PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Hearn (ranked 1033 p4p, 1279 weight class) and Antonio Barbosa (ranked 157 p4p, 179 weight class). Hearn comes into the arena with Professor X - Dave blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Barbosa's choice of entrance music: Eminem - Go to Sleep. Antonio Barbosa acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Hearn
vs
Barbosa

185 cm
30
180
16 - 12 - 0

180 cm
28
169
13 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
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 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Hearn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antonio Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbosa throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Hearn gets tackled into the cage by Barbosa. Barbosa maintains the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Barbosa.
Hearn throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Hearn breaks the clinch.
Barbosa tries to clinch but Hearn is having none of it.
Hearn half committed to a counter leg kick.
Barbosa looks to clinch
and Hearn counters with a slapping leg kick.
Barbosa falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hearn counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hearn, as that shot connected.
Barbosa throws a nice looking combination but Hearn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Barbosa - that will leave a mark!
Barbosa tries to clinch up but Hearn circles away and keeps his distance.
Barbosa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A slow jab from Hearn misses its intended target.
Barbosa tries to clinch but Hearn moves out of range.
Barbosa throws a leg kick but Hearn moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa tries to close the distance and clinch but Hearn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barbosa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barbosa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Barbosa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barbosa throws a wild body kick that Hearn sees coming a mile off.
Hearn seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Hearn blocks a head kick by Barbosa.
Barbosa misses with a body punch
and Hearn counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hearn misses with a body shot.

Barbosa forces Hearn back against the cage and clinches.
Hearn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barbosa working aggressively here.
Hearn lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hearn lands with a light punch inside.
Barbosa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hearn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Hearn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hearn.
Hearn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Hearn misses.
Hearn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good exchange - Hearn coming out on top.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Barbosa.
Hearn half committed to a counter leg kick.
Barbosa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Barbosa swings for the body but Hearn moves out of range.
Barbosa looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Barbosa tries to clinch up but Hearn circles away and keeps his distance.
Barbosa with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hearn to score with a decent uppercut.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A leg kick checked by Hearn.
Hearn is looking to counter with a body kick.
Hearn swinging wildly here.

Barbosa closes the distance and clinches.
Hearn lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Hearn.
Barbosa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Barbosa has a couple of punches blocked by Hearn.
Hearn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barbosa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Barbosa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Barbosa misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Hearn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barbosa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Barbosa looks to clinch
letting Hearn counter with a right hand.
Antonio Barbosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some bone on bone action there as Hearn checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hearn keeps the fight on the outside.
Barbosa throws a big shot that misses.
Hearn connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Barbosa moves into the clinch successfully.
Barbosa struggles to land a body shot inside as Hearn controls his hands.
Barbosa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hearn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hearn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hearn lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barbosa prevents a body shot from Hearn.
Barbosa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hearn struggles to land a body shot inside as Barbosa controls his hands.
A left hand lands to the body for Barbosa.
A short uppercut from Hearn.
Hearn lands with a right to the head.
Barbosa lands a nice uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Barbosa.
Barbosa throws a head punch that misses.
Barbosa can't find room to land a body shot as Hearn controls the action.
Barbosa misses with some punches.
Barbosa misses with a body punch.
Hearn struggles to land a body shot inside as Barbosa controls his hands.
Barbosa takes a shot to the head.
Hearn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barbosa working aggressively here.
Hearn's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barbosa scores with a shoulder strike.
Barbosa blocks a body shot from Hearn.
Barbosa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hearn is trying to break the clinch but Barbosa has him pressed against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Hearn dominated that round.
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.

Barbosa throws a chopping leg kick but Hearn manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Barbosa rushes Hearn and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hearn prevents a body shot from Barbosa.
Barbosa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hearn misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Barbosa fails to land.
A short left from Hearn.
Barbosa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barbosa struggles to land a body shot inside as Hearn controls his hands.
Barbosa digs a right hand into Hearn's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hearn's gas tank.
Barbosa scores with a nice hook to the head.
Barbosa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barbosa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hearn misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hearn tries to work over Barbosa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hearn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Barbosa backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Barbosa fails to land.
Barbosa struggles to land a body shot inside as Hearn controls his hands.
Barbosa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hearn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Barbosa misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa tries to throw a body punch but Hearn avoids it by throwing Barbosa back against the cage.
Barbosa has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Hearn seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Barbosa can turn it around.
Hearn struggles to land a body shot inside as Barbosa controls his hands.
Barbosa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barbosa.
Hearn lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Barbosa lands a shoulder strike.
Hearn throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Hearn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barbosa throws a lazy head kick
letting Hearn counter with a right hand.
Barbosa tries a head kick but it misses.
Hearn scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Barbosa throws a head kick but Hearn moves out of range.
Hearn keeps the fight on the outside.
Hearn takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hearn swats away the attempt to clinch by Barbosa.
Barbosa scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hearn manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hearn tries to keep at a distance but Barbosa has taken the fight into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Barbosa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Barbosa blocks a body shot from Hearn.
Hearn throws a punch but it's blocked by Barbosa.
Barbosa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hearn's elbow.
Hearn prevents a body shot from Barbosa.
Barbosa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hearn's elbow.
Hearn working aggressively here.
Hearn lands a shoulder strike.

