PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jd Almanez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes's entrance music is Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be. A fine choice. Almanez has chosen Rock Hood by Shinobi Ninja as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Barnes
vs
Almanez

185 cm
31
187 lbs
23 - 9 - 0

190 cm
29
190 lbs
20 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
World class boxer
Granite chin

CEC Nutrition Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Frankie Barnes!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jd Almanez!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The crowd cheers as Almanez lands an impressive looking overhand right. Barnes doesn't seem phased though.
A head kick misses from Almanez.
Nice cross by Almanez.
Almanez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Barnes misses with a leg kick
enabling Almanez to counter with a crisp jab.
Almanez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Barnes blocks a jab.
Almanez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barnes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Almanez shoots in looking for a takedown but Barnes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Almanez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Barnes checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Barnes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Almanez lands with an uppercut that bounces Barnes off the ropes and back into range.
Almanez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Barnes throws a hook but Almanez avoids it easily.
Almanez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Barnes.
Barnes takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almanez moves out of range of the strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by Almanez as he connects with a hook.
Barnes takes a jab right on the kisser.
Almanez misses with a head kick.
Barnes avoids the head kick by Almanez.
Almanez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barnes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Almanez tries to bum rush Barnes with a series of wild strikes but Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Almanez throws a hook but Barnes avoids it easily.
Almanez takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Almanez.
Almanez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Almanez thows a leg kick but Barnes checks it
and Barnes counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A nice combination there by Almanez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Almanez.
Almanez misses with an uppercut. Barnes saw that one coming.
Almanez blocks a leg kick.
Almanez misses with a wild combination.
Barnes lands a nice shot that snaps Almanez's head back.
Frankie Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab from Barnes.
Almanez ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
Almanez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barnes sprawls well. Barnes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Almanez gets slowly back to his feet.
Frankie Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jd Almanez.
Almanez avoids the head kick by Barnes.
Almanez throws a right hand that misses
and Barnes counters with a straight right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Almanez. Barnes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Almanez scores with a four punch combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almanez misses with a leg kick
and Barnes counters with a straight right hand.
Barnes scoring well with a low kick there.
Almanez just misses with a punch to the body.
Almanez misses with a double jab.
Almanez loads up on a big right hand but Barnes slips the punch.
Almanez with a jab.
Almanez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Almanez lands a slapping body shot.
Almanez lands a head shot.
Barnes slips under a jab.
Almanez throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Barnes fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Barnes is looking to slow Almanez down with leg kicks.
Almanez looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almanez misses with a left hand
and Barnes counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Almanez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barnes scores with a leg kick.
Almanez looks to land a left hand but Barnes moved out of range nicely.
Jd Almanez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Almanez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Almanez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Almanez lands with an uppercut that bounces Barnes off the ropes and back into range.
Barnes misses the jab.
Barnes scores with the left hand. Almanez knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barnes walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Almanez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Barnes counter with a right hand.
Barnes cracks Almanez with a right hand to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Frankie Barnes will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Almanez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barnes misses with a right hand
and Almanez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A punch combination from Almanez misses.
Almanez moves away from the strike by Barnes.
Almanez throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
Almanez lands a nice shot that snaps Barnes's head back.
Almanez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Almanez.
Frankie Barnes is winning the standup battle so far.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Almanez cracks Barnes with a good jab.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Almanez.
Almanez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Barnes has time to react.
Almanez misses with a body shot.
Almanez throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Almanez takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Almanez is predictable there
letting Barnes counter with a right hand.
Barnes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Almanez misses with a hook

and Barnes counters by clinching up.
Barnes throws a punch but it's blocked by Almanez.
Barnes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Almanez's efforts to push away.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Barnes obliges.
Almanez looking to slow down the pace here.
Barnes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Almanez's efforts to push away.
Barnes struggles to land a body shot inside as Almanez controls his hands.
Almanez wants a takedown.
Barnes keeps control of Almanez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Barnes blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Almanez manages to break the clinch.
Barnes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Almanez.
Barnes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Almanez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Almanez.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Almanez shoots for a takedown but Barnes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Almanez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Barnes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Almanez is breathing heavily.
Almanez throws a lazy head kick
and Barnes counters with a thumping low kick.
Barnes with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Almanez blocks a jab.
Almanez misses with a looping left.
Almanez throws out a leg kick but Barnes moves out of range and Almanez only half commits.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes thuds a left hand into Almanez's body.
Almanez throws a jab when Barnes was well out of range.
Barnes throws a nice outside leg kick.
Almanez walks into a straight right hand from Barnes.
Barnes swings for the body but Almanez moves out of range.
Barnes lands a nice shot that snaps Almanez's head back.
Almanez is trying desperately to land a takedown but Barnes is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Almanez.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Almanez moves out of range as Barnes strikes.
Barnes lands with an uppercut that bounces Almanez off the ropes and back into range.
Almanez misses with a body punch

