PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Muse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shoenfield Barnes (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.

Muse
vs
Barnes

190 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
166 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Muse!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shoenfield Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muse circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barnes looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Barnes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Muse is looking to counter punch.
Barnes is looking to clinch.
Muse fires out a quick counter leg kick but Barnes just manages to avoid it.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Muse but Muse pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Muse misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barnes.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Muse sprawls well. Muse wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barnes gets slowly back to his feet.
Mike Muse has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shoenfield Barnes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muse scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muse chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Muse forces Barnes back against the cage and clinches.
Muse tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Barnes's elbow.
Barnes should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Muse breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barnes on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Muse is looking to clinch.
Muse will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Barnes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Muse keeping moving, preventing Barnes from controlling successfully.
Muse not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barnes is stalling in the full guard.

Barnes stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muse lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barnes circles away quickly and effectively.
Barnes tries to counter with a clinch but Muse shakes him off and moves away.
Muse looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Shoenfield Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Muse throws a wild body kick that Barnes sees coming a mile off.
Barnes shoots and misses
and Muse counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Muse throws a push kick but Barnes slaps the foot to one side.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes tries to clinch up but Muse circles away and keeps his distance.
Barnes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Muse throws a big counter combination but Barnes scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Barnes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes moves out of range as Muse throws a body kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Muse.
Barnes misses with a takedown attempt

and Muse counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Barnes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Muse prevents it.
Muse really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Muse breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barnes fails with the takedown.
Barnes looks winded!
A good leg kick by Muse.
Muse turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Muse finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muse doesn't manage to clinch there - Barnes circles away.
Barnes was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

Barnes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Muse is trying to stand back up but Barnes is controlling him
Barnes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Muse keeping control of the position.
Muse wants to get back to full guard.
Muse wants to control but Barnes is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Barnes decides to stand and escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barnes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A good leg kick by Muse.

Muse moves into the clinch.
Barnes takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Shoenfield Barnes has been cut.
Muse's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Muse tries to land knees in the clinch but Barnes avoids the damage to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muse just leaning against Barnes, taking a breather.
Barnes is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Muse pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Muse tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barnes will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Muse up against the cage.
Muse swings wildly with an uppercut but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Muse avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mike Muse has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shoenfield Barnes.

Muse breaks the clinch.
Muse keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Muse defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Barnes.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
As Barnes looks to move away, Muse throws a big counter combo bu Barnes just gets out of the way.
Muse is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barnes can do to turn this around?
Barnes is breathing heavily.
Muse fakes the leg kick and cracks Barnes in the body.

Barnes closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Muse quickly recovers to half guard.
Barnes prevents Muse from improving his position.
Muse moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Muse manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Muse.
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!
Muse trying to land knees to the body.

Muse manages to break the clinch.
Muse with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Muse closes the distance and clinches.
Muse lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Barnes is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Muse pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Muse obliges.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Muse.

Muse breaks the clinch.
Muse is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muse displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barnes.
Muse scores with a kick to the body.
Muse throws a good cross that connects.
Muse turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Barnes's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Muse misses with a few strikes there.
Barnes throws a body punch but Muse moves out of range.
Muse went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Mike Muse is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Muse lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Muse closes the distance but Barnes moves to the side

and Barnes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Shoenfield Barnes has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes prevents Muse from getting back to his feet.
Muse looking for a sweep. Not yet Muse, not yet.

Muse has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Barnes is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Muse landing knees to the head.
Barnes takes a knee to the side of the body.
Muse landing knees to the body.
Muse presses Barnes against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Muse with a knee to the head.

Muse breaks from the clinch.
Muse lands a leg kick that knocks Barnes off balance momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Muse dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Shoenfield Barnes's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Muse rushes Barnes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Muse obliges.
Barnes wants to take the fight to the mat but Muse manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Muse missing with knees to the body.
Muse is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Barnes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Muse.
Muse struggles to land a body shot inside as Barnes controls his hands.
Nice body punch from Muse - that landed with a thud.
Barnes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Muse walks away with a smile on his face. Barnes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muse lands with a kick to the ribs.
Barnes checks a low kick from Muse.
Barnes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mike Muse has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shoenfield Barnes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Muse takes the fight into the clinch.
Barnes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Muse scores with a knee to the head.
Muse unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Muse throws a knee to the head but misses.
Muse lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Muse lands a damaging elbow.
The referee calls for Muse to work.
Muse pushes Barnes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barnes misses with a hook from the clinch.

Barnes has Muse pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Barnes pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Muse tumbling to the mat - Barnes dives into Muse's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Muse scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Muse.
Barnes shoots in but no luck this time.
Muse appears to be looking for a big counter.
Barnes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Muse can pounce on him.
Muse fakes the leg kick and cracks Barnes in the body.
Muse lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Muse wants to clinch up but Barnes keeps it at a distance.
Barnes looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Muse throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Mike Muse is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muse connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Muse is looking to clinch but Barnes is avoiding it.
Barnes has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Muse.
Muse lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Barnes backs up against the cage.
Muse turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Muse tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barnes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barnes shoots in but Muse avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Muse slips a straight right by Barnes.
Barnes throws a right and a left that Muse avoids nicely.
Muse tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Barnes manages to circle out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Muse.
Muse scores with a shot to the body.
Muse throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Muse lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes looks for a takedown but Muse sprawls well.
Barnes has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Muse.
Barnes has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Muse.

Muse rushes Barnes and presses him up against the cage.
Barnes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shoenfield Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Muse is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Muse utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Muse showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Muse, 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Muse!