PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Barnes (ranked 1238 p4p, 2020 weight class) and Antonio Barbosa (ranked 172 p4p, 268 weight class). Barbosa comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Eminem - Go to Sleep kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Antonio Barbosa has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Barnes
vs
Barbosa

183 cm
27
176
18 - 9 - 0

180 cm
27
175
11 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrew Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes blocks the body kick.
Barnes throws a right and a left that Barbosa avoids nicely.
Barbosa misses with a straight left.
Barnes looks to land a combination but Barbosa avoids it well.
Barbosa lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Barbosa swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Barnes.
Barbosa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Barnes counters with a left to the body.
Barbosa throws a push kick but Barnes slaps the foot to one side.

Barnes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Barbosa gets back to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Barbosa holds on and takes a little breather.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Barbosa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa is looking to sweep but instead, Barnes has passed into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Barnes's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Barbosa is trying to get back to full guard.
Barbosa is concentrating on defense, preventing Barnes from advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Barbosa tries to roll over but Barnes keeps him under control.
Barbosa has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barbosa is pressing down on Barnes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Barnes postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Barnes stays in close to Barbosa's body and controls the position.
Barbosa has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Barnes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barbosa circles away quickly and effectively.
A little jabbing left from Barbosa on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbosa is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Barbosa ducks down to avoid it.
Barnes lands a head kick!
Barnes throws a body kick that misses.
Barnes feints and then cracks Barbosa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Barbosa down.
Barnes moves into range and connects with a jab.
Barnes tries a head kick but it misses.
Barbosa is trying to counter with his kicks.
Barnes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barnes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barnes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barbosa thows a body kick. Barnes tries to catch it but that hurt him.
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!
Barbosa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.
Barnes misses with a double jab.
Barnes walks into a straight right hand from Barbosa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barbosa throws out the jab.
Barnes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Barnes walks into a stiff left hand from Barbosa.
Barbosa misses with an uppercut.
Barbosa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barbosa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barnes can pounce on him.
Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbosa is just out of range.
Barnes digs a good body shot into Barbosa's ribs.
Barnes fails to land with a series of punches.
Barnes falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barbosa counters with a nice body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Barnes dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Barbosa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barbosa manages to avoid it.
Barnes misses with a shot to the body
enabling Barbosa to counter with a crisp jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for Barnes.
Barbosa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Barnes is looking to wear down Barbosa with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Barbosa throws a push kick but Barnes slaps the foot to one side.
Barbosa looks for the body kick but Barnes saw that one coming.
Barbosa misses with an uppercut.
A left lands for Barnes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa lands a right hook to the body.
Barnes has a takedown stuffed.
Barbosa takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Andrew Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Barnes misses with a double jab
and Barbosa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barnes fails to land with a series of punches.
Barnes throws a series of punches but Barbosa moves out of range.
Barbosa thinks about the counter body kick.
Barbosa misses with a hook to the body

and Barnes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Barnes breaks the clinch.
Barbosa tries to bum rush Barnes with a series of wild strikes but Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Barnes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Barnes throwing shots but Barbosa is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Barbosa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Barbosa.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes wants to control from the top but Barbosa keeps moving.
Barbosa controlling Barnes's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Barnes throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Barbosa lands with an overhand left.
Barbosa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barnes.
Barbosa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barnes.
Barbosa blocks a head kick by Barnes.
Barnes fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Barnes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Barbosa counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barbosa.
Barnes throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barbosa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Andrew Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbosa throws the kick towards the body but Barnes avoids it.
Barnes appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A low kick from Barnes is predictable there
and Barbosa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barbosa thuds a left hand into Barnes's body.
Barnes plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Barbosa getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Barnes fails to land with a series of punches.
A lazy left from Barbosa finds it's target.
Barnes throws a head kick but Barbosa moves out of range.
Barnes looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbosa is just out of range.
Barbosa walks into a stiff left hand from Barnes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Andrew Barnes will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barbosa blocks a low kick nicely.
Antonio Barbosa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barbosa misses with an uppercut
and Barnes counters with a left to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barnes. Barbosa does a little dance to reset his feet.
It seemed like Barbosa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Barnes misses with a combination
and Barbosa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Barbosa fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A big right from Barbosa misses.
Barnes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barbosa is fending him off so far but Barnes persists. Nope, Barbosa circles away and we're back to standing.
Barbosa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Barnes goes for a double leg but Barbosa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barbosa continues to drive forward.
Barbosa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Barnes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barnes's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Barbosa lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barbosa manages to break the clinch.
Barbosa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Barnes at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barbosa looks to throw the jab but Barnes is out of range.
Barnes went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Barbosa feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Barnes sprawling to the canvas! Barnes rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Barbosa finish him?!

Barnes is rocked!

Barbosa lands a big uppercut and Barnes crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Barnes looks OK. Barbosa waves Barnes back to his feet!
Oh Barnes is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barbosa swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrew Barnes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barnes throws a head kick but Barbosa moves out of range.
A low kick from Barnes misses
and Barbosa rattles Barnes with a well-timed uppercut counter. - Barnes tries to back away and recover but his hands are down low and he gets tagged again, sending him stumbling down to the canvas. Barbosa dives in after him and quickly finishes the job with a trio of brutal punches, leaving Barnes stiff and motionless on the mat!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Antonio Barbosa!
An out of breath Antonio Barbosa thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.