to escape and get back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Barnett.

Barnett tries to keep at a distance but Ilay has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ilay jumps guard but Barnett stands there with Ilay around his waist. Ilay gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Barnett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett throws a sloppy head kick
and Ilay makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Horrible takedown by Ilay or perhaps it was just good defense by Barnett which made him look bad.

Barnett gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barnett tries to break free but Ilay pushes him back against the cage.
Ilay wants to stall.
Ilay has Barnett pressed against the cage, preventing Barnett from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ron Ilay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Barnett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnett avoiding damage as Ilay throws knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Josh Barnett.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barnett, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Barnett!
Josh Barnett decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.