PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steven Christie (ranked 1835 p4p, 1849 weight class) and Michael Barnes (ranked 197 p4p, 200 weight class). Christie's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Amityville. 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.

Christie
vs
Barnes

170 cm
22
145
8 - 4 - 0

170 cm
22
149
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Christie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Christie misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Barnes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Christie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes stops Christie from standing up.
Christie keeping full guard, as Barnes tries to pass.
Barnes trying to control but Christie is working from the bottom.
Barnes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barnes trying to control but Christie is working from the bottom.
Christie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Christie wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Barnes manages to pass to side control.
Christie is not content to let Barnes control the position.
Barnes stops Christie from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes wants to take a breather but Christie is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Christie pushes Barnes off looking to stand but Barnes dives back in and keeps control.
Barnes wants to take a breather but Christie is having none of it.
Ground and pound from Barnes.
Barnes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Christie wants to get back to his feet.
Barnes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Christie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Barnes is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Christie blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barnes.
Barnes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Christie's head.
Christie won't allow Barnes to pass to mount.
Christie is refusing to be controlled, as Barnes sits in half guard.
Christie is trying to stand up here but Barnes is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Barnes is trying to control the action in half guard but Christie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Christie has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Barnes is on him like a limpet, forcing Christie back against the cage.
Christie tries to break free but Barnes pushes him back against the cage.
Barnes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Christie avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Barnes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Christie avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Barnes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Christie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Steven Christie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Christie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.
A slow jab from Barnes misses its intended target.
Barnes moves forwards but Christie connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Nice uppercut there from Christie.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Christie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Christie misses the shot to the body.
Barnes scores with a nice head shot.
Jab, jab by Barnes - just one landing.
A jab from Barnes misses.
Barnes misses with a looping left.
Barnes takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Barnes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Christie misses with an uppercut.
Christie misses the jab.
Christie throws an off balance right hand

and Barnes counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Christie!
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!
Barnes fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Barnes working the head with strikes.
Barnes tries to score with some ground and pound. Christie controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Barnes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christie wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Christie sneaks out the side door and pushes Barnes away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Christie moves away from the strike by Barnes.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Christie misses with an uppercut.
Christie with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Barnes looks to land a left hand but Christie moved out of range nicely.
Christie paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Christie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barnes misses the shot to the body.
Christie swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nice shot lands for Christie.
Christie feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Barness jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Christie connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Steven Christie will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Barnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Christie.
Barnes throws a body punch but Christie moves out of range.
Barnes misses the shot to the body.
Christie connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Christie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barnes moves away.
A decent looking cross lands there for Christie.
Christie misses with a hook

and Barnes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Christie's guard.
Barnes has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Mentor Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Barnes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barnes wants to control from the top but Christie keeps moving.
Barnes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Christie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Christie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barnes is controlling him.
Barnes trying to control but Christie is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes working some strikes from top position.

Christie wriggles free and stands up.
Christie throws an off balance right hand

so Barnes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Christie is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Barnes dives into side control.

Barnes trying to control the position but Christie is working away.
Barnes tries to score with some ground and pound. Christie controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Barnes is looking to take a break and control but Christie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Christie throws Barnes to one side and escapes!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Christie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Barnes uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Barnes misses with a hook
and Christie counters with a nice body shot.
Christie misses with a looping left.
Christie stuns Barnes with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Christie looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnes is just out of range.
Barnes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Christie connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Barnes momentarily.
Steven Christie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Christie throws a hook but Barnes blocks it.
Barnes tries to score with a low kick but Christie moves his leg out of the way.
Christie throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Christie misses with a looping left.
And Barnes tries to counter it with a takedown but Christie pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Nice body punch from Christie.
Barnes looks for a takedown but Christie sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Barnes 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Steven Christie is winning the standup battle so far.
Christie scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Barnes takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Barnes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Christie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barnes can do to turn this around?
A left lands for Christie.
Christie waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barnes.
Christie throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
A jab from Barnes does it's job there.
Christie uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Christie jabs at Barnes's body.
Barnes digs a good hook to Christie's body.
Barnes is looking to slow Christie down with leg kicks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Christie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes just misses with a punch to the body.
Barnes missing with a left hand there. Christie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A swing and a miss from Christie.
A big left from Christie misses.
Barnes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Christie.
Christie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barnes scores with a jab to the head.
Christie throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Barnes on the side of the head.
Barnes defending well as Christie loads up on a big left hand.
Christie connects with a body shot.
Barnes throws a jab when Christie was well out of range.
Christie misses the shot to the body.
Barnes is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Christie lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Christie catches Barnes with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Barnes throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Christie dominated that second round.
That's time! Christie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Christie jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Christie scores with a jab to the body.
Barnes looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nice uppercut there from Christie.
Christie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Barnes changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Barnes lunges at Christie with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Christie's hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Christie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Christie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barnes.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Christie manages to avoid it.
Christie slips a straight right by Barnes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes misses with a lunging right hand
and Christie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Christie blocks a low kick nicely.
Christie swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Barnes is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Christie.
Christie misses with a hook

and Barnes counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Christie pushes Barnes off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Christie. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Christie.
Christie misses with a wild body shot.
Christie misses with a hook

and Barnes counters with a takedown into side control.
Christie wants to get back to his feet.
Barnes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Christie keeps working.
Barnes throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Barnes wants to control but Christie is keeping him busy.
Christie wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christie trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Michael Barnes has got the better of the ground game so far.

Christie throws Barnes to one side and escapes!
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!
Christie throws a body shot but no joy.
Barnes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Christie cracks Barnes with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Christie scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Barnes doesn't seem bothered though.
Christie throws an off balance right hand

and Barnes counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Christie pushes Barnes off and gets back to his feet.
Christie looks to land a right hand but Barnes moved out of range.
Barnes changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Barnes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Christie with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Barnes to score with a decent uppercut.
Barnes has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Christie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barnes sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christie throws a body shot but no joy.
Barnes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Christie defends it well.
Christie throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
Barnes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Christie sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barnes somewhat.
Christie throwing a counter right hand but Barnes manages to avoid it.
Barnes throws an off balance right hand
and Christie counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Barnes thinking.
Christie misses with a straight left.
Michael Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Christie misses with a right hand

and Barnes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Barnes prevents Christie from getting back to his feet.
Barnes trying to control but Christie is working from the bottom.
Christie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barnes is controlling him.
Barnes trying to control but Christie is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a big elbow that misses.
Christie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barnes won't allow Christie to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Christie ducks down to avoid it.
Barnes scores with a jab.
Barnes connects with a right hand. Christie shakes it off.
Christie wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
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!
Christie throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
Christie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barnes.
Christie misses with a hook.
Christie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Steven Christie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Christie scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Christie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Christie, 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Christie!
As Steven Christie got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: The voices in my head told me to do it, so I can't be held accountable for my actions.'.