PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Barbosa (ranked 1618 p4p, 213 weight class) and Ace Knott (ranked 1767 p4p, 226 weight class). Ace Knott is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Barbosa
vs
Knott

175 cm
35
175 lbs
21 - 22 - 0

185 cm
26
182 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Dangerous GnP
Great elbows
Good gas tank

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 21 - 22 - 0, fighting out of London, Daniel Barbosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ace Knott!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knott fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barbosa throws a series of punches but Knott avoids them all with ease.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barbosa. Knott does a little dance to reset his feet.
Knott ducks under a wild hook from Barbosa.
Knott gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Barbosa.
A slow jab from Barbosa misses its intended target.
A shot to the liver by Knott. Beautiful body shot.
Barbosa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Knott.
A telegraphed right hand from Barbosa misses the target.
Knott tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barbosa misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa throws a lazy right hand but Knott sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Knott loads up on a big right hand but Barbosa slips the punch.
Barbosa tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Knott manages to circle out of the way.
Barbosa works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Knott is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Knott swings for the body but Barbosa moves out of range.
Barbosa thinks about countering with a body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Knott clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa gets through Knott's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Barbosa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barbosa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Knott.
Nice defenses there by Knott.
Barbosa misses with a takedown attempt - Knott sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Knott misses with a body shot.

Knott gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Barbosa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ace Knott seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barbosa looks to throw the jab but Knott is out of range.
Knott throws a body punch but Barbosa moves out of range.
Barbosa throws a lazy right hand but Knott sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The crowd cheers as Barbosa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Knott doesn't seem phased though.
Knott tries to clinch up but Barbosa circles away and keeps his distance.
Barbosa keeps the fight on the outside.
Knott misses with a wild body shot.
Knott wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knott uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Barbosa.
Knott tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Barbosa takes a swing at Knott's ribcage but misses.
Knott misses with a body shot.
Knott throws a body shot but no joy.
Barbosa fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Knott checks it well.
Knott looks to clinch
and Knott takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barbosa shoots in for a takedown but Knott shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Knott throws a left and a right that both miss
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. Knott will be more careful next time no doubt.
Barbosa fails to land with a series of punches.
Knott tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barbosa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A little feinted left hand from Barbosa on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Barbosa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Knott was well out of range. Poor timing from Barbosa.
Knott is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Barbosa rather than just go for the knockout.
Knott tries to clinch but Barbosa is having none of it.
Barbosa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Knott fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barbosa appears to be looking for a big counter.
Barbosa throws a low kick but it's checked well by Knott.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa swats away the attempt to clinch by Knott.
Knott ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barbosa moves away.
Barbosa seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Barbosa looks to land a left hand but Knott moved out of range nicely.
Knott showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barbosa.
Knott wants to counter with a clinch but Barbosa pushes him away.
Knott is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barbosa.
Knott takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A slow jab from Barbosa misses its intended target.
Barbosa throws a hook but Knott blocks it.
Knott works Barbosa's body with a nice hook.
Barbosa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Knott sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Barbosa feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Barbosa tries to free his leg and advance position but Knott is retaining full guard.
Knott is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barbosa wants to control from the top but Knott keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knott keeping full guard, as Barbosa tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Barbosa drops back looking for a leg! Knott is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Knott manages to kick Barbosa off! Barbosa jumps back into Knott's guard.

Knott throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Barbosa pushing down on Knott's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Barbosa dominated that round.
That's time! Barbosa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A jab from Barbosa does it's job there.
Knott throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Knott tries to clinch up but Barbosa circles away and keeps his distance.
Barbosa tries to bum rush Knott with a series of wild strikes but Knott uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Knott lands a jab to the nose.
An inside leg kick lands from Barbosa.
Knott throws a hook but Barbosa blocks it.
Knott doesn't manage to clinch there - Barbosa circles away.

Knott drives through and clinches with Barbosa against the cage.

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

Knott clinches with his opponent.

Barbosa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barbosa misses with an uppercut. Knott saw that one coming.

Knott rushes Barbosa and presses him up against the cage.
Knott tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Barbosa's elbow.
Barbosa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Knott can do to turn this around?
Knott has Barbosa pushed against the cage.
Knott misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knott stops a takedown attempt from Barbosa.
Knott misses with a body punch.
Knott misses with a hook to the ribs.

Barbosa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barbosa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Knott fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barbosa tried to counter with a leg kick but Knott avoided it.
A slow jab from Barbosa misses its intended target.
Knott looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Knott tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Barbosa changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Knott looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Knott bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Knott throws a body punch but Barbosa moves out of range.
Barbosa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Knott avoids it really well and circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knott scores with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knott tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barbosa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Knott tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbosa was well out of range. Poor timing from Knott.
Knott checks a low kick from Barbosa.
Knott tries to clinch but Barbosa moves out of range.
Knott takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Knott displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barbosa throws out the jab.
Knott keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barbosa.
Knott throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barbosa throws the left hand but Knott avoids the punch easily.

