PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rhondon Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Tom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rhondon Barnes has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Barnes
vs
Tom

182 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rhondon Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tom Tom!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Bart Greer and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tom throws a shot from downtown. Barnes moves away and avoids it.

Barnes moves into the clinch successfully.
Barnes is trying to push Tom away but Tom has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Barnes is trying to break the clinch but Tom has him pressed against the cage.

Tom has clasped his hands together around Barnes's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Barnes sneaks out the side door and pushes Tom away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Barnes with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tom counters by moving into the clinch.
Barnes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tom - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Barnes jumps guard and drags Tom to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnes has his hands on Tom's head, controlling the position.

Tom drops back, looking for a kneebar! Barnes looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Barnes looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Barnes!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes working away.
Barnes wants to control but Tom is keeping him busy.
Barnes creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Tom sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Barnes stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Tom keeps the fight on the outside.
Barnes goes for a double leg but Tom avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tom continues to drive forward.
Barnes moves to clinch but Tom breaks away

and Tom counters with a single leg into guard. Barnes didn't expect that.

Barnes scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tom has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tom's waist but Tom gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barnes off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rhondon Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Barnes clinches up with Tom and pushes him back against the cage.

Tom manages to pull guard.
Barnes passes into half guard.
Tom looks winded!
Barnes is trying to control. Tom wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Barnes prevents Tom from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes content to control rather than advance.
Barnes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Barnes throwing shots but Tom is blocking nicely.
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.
Barnes trying to control the action but Tom is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tom avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Barnes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Barnes decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barnes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barnes fails with an attempt to clinch.

Barnes moves into the clinch.
Barnes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barnes connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tom's face.
Barnes can't get the takedown.
Barnes looking for a takedown.
Barnes prevents Tom from breaking the clinch.
Barnes taking a breather.
Barnes jumps guard but Tom stands there with Barnes around his waist. Barnes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rhondon Barnes dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barnes plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tom leaves Barnes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Barnes tries to clinch there but Tom circles away.
Tom avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barnes looks to clinch

and Tom counters with a single leg into guard. Barnes didn't expect that.
Tom 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.
Tom makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes tries to strike from the bottom.
Tom trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Tom might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Barnes haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tom looking to control.

Tom had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barnes defends it easily.
Barnes engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tom can do anything to dispel that myth.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Tom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Barnes throws a big right hand that misses.
Barnes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Tom gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barnes looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tom looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Come on Barnes - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tom looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Barnes tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rhondon Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barnes shoots in looking for a takedown but Tom manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Barnes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tom is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Barnes closes the distance and clinches.
Barnes jumps guard but Tom turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Barnes jumps guard but Tom turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Tom lands a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes trying to control the position.

Barnes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Tom gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Tom looking to score a takedown here. Barnes is defending well but Tom drives through and ends up in Barnes's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tom trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tom puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Tom showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

An inside leg kick from Tom misses.
Barnes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tom sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barnes somewhat.
It seemed like Tom was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Barnes fails with a takedown attempt.
Barnes shoots for a double leg takedown but Tom sprawls well. He's pushed Barnes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rhondon Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Barnes tries to sprawl but Tom drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tom seems to be working for a kimura but Barnes defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnes is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tom lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Barnes is trying to stand.
Barnes is refusing to be controlled, as Tom sits in half guard.
Tom tries to pass the half guard into mount. Barnes knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tom wants to take a breather but Barnes is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A punch combination from Tom misses.
Barnes jabs Tom right on the nose. Tom blinks but takes it well.
A combination from Barnes does no damage.
Tom is trying to counter with his kicks.

Tom clinches with his opponent.

Tom jumps guard.
Barnes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tom can't keep his opponent in guard - Barnes advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Tom looking for a kimura from the bottom but Barnes passes into side control!
Tom tries to control but Barnes manages to take his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes trying to control.
Barnes gets his hands free as Tom looks to control.

Barnes looking to break Tom's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Tom remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Barnes will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Barnes trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Tom wants to escape the position.

Barnes is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Tom defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tom trying to control the hands but Barnes won't let him.
Tom rolls, trying to escape but Barnes keeps control of the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tom trying to control but not successfully.
Barnes trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Tom doesn't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tom Tom.
I think Tom has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Tom!