PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nickolas Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hollywood Hustler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nickolas Barnes has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Barnes
vs
Hustler

169 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
24
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite 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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nickolas Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hollywood Hustler !
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hustler closes the distance and pushes Barnes back into the cage.
Hustler missing with knees to the body.

Hustler 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hustler .

Hustler has managed to clinch.
Barnes really is a fat lump.
Hustler lands a hook that snaps the head of Barnes backwards.

Hustler gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hustler is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Hustler postures up.
Barnes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hustler slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hustler throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barnes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barnes striking off his back but it's not causing Hustler any problems.
Hustler sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Barnes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hustler is one step ahead there.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hustler shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barnes seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Hustler has a takedown stuffed.
Barnes went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Nickolas Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hollywood Hustler .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hustler lands with a nice combination. Barnes backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Nickolas Barnes has been cut.

Hustler looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hustler 's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hustler stands up over Barnes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hustler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barnes is keeping the position for now.
Hustler is looking to pass into half guard but Barnes pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Barnes is in guard.

Hustler throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes won't allow Hustler to sweep him here.
Barnes is looking to stand up but Hustler won't let him.
Barnes chips away with some ground and pound.
Barnes trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hustler 's guard.
Hustler has control of Barnes's left arm, preventing Barnes from doing any damage.
Hustler is continuing to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hustler connects with a looping right hand.
Barnes slaps away a takedown attempt from Hustler , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Barnes throws a right and a left that Hustler avoids nicely.
Hustler darts in looking for a takedown but Barnes gets double underhooks and turns Hustler into the cage.
Hustler pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barnes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Hustler manages to circle out of the way.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barnes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hustler .
As Hustler looks to move away, Barnes throws a big counter combo bu Hustler just gets out of the way.
Hustler looks winded!

Hustler closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hollywood Hustler dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nickolas Barnes's cut.
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.

Hustler dodges the punch combination from Barnes.
Hustler throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barnes.
Nickolas Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hustler drives through and clinches with Barnes against the cage.
Barnes drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hustler pulls his leg out and moves away.
Barnes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A low kick from Barnes misses

and Hustler counters by moving into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hustler gets control of Barnes's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hustler will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hustler pulls Barnes in close to prevent any damage.
Hustler preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hustler is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hustler has a closed guard, preventing Barnes from standing up.
Barnes throws a big elbow that misses.
Barnes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hustler can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hustler pulls Barnes in close to his closed guard and prevents Barnes from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Barnes stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Hustler gets a clinch.

Hustler decides to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to stand but Hustler is controlling from the bottom.

Hustler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hustler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barnes.
Hustler has a closed guard, preventing Barnes from standing up.
Barnes wants to stand and escape but instead Hustler has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hustler trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hustler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Barnes will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Barnes working a defensive guard here.
Hollywood Hustler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hustler passes Barnes's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hustler in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Barnes is in trouble now - Hustler has advanced to mount!
Hustler tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Hustler controlling his opponent.
Hustler connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hustler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hustler wants to control the pace but Barnes is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hollywood Hustler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nickolas Barnes's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Barnes checks a leg kick.
Hustler fails with a takedown attempt.
Hustler tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barnes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barnes is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Hustler .
Hustler shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barnes pinned against the cage. Barnes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Barnes throws a big counter combination but Hustler scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hustler tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barnes swivels and escapes.
Nickolas Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hollywood Hustler .

Hustler moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes is looking to break free of the clinch but Hustler has double underhooks.

Hustler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hustler shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barnes as he avoids it easily.
Barnes slaps away a takedown attempt from Hustler , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hustler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hustler closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Barnes throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Hustler uses his free foot to push down on Barnes's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Barnes.
Hustler with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Hustler has hold of Barnes's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Barnes manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Barnes is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Hustler goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Barnes is on top in guard.
Barnes tries to stand but Hustler is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hustler is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barnes is controlling him.

Hustler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Barnes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hustler is proving hard to escape from.

Hustler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barnes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hustler wants to stand and escape but Barnes is having none of it.

Barnes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hustler , up you get!
Barnes is looking to clinch but Hustler is avoiding it.
Hollywood Hustler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes misses with the combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hustler closes the distance but Barnes moves to the side
and Barnes counters with a one-two to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nickolas Barnes.
I think Hustler 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hollywood Hustler !