Knott drives through and clinches with Barbosa against the cage.

Barbosa drags the fight down to the ground.
Barbosa keeping moving, preventing Knott from controlling successfully.
Knott wanted to stand there but Barbosa had control of the position.
Barbosa wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa wants to stand up but Knott is controlling him.
Barbosa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barbosa trying to control the position here.
Barbosa wants to stand up but Knott is controlling him.
Knott cracks Barbosa with a solid left hand.
Knott must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Knott trying to control but Barbosa is working from the bottom.
Barbosa looking for a sweep. Not yet Barbosa, not yet.
Knott being controlled here momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Knott avoids the body shot from Barbosa.
Knott lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Knott misses the shot to the body.
A quick step to the side and Barbosa tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barbosa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Barbosa connects with an inside leg kick.
Barbosa keeps the fight on the outside.
Barbosa loads up on a big right hand but Knott slips the punch.
Knott is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Barbosa with a body shot.
Knott on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barbosa. Barbosa obviously looking to wear him down.
Barbosa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Knott.
Knott slips under a jab from Barbosa.
Barbosa throws an overhand right that lands on Knott's shoulder, as Knott tries to avoid the shot.
Barbosa throws out a loose jab but Knott uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barbosa throws a jab but it's blocked by Knott.
A big right from Barbosa misses.
Barbosa throws a looping overhand right but Knott ducks down to avoid it.
Barbosa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Knott.
Barbosa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Daniel Barbosa will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Knott fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barbosa throwing a counter right hand but Knott manages to avoid it.
Barbosa keeps the fight on the outside.
Barbosa throws a jab but it's blocked by Knott.
Knott misses the body punch
letting Barbosa counter with a right hand.
Knott tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A big right from Barbosa misses.
The fighters circling - Barbosa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Knott lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Barbosa throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Knott tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barbosa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barbosa appears to be looking for a big counter.
Knott wants to clinch up but Barbosa keeps it at a distance.
Barbosa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Knott looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Knott takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Knott sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Barbosa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Knott as he avoids it easily.
Barbosa throws a body shot but no joy.
Barbosa keeps the fight on the outside.
Knott tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Daniel Barbosa is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knott has managed to clinch.
Knott stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Barbosa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Knott walks away with a smile on his face. Barbosa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Barbosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knott wants to clinch up but Barbosa keeps it at a distance.
Barbosa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Barbosa misses with a wild body shot.
Barbosa slips under a jab from Knott.
The crowd cheers as Knott lands an impressive looking overhand right. Barbosa doesn't seem phased though.
Barbosa fails to land the takedown.

Knott closes the distance and clinches.

Barbosa manages to break the clinch.
Barbosa cracks Knott with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Barbosa swats away the attempt to clinch by Knott.
Sloppy strikes from Barbosa. Those never looked like landing.
Knott wants to clinch.
Ace Knott has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knott tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Knott looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbosa is just out of range.
Barbosa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Knott tries to avoid it but Barbosa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Knott to the ground. Knott escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Barbosa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barbosa throws a one two combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knott throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barbosa's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Barbosa duly obliges.
Barbosa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barbosa misses with a kick to the body.
As Barbosa backs off Knott throws a huge counter combo but Barbosa manages to avoid it all.
Barbosa connects with a body shot that sends Knott's belly button to the back.
Knott on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Barbosa looks to land a right hand but Knott moved out of range.
Ace Knott is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Knott catches Barbosa with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Knott scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A cross from Barbosa lands.
Knott is looking to clinch.
Barbosa swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nice sprawl there from Knott as Barbosa shoots in.
Barbosa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Knott tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barbosa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barbosa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Knott throws a body shot but no joy.
Barbosa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Barbosa closes the distance and clinches up with Knott, looking for a takedown. Barbosa pushes Knott against the cage but Knott circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barbosa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Knott throws out the jab.
Nice body punch from Barbosa.
Knott just misses with a punch to the body.
Barbosa connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Knott's hands.
Some wild striking there from Knott.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa misses with a looping right.
Knott avoids the body shot from Barbosa.
Knott bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Knott fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barbosa manages to avoid it.
Knott closes the distance but Barbosa moves to the side
and Barbosa counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barbosa keeps the fight on the outside.
Barbosa just misses with a punch to the body.
Knott changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Barbosa looks to throw the jab but Knott is out of range.
Barbosa misses with a hook.
Barbosa swats away the attempt to clinch by Knott.
Knott checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Knott is looking to clinch.
Knott takes a swing at Barbosa's ribcage but misses.
Knott doesn't manage to clinch there - Barbosa circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Barbosa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barbosa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Barbosa!
An out of breath Daniel Barbosa thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.