PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hill Billy Hank (ranked 1349 p4p, 2551 weight class) and Reggie Barnes (ranked 206 p4p, 350 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hank
vs
Barnes

188 cm
27
200
12 - 7 - 0

185 cm
27
201
8 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hill Billy Hank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reggie Barnes!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Joseph Jones and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hank.
Hank tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barnes swivels and escapes.
Barnes throws a body punch but Hank moves out of range.
Hank tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barnes swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hill Billy Hank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hank drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Barnes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hank. Hank circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hank changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barnes tries to avoid it but Hank manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barnes to the ground. Barnes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hank looks to clinch
and Barnes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hank tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barnes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hank somewhat.
Hank shoots in but no luck this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barnes.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Barnes!
Barnes has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Barnes fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hank checks it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hank is looking to clinch.

Hank clinches up with Barnes and pushes him back against the cage.
Barnes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hank turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hank manages to end up in side control.
Barnes can't do much from the bottom here.
Barnes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hank wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Barnes is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Hank is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Barnes is squirming around, avoiding Hank's attempts to control the action.
Hank lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Hank wants to control the pace but Barnes is squirming around nicely.
Hank controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hank wants to free his trapped foot but Barnes is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hank not doing much here.
Hank throwing shots but Barnes is blocking nicely.
Barnes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is looking to get back to full guard here but Hank has managed to pass to side control instead.
Hank working away.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
You can see the frustration on Barnes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Barnes is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Barnes tries to get to full guard but Hank has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Barnes works his way to full guard. Good work.
Barnes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hank is one step ahead there.
Hank throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barnes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barnes working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hank has managed to clinch.

Barnes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barnes pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hank is out of range and Barnes settles back down.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Reggie Barnes dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Barnes throws a head kick but Hank moves out of range.
Hank shoots for a takedown but Barnes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hank shoots in for a takedown but Barnes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hank fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hill Billy Hank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hank on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hank stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barnes.

Hank drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Barnes tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Hank presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Hank in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Barnes regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hank wants to take a breather but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes is pressing down on Hank's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Barnes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hank trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnes wants to stand up but Hank is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hank with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hank trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Barnes manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Hank wants to stand but Barnes is controlling the position.
Barnes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hank working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barnes.
Barnes throws a big right hand that misses.

Hank uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Reggie Barnes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Hank shoots in looking for a takedown. Barnes tries to sprawl out of it but Hank keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barnes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hank tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barnes lunges at Hank with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hank's hand.
Barnes cracks a nice hook into Hank's ribs.
Barnes scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hank looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barnes is fending him off so far but Hank persists. Nope, Barnes circles away and we're back to standing.
Hank moves in looking to clinch but Barnes pushes him off.
Barnes now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hank shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barnes sprawls well. Barnes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hank gets slowly back to his feet.
Reggie Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barnes throws a low kick but Hank avoids it.
Barnes tries to bum rush Hank with a series of wild strikes but Hank uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hank. That did some damage!
Nice sprawl there from Barnes as Hank shoots in.
Hank wants to clinch up but Barnes keeps it at a distance.
Hank shoots in for a takedown but Barnes shows good takedown defense.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Hank crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Barnes - the referee stops the clock and Hank gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Barnes. Hank manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnes takes a swing at Hank's ribcage but misses.
Barnes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Barnes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barnes misses with the combination.
Hank checks a leg kick.
Barnes fails to land with a series of punches.
Barnes is looking to slow Hank down with leg kicks.
Hank shoots and misses
and Barnes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.
Hank stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barnes.
Barnes misses with a low kick as Hank jumps back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Reggie Barnes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

A solid leg kick lands there for Barnes.
Hank tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barnes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barnes appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Barnes tries a head kick but it misses.

Hank gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Barnes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hank dives in and grabs Barnes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Barnes pushes down on Hank's head and hops out.
Barnes thumps Hank with a low kick.
Barnes looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hank is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barnes connects with a solid leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hank tries to clinch but Barnes is having none of it.
Barnes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barnes goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hank tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barnes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hank or perhaps it was just good defense by Barnes, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hill Billy Hank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnes lands with an overhand left.
Barnes misses with a few strikes there.
Hank shoots for a takedown but Barnes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hank throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barnes's waist but Barnes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hank off to one side.
Hank wants to clinch.
Hank is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barnes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hank tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hank darts in looking for a takedown but Barnes gets double underhooks and turns Hank into the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Barnes - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Barnes breaks from the clinch.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.
Barnes connects with a solid leg kick.
Hank is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hank tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hank tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barnes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hank takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hank looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barnes is fending him off so far but Hank persists. Nope, Barnes circles away and we're back to standing.
Barnes paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Barnes swats away the attempt to clinch by Hank.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnes throws a quick inside leg kick.
Barnes swats away the attempt to clinch by Hank.
Hank tries to clinch up but Barnes circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hank fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hank wants to clinch but Barnes slips to the side
and Barnes counters with a thumping low kick.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.
Barnes swinging wildly here.
Hank fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barnes avoids it really well and circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Barnes! But no joy.
Hank moves forwards but Barnes connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Barnes lands a leg kick that knocks Hank off balance momentarily.
Barnes lands a head kick!
Hank shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Barnes counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes swings for the body but Hank moves out of range.
Hank is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Barnes.
Barnes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hank tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barnes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Hank tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hank takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hank is defended easily by Barnes.
Hank darts in looking for a takedown but Barnes gets double underhooks and turns Hank into the cage.

Barnes breaks the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hank shoots for a takedown but Barnes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Barnes stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Barnes slaps away a takedown attempt from Hank, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hill Billy Hank has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A nice combination there by Barnes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reggie Barnes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barnes 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 John Roberts scores the fight 26:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reggie Barnes!
Reggie Barnes was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
Hill Billy Hank was interviewed post fight and said 'Beats going hungry '.