Hearn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Barbosa lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hearn has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hearn and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hearn appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Barbosa as he connects with a hook.
Barbosa moves to clinch but Hearn breaks away
and Hearn counters with a right hand to the body.
Barbosa darts in trying to clinch
and Hearn counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barbosa tries to clinch there but Hearn circles away.
As Barbosa backs away, Hearn returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Barbosa wants to clinch up but Hearn keeps it at a distance.
Hearn fires out a quick counter leg kick but Barbosa just manages to avoid it.
Barbosa darts in trying to clinch
letting Hearn counter with a right hand.
Thomas Hearn is winning the standup battle so far.
Hearn throws a good cross that connects.
Antonio Barbosa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barbosa tries to clinch
and Hearn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hearn staying out of range there.
Barbosa tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hearn is able to avoid easily.
Barbosa scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Barbosa is looking to clinch but Hearn is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa throws a leg kick but Hearn sees it coming and moves out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Hearn there.
Barbosa looks to clinch
and Hearn counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Barbosa thinking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barbosa keeps Hearn at a distance using the push kick.

Barbosa moves into the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Barbosa.

Hearn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hearn looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbosa is just out of range.

Barbosa forces Hearn back against the cage and clinches.
Barbosa lands a right hand.
Still in the clinch, Hearn scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hearn blocks an uppercut.
Barbosa throws a punch but it's blocked by Hearn.
Hearn tries to throw a body punch but Barbosa avoids it by throwing Hearn back against the cage.
Hearn tries to throw a body punch but Barbosa avoids it by throwing Hearn back against the cage.
Barbosa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hearn backwards.
Hearn lands a body punch.
Barbosa lands a body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Antonio Barbosa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hearn scores with a jab to the body.
Hearn changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hearn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barbosa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barbosa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hearn swats away the attempt to clinch by Barbosa.
Barbosa throws a leg kick that misses.
The crowd cheers as Barbosa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hearn doesn't seem phased though.
Barbosa darts in trying to clinch
and Hearn counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa lands with a nice body kick.
Barbosa is looking to clinch but Hearn is avoiding it.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Barbosa - that will leave a mark!
Barbosa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hearn swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa throws an off balance right hand
and Hearn counters with a body kick that stops Barbosa in his tracks momentarily.
Barbosa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barbosa tries to clinch but Hearn is having none of it.
Hearn misses the shot to the body.

Barbosa pushes Hearn up against the cage in a clinch.
Hearn prevents a body shot from Barbosa.
Barbosa lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Barbosa can't find room to land a body shot as Hearn controls the action.
Barbosa misses with the head strike.
A short right from Hearn on the inside.
Barbosa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Barbosa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Still in the clinch, Barbosa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hearn can't find room to land a body shot as Barbosa controls the action.
Barbosa is leaning against Hearn and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Barbosa.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Barbosa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa lands with a short shot to the head.
Barbosa lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hearn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Barbosa's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Hearn fails to land.
Hearn throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Barbosa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Hearn.
Barbosa takes a shot to the head.
Barbosa misses with a punch on the inside.
Hearn tries to throw a body punch but Barbosa avoids it by throwing Hearn back against the cage.
Hearn digs a right hand into Barbosa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Barbosa's gas tank.
Barbosa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hearn tries to throw a body punch but Barbosa avoids it by throwing Hearn back against the cage.
Barbosa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Hearn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hearn misses with a body shot.
Barbosa throws a lazy body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Hearn dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Barbosa. That did some damage!
No joy there for Barbosa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hearn jabs Barbosa to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Barbosa moves in looking to clinch but Hearn pushes him off.
Hearn keeps the fight on the outside.
Barbosa looks to land a body kick but Hearn moved away.
It looked like Hearn wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Barbosa closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hearn counters with a nice leg kick.
Hearn fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Barbosa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hearn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hearn scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Barbosa tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hearn counters with a stiff right hand.
Barbosa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hearn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Barbosa pushes Hearn up against the cage in a clinch.
Barbosa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hearn misses with a punch to the body.

Hearn breaks the clinch.
Hearn slips a jab and a cross from Barbosa.
Barbosa moves away from the strike by Hearn.
Barbosa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hearn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barbosa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
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!
No joy there for Barbosa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barbosa tries a head kick but it misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Barbosa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Barbosa moves into the clinch.
Hearn lands a right hand.
Hearn tries to work over Barbosa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Antonio Barbosa seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Barbosa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Barbosa struggles to land a body shot inside as Hearn controls his hands.

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 Thomas Hearn.
I think Hearn has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Thomas Hearn!
After winning the bout, Thomas Hearn thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.