PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Benito Morin (ranked 24423 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buddy Barnett (ranked 6120 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnett is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Fight to Survive. The key to victory for Benito Morin has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Morin
vs
Barnett

158 cm
21
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

IniTech Nutrition
Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benito Morin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Buddy Barnett!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnett. Morin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Morin really is a fat lump.
Barnett throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barnett pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Morin appears to be looking for a big counter.
Morin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Morin swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Barnett misses with a body kick.
Morin slips a jab and a cross from Barnett.

Morin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Barnett to the mat! Barnett manages to get full guard.

Morin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Morin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnett is adopting a defensive guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morin working some strikes from top position.
Barnett controls Morin momentarily but Morin frees himself.
Barnett bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Morin's guard.

Morin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barnett.
Barnett would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Morin is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Barnett is trying to break the clinch but Morin has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barnett smiles and moves away.
Morin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barnett swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Morin counters with a one-two to the body.
Barnett swinging wildly here.
Buddy Barnett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barnett tries to bum rush Morin with a series of wild strikes but Morin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A big left from Barnett misses.
It looked like Morin was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Barnett pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnett misses with a combination
and Morin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Barnett falls off balance throwing a combination
and Morin counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morin tries to clinch but Barnett moves out of range.
Barnett tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Barnett catches Morin with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Barnett swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Morin moves into the clinch.
Barnett misses with some punches.

Barnett manages to break the clinch.
Barnett throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barnett throws a right and a left that both miss.
A little feinted left hand from Morin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Barnett lands a nice leg kick that just misses Morin's sensitive parts.
Morin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barnett is fending him off so far but Morin persists. Nope, Barnett circles away and we're back to standing.
Barnett misses with a jab, cross combination.
Barnett throws a lazy head kick
and Morin counters with a series of strikes. Barnett will be more careful next time no doubt.
Buddy Barnett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett is looking to score with low kicks.
A counter left hand to the body from Morin misses its target.
Morin slips a jab and a cross from Barnett.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnett throws a combination that misses
and Morin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barnett rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Morin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Morin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Barnett misses with a series of wild punches.
Barnett misses with a combination

and Morin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Barnett is trying to break the clinch but Morin has him pressed against the cage.
Morin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benito Morin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morin is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Barnett to keep the fight standing.
Barnett wants to break free but Morin has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Buddy Barnett will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Morin tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnett swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barnett throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Morin counter with a right hand.
Barnett misses with a low kick as Morin jumps back.
Barnett throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barnett tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Morin slips a jab and a cross from Barnett.
Barnett throws a nice looking combination but Morin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barnett throws a combination that misses
enabling Morin to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barnett.
Barnett swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Morin closes the distance and clinches.
Barnett tries to break the clinch but Morin is controlling the position.
Barnett creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnett tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Barnett in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Barnett tries to stall but Morin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Morin tries to pull guard but Barnett holds him up against the cage and eventually Morin drops back down to his feet.
Barnett lands with a short shot to the head.
Barnett tries to break the clinch but Morin is controlling the position.
Barnett gets through Morin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Barnett is trying to break free.
Morin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Barnett's efforts to push away.
Morin prevents Barnett from breaking the clinch.

Barnett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barnett misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnett misses with a combination
and Morin counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Barnett lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Morin circles away quickly and effectively.
An attempted straight right counter from Morin misses the target.
Barnett throws a series of punches but Morin moves out of range.
Barnett tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Morin is able to avoid easily.
Morin is looking to counter the offense by Barnett and move into the clinch.
Barnett goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Barnett.
Barnett throws a right and a left that Morin avoids nicely.
As Barnett tries to get set, Morin tries to push him back and clinch up but Barnett manages to avoid the attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnett misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Barnett misses
and Morin counters with a stiff right hand.
Barnett scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Morin avoids a kick to the body.

Morin instigates a clinch.
Barnett is trying to push Morin away but Morin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Morin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barnett smiles and moves away.
Barnett lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Barnett throws a leg kick

and Morin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Morin jumps guard but Barnett stands there with Morin around his waist. Morin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benito Morin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnett tries to circle away but Morin has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Morin has him pressed against the cage.

Barnett pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barnett feints and then cracks Morin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Morin down.
Buddy Barnett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Barnett, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barnett throws a jab when Morin was well out of range.
Barnett looks to land a combination but Morin avoids it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnett lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Barnett throws a right hand that Morin ducks under and follows up with a left that Morin also avoids with ease.
Barnett throws a low kick but Morin moves out of range easily.
Morin is looking for a counter combo.

Morin has closed the distance and engaged Barnett in a clinch.
Barnett has had enough of the clinch but Morin keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buddy Barnett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Barnett throws a half hearted mid kick.
Morin appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Barnett misses with a kick to the body

and Morin counters by moving into the clinch.
Barnett is trying to break the clinch but Morin has him pressed against the cage.

Barnett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morin drops his hands momentarily and Barnett takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Morin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Barnett fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Morin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barnett smiles and moves away.
Barnett feints a jab promting Morin to slip. Barnett then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Morin slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnett swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Barnett looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Morin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Barnett, who protects the arm well.
Barnett wants to get back to his feet but Morin drags him back down.
Barnett is trying to control Morin's posture but Morin avoids it.
Barnett is trying to escape the position but Morin is controlling the position.

Morin tries for a kimura but Barnett is defending well.
Morin is looking to take a break and control but Barnett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnett is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Morin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Barnett on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Barnett wants to improve his position but Morin is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morin is looking for a kimura but Barnett is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Morin to get the leverage.
Barnett is looking to improve his position.

Barnett is defending against the submission attempts here by Morin.
Barnett wants to get back to his feet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Benito Morin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Morin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Barnett misses with a double jab
and Morin counters with a left and a right that stings Barnett.
Barnett's jab looks to have found its range, popping Morin under the eye.
Barnett swinging wildly here.
Barnett's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Barnett duly obliges.
Morin avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Buddy Barnett is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Buddy Barnett seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morin takes one to the chin there.
Morin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barnett.
Morin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buddy Barnett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barnett winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buddy Barnett!
A relieved looking Buddy Barnett thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.