PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leeroy Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Osullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Barnes
vs
Osullivan

181 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Leeroy Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Osullivan!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes checks the leg kick nicely there.
Barnes looks for a takedown but Osullivan sprawls well.
Osullivan misses with a takedown attempt - Barnes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Barnes misses with a head kick.
Osullivan looks for the body kick but Barnes saw that one coming.
Osullivan doesn't manage to clinch there - Barnes circles away.
Osullivan tries to clinch up.
Osullivan shoots in but no luck this time.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Osullivan as he jumps to the side.
Barnes fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leeroy Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Osullivan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Osullivan.
Osullivan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barnes avoids it really well and circles away.
Barnes fails with a takedown attempt.
Osullivan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barnes pinned against the cage. Barnes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Osullivan tries to score with a low kick but Barnes moves his leg out of the way.
Barnes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Osullivan swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Osullivan avoids it really well and circles away.
Barnes fails with a takedown attempt.
Osullivan leaves Barnes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Osullivan closes the distance and pushes Barnes back into the cage.

Barnes pulls Osullivan into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Osullivan wants to pass the guard but Barnes is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Osullivan manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osullivan trying to control the position.
Osullivan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Barnes is fighting to break Osullivan's control of his arms but Osullivan is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Osullivan wants to sweep here but Barnes controlling him for the moment.
Barnes tries to free his leg and advance position but Osullivan is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Osullivan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barnes is one step ahead there.
Barnes pushes down on Osullivan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Barnes prevents Osullivan from standing back up.
Barnes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Osullivan keeps working.
Osullivan trying to control but Barnes postures up.
Barnes uses his free foot to push down on Osullivan's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Osullivan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mark Osullivan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Barnes blocks a head kick by Osullivan.
Osullivan misses with a head kick.
Osullivan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Osullivan wants it to stay on the feet.
Barnes avoids the head kick by Osullivan.
Barnes shoots for a takedown but Osullivan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Barnes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Osullivan pinned against the cage. Osullivan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leeroy Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnes looks to land a combination but Osullivan avoids it well.
Osullivan shoots in for a takedown but Barnes shows good takedown defense.
Leeroy Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Osullivan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barnes as he avoids it easily.
Barnes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Osullivan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barnes somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barnes looks for a takedown but Osullivan sprawls well.
Osullivan misses with a body kick.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Osullivan as he jumps to the side.
Barnes moves out of range of the body kick from Osullivan.
Osullivan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barnes swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Osullivan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Osullivan tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Osullivan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Horrible takedown by Barnes or perhaps it was just good defense by Osullivan which made him look bad.
Barnes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Barnes slaps away a takedown attempt from Osullivan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Barnes dives in and grabs Osullivan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Osullivan pushes down on Barnes's head and hops out.
Osullivan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Osullivan pushes Barnes up against the cage in a clinch.
Barnes keeps control of Osullivan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Barnes has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Osullivan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Osullivan pulls Barnes into guard.
Osullivan wants to stand up but Barnes is controlling him.
Osullivan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barnes's guard.
Osullivan trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Osullivan looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnes kicks Osullivan off and gets to his feet.
Osullivan doesn't manage to clinch there - Barnes circles away.
Osullivan shoots in and drives through. Barnes sprawls well.
Osullivan stuffs the takedown.
Osullivan shoots in for a double leg but Barnes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Osullivan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnes tries for a takedown but Osullivan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Osullivan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Barnes stuffs the takedown.
Barnes lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Barnes.
Barnes tries to close the distance and clinch but Osullivan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barnes shoots in looking for a takedown. Osullivan tries to sprawl out of it but Barnes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Osullivan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Barnes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Barnes is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Osullivan.
Barnes doesn't manage to clinch there - Osullivan circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnes looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nice takedown defense from Osullivan. No joy for Barnes on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leeroy Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnes looks for a takedown but Osullivan sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes dives in and grabs Osullivan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Osullivan pushes down on Barnes's head and hops out.
Osullivan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barnes sprawls well. Barnes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Osullivan gets slowly back to his feet.
Osullivan 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 Osullivan off to one side.
Osullivan fails with the takedown.
Osullivan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barnes.
Osullivan looks for a takedown but Barnes sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Osullivan misses with a head kick.
Barnes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barnes misses with a takedown attempt - Osullivan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Barnes shoots in but Osullivan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Osullivan 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 Osullivan off to one side.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Osullivan fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a hook.
Mark Osullivan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Osullivan closes the distance and clinches up with Barnes, looking for a takedown. Osullivan pushes Barnes against the cage but Barnes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barnes lands a high kick!
No luck for Osullivan with that takedown attempt.

Barnes drives through and clinches with Osullivan against the cage.
Osullivan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barnes smiles and moves away.

Barnes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Barnes moves into the clinch.
Barnes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Osullivan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Barnes lands a nice uppercut.
Barnes is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Osullivan is trying to force a seperation but Barnes has the dominant position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes taking a breather.
Osullivan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Barnes fights it off and pushes away nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leeroy Barnes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Osullivan 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!