PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rudy Rhod (ranked 272 p4p, 224 weight class) and Edson Bidon Barbosa (ranked 35 p4p, 27 weight class). Rhod comes to the cage accompanied by Prince - Kiss. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rhod
vs
Barbosa

180 cm
38
155
33 - 20 - 2

178 cm
31
155
24 - 14 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Core Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 20 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rudy Rhod!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edson Bidon Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbosa takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Barbosa avoids the body shot from Rhod.
Barbosa scores with a hook.
Rhod moves out of range as Barbosa strikes.
Rhod stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barbosa.
Rhod slips a jab from Barbosa.
Barbosa checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rudy Rhod seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rhod connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rhod misses with a hook. Barbosa ducked under it nicely.
Rhod swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barbosa loads up on a big right hand but Rhod slips the punch.
Rhod misses with a looping right.
Barbosa is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Rhod with a body shot.
Rhod walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Barbosa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rhod closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Barbosa with a nice calf kick.
Rhod throws a nice inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rhod closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rhod uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Barbosa has time to react.
Good leg kick by Barbosa.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Barbosa blocks a low kick nicely.
Barbosa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rhod.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa lands a body shot.
Barbosa misses with a right hand
and Rhod counters with a nice uppercut.
Barbosa lands a glancing blow to the side of Rhod's head.
Rhod swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rhod misses with a low kick.
Barbosa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Barbosa misses with a few strikes there.
Rhod throws the left hand but Barbosa avoids the punch easily.
Barbosa checks a leg kick nicely.
Barbosa checks a leg kick nicely.
Barbosa is looking to slow Rhod down with leg kicks.
Rhod misses with a hook to the body
letting Barbosa counter with a right hand.
Rhod steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barbosa.
Barbosa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rhod manages to avoid it.
Barbosa misses the shot to the body.
Rhod uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Barbosa.
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!
Rhod looks to land a left hand but Barbosa moved out of range nicely.
Rhod catches Barbosa with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Barbosa chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhod looks to land a right hand but Barbosa moved out of range.
Rhod pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rhod lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barbosa's sensitive parts.
Barbosa throws a leg kick which misses Rhod's front leg but catches the back leg as Rhod tries to avoid it.
Rhod takes one on the button.
Rhod misses with a low kick as Barbosa jumps back.
Barbosa throws an overhand right that lands on Rhod's shoulder, as Rhod tries to avoid the shot.
Rhod avoids the body shot from Barbosa.
Rhod swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rhod digs a good body shot into Barbosa's ribs.
Rhod takes one to the chin there.
Barbosa misses the body punch
and Rhod counters with a nice body shot.
Barbosa does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Barbosa connects with a leg kick.
Rhod throws a body punch but Barbosa moves out of range.
Rhod looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbosa is just out of range.
Rhod scores with a nice head shot.
Rhod moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa misses the jab.
Rhod tried to counter with a leg kick but Barbosa avoided it.
Rhod looks to throw the jab but Barbosa is out of range.
Barbosa scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rhod steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barbosa.
Barbosa jabs at Rhod's body.
Nice body punch from Barbosa.
Barbosa throws a body punch but Rhod moves out of range.
We've been told by Rhod's head coaches at Torcida MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Rhod misses with a low kick.
Nice jab there from Barbosa.
Rhod shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rhod throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barbosa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rhod.
Barbosa moves out of range of the leg kick from Rhod.
Barbosa throws a jab but it's blocked by Rhod.
Barbosa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rhod manages to avoid it.
Barbosa listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Barbosa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rhod at a distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbosa throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rhod on the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa throws a leg kick which misses Rhod's front leg but catches the back leg as Rhod tries to avoid it.
Rhod misses the shot to the body.
Rhod scores with a leg kick.
Barbosa misses with a hook.
Rhod feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Barbosa scores with a jab to the jaw.
Barbosa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Barbosa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rhod.
Barbosa throws a hook to the side of Rhod's head but Rhod sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barbosa throws a right hand that Rhod ducks under and follows up with a left that Rhod also avoids with ease.
Rhod moves out of range of the body kick.
Barbosa misses the jab.
Rhod tried to score with a low kick but Barbosa checks it.
Rhod gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Barbosa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rhod.
Barbosa throws out a counter right but Rhod avoids it with no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rhod walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Barbosa misses with a hook.
Barbosa checks a low kick from Rhod.
Barbosa takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Barbosa misses the shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Edson Bidon Barbosa dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rhod defending well as Barbosa loads up on a big left hand.
Barbosa punishes Rhod's body with a nice straight punch.
Rhod connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rhod darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rhod paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rhod connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Barbosa's hands.
Nice shot lands for Rhod.
Rhod throws a leg kick which misses Barbosa's front leg but catches the back leg as Barbosa tries to avoid it.
Rhod throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Edson Bidon Barbosa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rhod slips a straight right by Barbosa.
Rhod scores with a jab.
Barbosa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rhod stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barbosa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rhod throws a body shot but no joy.
Rhod displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barbosa throws out the jab.
Barbosa scores with a decent looking hook.
Barbosa's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rhod connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barbosa scrambles back to his feet.
Barbosa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fighters circling - Rhod throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rhod misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa lands a nice shot to the body.
Barbosa swinging wildly here.
Barbosa blocks a leg kick.
Rhod pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barbosa lands a jab to Rhod's midsection.
Barbosa misses with a looping right.
Barbosa throws the left hand but Rhod avoids the punch easily.
