PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Horacio Barnard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anssi Manninen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barnard
vs
Manninen

181 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

186 cm
19
192 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Horacio Barnard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anssi Manninen!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barnard closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Manninen quickly recovers to half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Barnard works his way into side control.
Manninen is looking to regain half guard here but Barnard keeps moving and retains side control.
Manninen trying his best to control but Barnard has mounted him.
Barnard definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Manninen is squirming around, avoiding Barnard's attempts to control the action.
Barnard misses with a head shot.
Barnard sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Manninen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Manninen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Manninen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manninen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Manninen keeping full guard, as Barnard tries to pass.
Barnard trying to control the position from guard on top but Manninen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnard wants to pass the guard but Manninen is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manninen looking for a guillotine here but Barnard defends easily.
Barnard slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Barnard wants to get up but he can't break Manninen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Manninen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnard wants to control from the top but Manninen keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Manninen working for a triangle but Barnard defends it easily.

Barnard gets to his feet - Manninen follows without any prompting.
Manninen shoots in looking for a takedown. Barnard tries to sprawl out of it but Manninen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barnard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Manninen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Barnard counters with a head kick. That will keep Manninen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Manninen looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnard dives in and scores a takedown into Manninen's guard.

Barnard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Manninen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barnard has managed to get both his arms back between Manninen's legs - danger averted.

Manninen is looking for a triangle here but Barnard uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manninen is looking for a sweep.
Manninen is not content to let Barnard control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnard moves into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Horacio Barnard dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Manninen takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Manninen darts in looking for a takedown but Barnard gets double underhooks and turns Manninen into the cage.
Barnard is trying to break free.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Barnard drags the fight down to the ground.
Barnard wants to get back to his feet but Manninen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Manninen throws an elbow that misses. Barnard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Manninen's guard. Nice move by Barnard!

Manninen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Barnard passes into half guard.
Barnard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnard is trying to control the action in half guard but Manninen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Manninen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barnard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Manninen looking for submissions off his back.
Manninen is breathing heavily.
Barnard trying to control from Manninen's half guard. Manninen has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Barnard is looking to work some ground and pound but Manninen has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manninen working for submissions but it's allowed Barnard to get to half guard.
Barnard is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Manninen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Manninen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Manninen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnard passes to full mount!
Manninen is wriggling around trying to escape.

Barnard jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Manninen is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Manninen and Barnard has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Barnard creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Manninen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Horacio Barnard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnard throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Manninen works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

Manninen looking for submissions off his back.
Barnard wants to control but Manninen is keeping him busy.
Barnard is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Barnard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Horacio Barnard dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Barnard drags the fight down to the ground.
Manninen with a flurry of punches that miss.

Manninen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Barnard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Barnard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Barnard!
Barnard tries to stand but Manninen is controlling his head.
Barnard 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.
Manninen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manninen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Barnard off and has taken his back!
Barnard is really stuck here.

Manninen tightening his grip on Barnard, looking for the choke.
Manninen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barnard tries to escape but Manninen has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Manninen is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Barnard knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Barnard for a finish.
Barnard tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manninen wants to take his opponent's back but Barnard doesn't allow it.
Manninen lands a heavy elbow.
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!
Barnard prevents Manninen from taking his back.

Manninen has hold of Barnard's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Barnard manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Barnard tries to hold on but Manninen pushes him away.

Manninen is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Barnard has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Barnard!
Barnard controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnard trying to control but Manninen is working from the bottom.

Manninen working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Barnard has passed into half guard!

Manninen has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Barnard escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Barnard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manninen sneaks back into half guard.
Manninen is staying active underneath Barnard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Barnard tries to stand but can't do so whilst Manninen controls his leg.
Barnard wants to take a breather but Manninen is having none of it.
Anssi Manninen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manninen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Horacio Barnard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Manninen wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anssi Manninen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barnard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Horacio Barnard!