PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jon Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Tucker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is ATL. Jon Barnes could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Melvin Tucker's chin.

Barnes
vs
Tucker

162 cm
23
135 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
139 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jon Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Melvin Tucker!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barnes gets caught flat footed, as Tucker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Barnes tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Barnes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tucker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barnes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tucker's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Let's hope that Tucker has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Tucker.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Barnes lands a nice shot to the body.
Tucker misses with a takedown
and Tucker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Tucker scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Barnes tries to bench press Tucker off him but Tucker keeps the position.
Barnes can't do much from the bottom here.
Barnes is looking for a sweep.

Tucker tries for a kimura but Barnes is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes can't do much from the bottom here.
Tucker tries to advance to mount but Barnes denies him.
Barnes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Barnes manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Tucker is working for a kimura but Barnes is defending it quite comfortably.
Tucker tries to stand but can't do so whilst Barnes controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barnes's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Barnes manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Tucker keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Tucker ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tucker no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Tucker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Barnes landing some decent shots from guard.
Tucker looking for a sweep. Not yet Tucker, not yet.
Barnes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tucker controls Barnes momentarily but Barnes frees himself.
Barnes stands up over Tucker, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Barnes trying to control but Tucker is working from the bottom.
Tucker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tucker is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barnes is aware though and is defending well.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Tucker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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 Jon Barnes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tucker with a lazy takedown attempt
and Barnes counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Jon Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnes lands with an overhand left.
Barnes tries to land a body kick

and Tucker holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tucker just leaning against Barnes, taking a breather.
Tucker trying to stall but Barnes improves his position.
Tucker fails to pull guard.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but Tucker blocks it.
Tucker avoiding damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tucker is keeping busy.
Tucker changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Barnes fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Jon Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Melvin Tucker.
Barnes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tucker is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes shoots in and drives through. Tucker sprawls well.

Tucker is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Barnes's half guard.
Barnes misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Tucker missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tucker is looking to stall here but Barnes recovers full guard.

Barnes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tucker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tucker seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes has a closed guard, preventing Tucker from standing up.

Barnes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tucker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tucker manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tucker is fighting to break Barnes's control of his arms but Barnes is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Barnes connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker tries for a takedown but Barnes circles away easily
and Barnes counters with a straight right hand.
Tucker's coach down at Bi-Polar Asylum LV's #1 Public Training Center was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Tucker's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Tucker tries to clinch up but Barnes circles away and keeps his distance.
Some bone on bone action there as Tucker checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tucker shoots in for a takedown but Barnes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Barnes slaps away a takedown attempt from Tucker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tucker.
Barnes wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Barnes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes looking to slow down the pace here.
Tucker tries for a takedown. No joy.
Barnes is leaning against Tucker and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Barnes missing with knees to the body.
Tucker looking to slow down the pace here.
Barnes landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Barnes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tucker on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tucker moves out of range as Barnes throws a body kick.

Barnes moves into the clinch.

Barnes manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Barnes dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barnes throws a shot to the body.
Barnes throws a lazy head kick

and Tucker counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tucker.

Barnes drags the fight down to the ground.

Tucker gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Jon Barnes is winning the standup battle so far.
Tucker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barnes as he avoids it easily.
Tucker tries to clinch but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Tucker is rocked!
Barnes moves out of range of the body kick from Tucker.
Tucker is still on wobbly legs! Can Barnes finish him?

Barnes drives through and clinches with Tucker against the cage.
Tucker takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Melvin Tucker has been cut.
Tucker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tucker wants a takedown.
Barnes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker is trying to break free.

Barnes breaks from the clinch.
Barnes throws a leg kick which misses Tucker's front leg but catches the back leg as Tucker tries to avoid it.
Tucker seems to have recovered his senses.
Barnes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barnes wants it to stay on the feet.
Jon Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Melvin Tucker.
Barnes throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Tucker's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Barnes dives in looking to finish as Tucker flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Barnes's strikes! Barnes is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Tucker's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Tucker was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jon Barnes!
Jon Barnes bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.