Barbosa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rhod.
Barbosa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rhod scores with a leg kick.
Rhod throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barbosa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rhod.
Rhod closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rhod checks a leg kick nicely.
A big left from Barbosa misses.
A jab from Barbosa misses.
Rhod lands a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rhod connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Barbosa momentarily.
Rhod with the inside leg kick.
Rhod slips a straight right by Barbosa.
A clash of legs there as Rhod blocks the low kick.
Rhod looks to land a left hand but Barbosa moved out of range nicely.
Rhod takes one on the button.
A telegraphed right hand from Barbosa misses the target.
Rhod misses with a hook.
Rhod pushes Barbosa away with a front kick.
Barbosa slips under a jab.
Barbosa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barbosa scores with a jab. Rhod acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Barbosa throws a lazy right hand but Rhod sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rhod walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Barbosa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Barbosa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barbosa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barbosa misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhod misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barbosa.
Barbosa is looking for the big counter here.
Rhod moves out of range of the strikes.
Barbosa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rhod avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rhod misses with an uppercut
enabling Barbosa to counter with a crisp jab.
Barbosa cracks Rhod with a good jab.
Rhod lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rhod does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A telegraphed right hand from Barbosa misses the target.
Rhod was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Rhod tries to score with a low kick but Barbosa moves his leg out of the way.
It seemed like Barbosa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A lazy body kick from Barbosa
and Rhod cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barbosa looks to score with a jab to the body but Rhod is just out of range.
Rhod throws a body shot but no joy.
Rhod looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rhod.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Rhod might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Rhod blocks a leg kick.
Barbosa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Barbosa connects with a leg kick.
Rhod throws a hook to the side of Barbosa's head but Barbosa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barbosa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Barbosa throws a hook to the side of Rhod's head but Rhod sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Rhod misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rhod connects with a leg kick.
Barbosa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rhod just misses with a punch to the body.
Barbosa throws a good cross that connects.
Rhod looks to land a right hand but Barbosa moved out of range.
Rhod throws a chopping leg kick but Barbosa manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Barbosa moves forwards but Rhod connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Barbosa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rhod sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rhod uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Barbosa.
Barbosa checks a leg kick.
Barbosa misses with a straight left.
Barbosa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barbosa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rhod.
Barbosa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barbosa scores with a jab to the head.
Barbosa throws a hook to the side of Rhod's head but Rhod sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Edson Bidon Barbosa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Rhod's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rhod attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Barbosa blocks a leg kick.
Barbosa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barbosa slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Barbosa swings for the body but Rhod moves out of range.
Rhod tries a low kick but Barbosa avoids it.
Rhod motions for Barbosa to come forward. Rhod throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Barbosa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Barbosa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rhod was well out of range. Poor timing from Barbosa.
A bone on bone clash there as Barbosa blocks the leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Rhod blocks the leg kick.
Rhod darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhod scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rhod takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Barbosa throws a hook to the side of Rhod's head but Rhod sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barbosa connects with a crisp jab.
Rhod scores with a jab to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Barbosa, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhod scores with a kick to the midsection.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barbosa.
Barbosa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rhod tests Barbosa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Barbosa connects with a nice looking jab.
Rhod ducks under a wild hook from Barbosa.
Barbosa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barbosa throws out a loose jab but Rhod uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barbosa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Jab, jab by Rhod - just one landing.
Barbosa takes a swing at Rhod's ribcage but misses.
Rhod moves out of range as Barbosa strikes.
Rhod throws a hook but Barbosa blocks it.
Barbosa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barbosa misses with a looping left.
Barbosa misses with a low kick.
Barbosa throws a body shot but no joy.
Rudy Rhod has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edson Bidon Barbosa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhod looks to land a body kick but Barbosa moved away.
Rhod swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rhod scores with a jab to the head.
Barbosa just misses with a punch to the body.
Barbosa slips under a jab from Rhod.
Rhod takes a swing at Barbosa's ribcage but misses.
Barbosa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rhod.
A slapping leg kick lands for Barbosa.
Barbosa lands a right hook to the body.
Barbosa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rhod tries to work over Barbosa's front leg with a kick but Barbosa checks it.
Barbosa throws a hook but Rhod avoids it easily.
Barbosa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rhod.
Barbosa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rhod lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rhod works Barbosa's body with a nice hook.
Rhod misses the shot to the body.
Barbosa throws a series of punches but Rhod avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhod fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Barbosa checks it well.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Barbosa checks a leg kick.
Rhod throws a front kick aimed at Barbosa's knee but Barbosa avoids it well.
Barbosa appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Rhod attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Barbosa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rhod looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Barbosa misses with a right hand
and Rhod cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barbosa connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rhod throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rhod misses with an uppercut
and Barbosa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A cross from Rhod lands.
Rhod feints and then cracks Barbosa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Barbosa down.
Rhod takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A left lands for Barbosa.
Rhod stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters circling - Rhod throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Barbosa checks a leg kick nicely.
Barbosa misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Barbosa lands a jab to Rhod's midsection.
Barbosa slips under a jab from Rhod.
Barbosa takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rhod fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barbosa manages to avoid it.
Rhod lands a jab.
Barbosa lands a head kick!
A low kick lands for Rhod.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rhod pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rhod fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Barbosa is out of range.
Rhod fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barbosa manages to avoid it.
Rhod moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Edson Bidon Barbosa.
Well Barbosa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Edson Bidon Barbosa!
A very excited looking Edson Bidon Barbosa made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.