PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam Barnes (ranked 3418 p4p, 3302 weight class) and Jeff Johnson (ranked 429 p4p, 413 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barnes
vs
Johnson

187 cm
24
194
6 - 8 - 0

183 cm
33
190
14 - 15 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

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 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeff Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Barnes is predictable there
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Good work by Johnson as he checks the leg kick.
Barnes moves out of range as Johnson strikes.
Barnes throws a low kick but it's checked well by Johnson.
Johnson missing with a left hand there. Barnes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Barnes swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Barnes thuds a left hand into Johnson's body.
Johnson scores with a spinning back kick!
Barnes shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jeff Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson looks to land a body kick but Barnes moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws a hook but Barnes avoids it easily.
Barnes takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Johnson throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Barnes dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Johnson. That did some damage!
Barnes has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Barnes lands a leg kick that knocks Johnson off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
Barnes throws a combination that misses
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.
Barnes jabs Johnson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
Barnes went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A big right from Barnes misses.
Barnes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johnson scores with a three punch combo!
A big right from Barnes misses.
Barnes shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Barnes misses with a head kick.
Johnson lands a right hook to the body.
Barnes misses with a few strikes there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson swings widly with a right hand
and Barnes counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Johnson moves out of range of the body kick.
Barnes throws a combination that misses
and Johnson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Barnes takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Barnes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barnes misses with a head kick.
Johnson throws the kick towards the body but Barnes avoids it.
Johnson misses with a straight left.
Johnson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Jeff Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson misses with a looping left.
It looked like Barnes wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Barnes dives in for a single leg takedown but Johnson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Johnson replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Barnes blocks it well.
Barnes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Johnson tries to break free but Barnes pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to break free but Barnes pushes him back against the cage.

Barnes breaks from the clinch.
Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Johnson ducks down to avoid it.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barnes looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Barnes tries to land a leg kick but Johnson saw it coming and moves away.
Barnes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson throws a hook but Barnes blocks it.
Barnes lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Barnes moves away and avoids it.
Barnes lands a leg kick that knocks Johnson off balance momentarily.
Barnes throws a low kick but Johnson moves out of range easily.
Johnson misses with a right hand
and Barnes counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a looping overhand right but Barnes ducks down to avoid it.
Barnes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barnes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Barnes feints and then cracks Johnson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Johnson down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson blocks a leg kick.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
Johnson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Barnes avoids nicely.
Barnes throws a head kick that half lands.
Johnson misses with a hook
and Barnes counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Barnes takes one to the chin there.
Barnes misses with a combination
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jeff Johnson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Barnes avoids a kick to the body.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Barnes lands with a cross.
Johnson misses with a looping right.
Barnes throws a leg kick that misses.
Barnes throws a low kick, looking for Johnson's leg but Johnson calmly moves out of range.
Johnson lands a body shot.
Barnes lands a head kick!
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Johnson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sam Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes scores with a three punch combo!
Johnson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Barnes to score with a decent uppercut.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Barnes lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Johnson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Johnson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.
Barnes avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Barnes connects with a solid leg kick.
Barnes wants to land a leg kick but Johnson is out of range.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Johnson.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.
A slow jab from Johnson misses its intended target.
Johnson clobbers Barnes with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Johnson throws a head kick that Barnes semi-blocks.
Barnes misses with a leg kick
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Johnson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Jeff Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A nice inside leg kick there by Barnes. That's going to slow Johnson down.
Johnson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters circling a little - Barnes finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Johnson swings away with a body shot that misses
and Barnes counters with a low kick, right behind Johnson 's knee.
Johnson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Barnes tries to work over Johnson's front leg with a kick but Johnson checks it.
Barnes pivots, looking for a leg kick but Johnson is out of range and Barnes settles back down.

Barnes looking to score a takedown here. Johnson is defending well but Barnes drives through and ends up in Johnson's guard.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barnes is controlling him.
Barnes controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Johnson wants to stand up but Barnes is controlling him.
Barnes trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Barnes wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Barnes is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Johnson appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

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 tries to work over Johnson's front leg with a kick but Johnson checks it.
Johnson misses with a double jab
and Barnes counters with a nice low kick that buckles Johnson's knee momentarily.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barnes circles away quickly and effectively.
Good leg kick by Barnes.
Barnes defending well as Johnson loads up on a big left hand.
Barnes thuds a left hand into Johnson's body.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Barnes moves out of range easily.
Barnes throws a quick inside leg kick.
A punch combination from Barnes misses.
Johnson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Barnes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barnes jabs Johnson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sam Barnes will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Barnes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A jab from Johnson misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barnes.
Barnes is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Johnson.
Barnes cracks a nice hook into Johnson's ribs.
Johnson lands a nice shot to the body.
A head kick by Barnes misses
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.
Barnes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jab, jab by Barnes - just one landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barnes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barnes throws a big counter combination but Johnson scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnes.
Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Barnes moves out of range easily.
Johnson thuds his shin into the meat of Barnes's side.
Johnson throws a head kick but Barnes moves out of range.
Johnson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Barnes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Barnes throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.
Johnson misses with a hook.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnson thows a left - swing and a miss!
A combination from Barnes does no damage.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barnes wants to slow Johnson down by chopping away at his legs.
Johnson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Barnes.
Johnson appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Barnes lets loose with a powerful body kick. Johnson will feel that in the morning.
Barnes slips a straight right by Johnson.
That kick from Johnson tenderised Barnes's leg. Barnes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Johnson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barnes.
Johnson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Johnson throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Barnes counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Barnes!
Barnes throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Nice shot lands for Johnson.
Johnson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Johnson throws a right hand that misses
and Barnes counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A big left from Johnson misses.
As Johnson looks to move away, Barnes throws a big counter combo but Johnson just gets out of the way.
A low kick from Barnes is predictable there
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Barnes avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barnes dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Johnson. That did some damage!
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barnes lands with a kick to the temple. Johnson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson lands with a hook. Barnes tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Barnes staying out of range there.
Johnson misses with a hook. Barnes ducked under it nicely.
Johnson throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Barnes.
Barnes takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Barnes scores with a body shot.
Johnson moves forwards but Barnes connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
Barnes throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
A nice side step and Johnson releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jeff Johnson.
I think Johnson 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!