PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nils Holgersson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mansour Barnaoui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holgersson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Theme. Nils Holgersson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Holgersson
vs
Barnaoui

169 cm
29
157 lbs
17 - 13 - 0

182 cm
24
167 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

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 17 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nils Holgersson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mansour Barnaoui!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Holgersson drives through and clinches with Barnaoui against the cage.
Holgersson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Barnaoui breaks the clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Holgersson enables Barnaoui to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Holgersson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Barnaoui pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holgersson is keeping the position for now.

Holgersson looking for a guillotine here but Barnaoui defends easily.
Holgersson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holgersson is trying to keep Barnaoui in close.
Barnaoui working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Holgersson's head.

Holgersson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Barnaoui trying to control the position from guard on top but Holgersson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Holgersson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holgersson is adopting a defensive guard.
Holgersson looking to control.
Barnaoui stays in close to Holgersson's body and controls the position.
Barnaoui trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Barnaoui looking to pass the guard.
Barnaoui controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Holgersson wants to improve his position but instead Barnaoui has moved into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Holgersson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Barnaoui seems to be looking for submissions.
Barnaoui thows a huge punch but Holgersson dodges it nicely.
Barnaoui throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Holgersson trying to control from the bottom.
Barnaoui controlling the action here.
Barnaoui wants to control but Holgersson is keeping him busy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holgersson gets back to full guard.
Holgersson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barnaoui is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnaoui trying to control but Holgersson is working from the bottom.
Holgersson is pulling down on Barnaoui's head to control his posture.
Barnaoui trying to control but Holgersson is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Holgersson lands a leg kick that knocks Barnaoui off balance momentarily.
Barnaoui throws a sloppy head kick and Holgersson moves out of range easily.
Holgersson tries to counter with a takedown but Barnaoui is quick to defend against it.
Holgersson scores with a head kick.
Barnaoui stuffs the takedown attempt from Holgersson. Holgersson gets slowly back to his feet.
Holgersson tries to clinch up but Barnaoui circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnaoui throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Holgersson's waist but Holgersson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barnaoui off to one side.
Holgersson thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Barnaoui if he has to take too many more of those.

Holgersson feints and as Barnaoui raises his hands in defense, Holgersson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barnaoui is trying to keep Holgersson in close.
Holgersson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barnaoui wants to hit a switch here but Holgersson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Barnaoui there!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnaoui is in all sorts of trouble here.
Barnaoui is squirming around, avoiding Holgersson's attempts to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holgersson controlling from the full mount.
Barnaoui really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
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 Nils Holgersson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Barnaoui misses with a leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Holgersson. That's going to slow Barnaoui down.
A solid leg kick lands there for Holgersson.
Holgersson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barnaoui sprawls well. Barnaoui wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Holgersson gets slowly back to his feet.
Holgersson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Holgersson clinches up against the cage.
I was talking to Holgersson's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holgersson working aggressively here.
Barnaoui takes a knee to the side of the body.
Barnaoui is trying to force a seperation but Holgersson has the dominant position.
Holgersson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Barnaoui avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holgersson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Barnaoui after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nils Holgersson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holgersson lands a knee to the body.
Barnaoui is trying to push Holgersson away but Holgersson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Knees in the clinch landing for Holgersson.
Holgersson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Holgersson wants the takedown. Barnaoui is fighting it off but Holgersson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Barnaoui's guard against the cage.
Barnaoui keeping moving, preventing Holgersson from controlling successfully.
Holgersson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Barnaoui is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Holgersson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barnaoui swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barnaoui is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nils Holgersson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Holgersson tries to free his leg and advance position but Barnaoui is retaining full guard.
Holgersson is working Barnaoui over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Holgersson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Holgersson throwing strikes from guard but Barnaoui blocks nicely.
Barnaoui keeping moving, preventing Holgersson from controlling successfully.
Holgersson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barnaoui can do to turn this around?
Holgersson wants to pass the guard but Barnaoui is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson stands up over Barnaoui, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Holgersson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Holgersson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Barnaoui manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Holgersson has Barnaoui in his guard.

Holgersson is looking for a triangle here but Barnaoui uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Barnaoui lands a nice forearm strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnaoui working the ground and pound from side control.
Holgersson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Holgersson parries the strikes from Barnaoui easily there. Barnaoui is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Holgersson to escape.

Barnaoui looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Holgersson wants to control but Barnaoui postures up.

Barnaoui thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Holgersson is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barnaoui works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Barnaoui scores with a couple of short elbows.
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 Nils Holgersson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Barnaoui fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Holgersson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barnaoui fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Holgersson on the side of the head.
Barnaoui avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barnaoui shoots in but no luck this time.
Holgersson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barnaoui takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Barnaoui moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Nils Holgersson has been cut.
Holgersson moves out of range as Barnaoui strikes.
Holgersson tries to clinch but Barnaoui moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holgersson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barnaoui pinned against the cage. Barnaoui gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Holgersson.
Barnaoui is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holgersson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnaoui swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barnaoui shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Holgersson pinned against the cage. Holgersson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Barnaoui closes the distance and clinches up with Holgersson, looking for a takedown. Barnaoui pushes Holgersson against the cage but Holgersson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Holgersson is looking to counter with head kicks.
Nils Holgersson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mansour Barnaoui.
Holgersson has a takedown stuffed.
A looping hook to the body misses from Holgersson. Barnaoui does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mansour Barnaoui seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barnaoui checks the leg kick.
Barnaoui changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Holgersson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Holgersson has closed the distance and engaged Barnaoui in a clinch.
Holgersson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mansour Barnaoui has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnaoui breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holgersson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barnaoui swats away the attempt to clinch by Holgersson.
Holgersson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barnaoui paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Holgersson dives in and scores a takedown into Barnaoui's guard.
Holgersson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barnaoui working a defensive guard but Holgersson manages to pass into side control anyway.
Barnaoui is trying to buck Holgersson off.
Barnaoui tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Holgersson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnaoui takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Holgersson cracks Barnaoui with an elbow. That is naaassty.
You can see the frustration on Barnaoui's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Holgersson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Nils Holgersson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barnaoui is trying to control Holgersson's posture but Holgersson avoids it.
Holgersson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barnaoui keeps working.
Barnaoui sneaks back into half guard.

Barnaoui is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Holgersson pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnaoui is looking for a sweep. Holgersson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Holgersson wants to control but Barnaoui is keeping him busy.
Holgersson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Holgersson lands strikes from half guard.
Holgersson controlling the action here.
Holgersson is trying to control. Barnaoui wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Holgersson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barnaoui is just riding it out for now. Holgersson eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Holgersson in particular looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nils Holgersson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Holgersson, 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nils Holgersson!
Nils Holgersson thanked the fans post fight for their support.