and Barnes counters by clinching up.
Almanez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Almanez blocks a body shot from Barnes.
Barnes misses with a body punch.
Barnes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Almanez backwards.
Barnes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Almanez backwards.
Barnes putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Almanez in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almanez is trying to break the clinch but Barnes has him pressed against the ropes.
Barnes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Almanez backwards.

Almanez is rocked!
Almanez missing with knees to the body.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Almanez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Frankie Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jd Almanez.
Barnes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Almanez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Almanez takes a knee to the side of the body.
Barnes lands a body shot in the clinch.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barnes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Almanez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barnes scores with a shoulder strike.
Barnes lands with a left to the head.
Barnes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barnes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nice body punch from Barnes - that landed with a thud.
Barnes lands a good knee to the midsection. Almanez won't want to take too many of those.
Barnes working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Barnes dominated that second round.
That's time! Barnes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Barnes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Almanez is looking to break free of the clinch but Barnes has double underhooks.
Barnes scores a nice knee to the body.
Barnes lands a shoulder strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Barnes.
Barnes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Almanez blocks it with crossed arms.
Barnes scores with a shoulder strike.
Almanez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Barnes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Almanez is trying to push Barnes away but Barnes has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Barnes lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Barnes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Almanez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Almanez looking to stall.
Almanez takes a shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnes lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Barnes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Almanez is still on wobbly legs! Can Barnes finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Barnes - that landed with a thud.
Almanez seems to have recovered his senses.
Barnes working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Almanez takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Jd Almanez has been cut.
Knees in the clinch landing for Barnes.
Barnes unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Barnes is pushing Almanez up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Almanez's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Barnes scores with a shot to the side of Almanez's head.
Barnes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Almanez is trying to push Barnes away but Barnes has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Almanez can't break the clinch.
Barnes blocks an uppercut.
Barnes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from Barnes on the inside.

Almanez breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnes scores with a jab to the head.
Barnes smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Almanez fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Barnes is out of range.
Almanez swings widly with a right hand

and Barnes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Almanez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but Almanez blocks it.
Almanez looking for a takedown.
Barnes keeps control of Almanez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Frankie Barnes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Barnes.
Almanez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barnes has him pressed against the ropes.
Nice body punch from Barnes - that landed with a thud.
Barnes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Almanez can do to turn this around?
Nice elbow from Barnes.
Almanez working hard to break the clinch.
Barnes unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Barnes is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almanez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Almanez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Almanez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Almanez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Almanez blocks a body shot from Barnes.
Barnes digs a right hand into Almanez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Almanez's gas tank.

Almanez wants the takedown. Barnes is fighting it off but Almanez persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Barnes's guard against the ropes.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Barnes controlling Almanez's posture.
Barnes keeping full guard, as Almanez tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Barnes looking to finish Almanez with some ground and pound. This is bad for Almanez!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Almanez is looking to get to half guard.
Barnes landing strikes from the mount and Almanez is in trouble!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barnes tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Barnes trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Barnes clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Jd Almanez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Almanez throws a lazy head kick
letting Barnes counter with a right hand.

Barnes feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Almanez sprawling to the canvas! Almanez rolls over backwards and springs off the ropes and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Barnes finish him?!
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!
Almanez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Almanez misses with the combination.
Almanez has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Barnes gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Barnes drops Almanez with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Almanez looks back up at him and smiles so Barnes waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
A shot to the liver by Barnes. Beautiful body shot.
Almanez misses with an uppercut. Barnes saw that one coming.
Almanez misses with a left hand
and Barnes counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The fighters circling - Barnes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Barnes drops Almanez with a straight right hand, right on the button! Barnes follows him down to the mat and pounds him out with hammerfists until the referee jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:55 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Frankie Barnes!
Frankie Barnes retains his middleweight title!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Frankie Barnes made sure he mentioned CEC Nutrition Q160, along with how happy he was to win his fight.