PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Kenny Smith (ranked 1065 p4p, 2054 weight class) and Junior Barbosa (ranked 130 p4p, 260 weight class). Smith comes to the ring accompanied by IS THIS LOVE. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Barbosa

181 cm
39
187
37 - 14 - 1

181 cm
32
185
16 - 10 - 0

World class boxer
Granite chin

World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction
© Trap House

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kenny Smith!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Junior Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barbosa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It seemed like Barbosa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Kenny Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith walks into a left hand.

It looks like Kenny Smith has been cut.
Barbosa scores with a jab to the jaw.
Smith scores with a hook.
Barbosa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Smith tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Barbosa counters with a left to the body.
Smith tries to clinch up but Barbosa circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith lands with a thumping leg kick.
Barbosa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Barbosa.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
An inside leg kick lands from Smith.
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!
Smith stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Barbosa is looking to clinch.
Barbosa blocks a head kick by Smith.
Smith moves away from the strike by Barbosa.
Barbosa takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barbosa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barbosa throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
Barbosa has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Smith connects with a leg kick.
Barbosa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barbosa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Smith.
Smith throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Barbosa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smith can pounce on him.
Barbosa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
Barbosa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Barbosa 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.

Kenny Smith's cut is getting worse.
Barbosa walks forward, straight into a front kick from Smith.
A leg kick checked by Smith.
Barbosa takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbosa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith lands with a hook. Barbosa tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Barbosa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The fighters circle momentarily. Smith darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Barbosa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa misses the shot to the body.
Smith cracks Barbosa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A left lands for Smith.
Barbosa throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith jabs Barbosa to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smith throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Barbosa to counter with a crisp jab.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Barbosa avoids the body shot from Smith.
Barbosa misses with a body shot.
Barbosa throws out a leg kick but Smith moves out of range and Barbosa only half commits.
Smith takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A slow jab from Barbosa misses its intended target.

Barbosa instigates a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Barbosa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith dodges an elbow strike from Barbosa.
Barbosa lands a left hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
I was talking to Smith's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Barbosa blocking some punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Junior Barbosa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kenny Smith's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Barbosa keeps the fight on the outside.
Barbosa tries to clinch up.
Smith is looking to counter punch.
A big right from Barbosa misses.
Smith lands a leg kick that knocks Barbosa off balance momentarily.

Barbosa darts in and clinches Smith up against the ropes.
Smith working aggressively here.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short body shot lands from Barbosa as the two fighters clinch.
Barbosa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Barbosa lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Barbosa misses with a punch on the inside.
Smith 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.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barbosa.
Smith is trying to maintain a safe position but Barbosa gets an underhook and turns Smith into the ropes.
Barbosa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smith lands a left hand that snaps the head of Barbosa backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa lands a shoulder strike.
Barbosa gets through Smith's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Barbosa misses with some punches.
Nice body punch from Barbosa.
Barbosa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Barbosa.
Barbosa swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barbosa tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Smith lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Smith lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Junior Barbosa has been cut.

Barbosa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith lands a high kick!
Smith misses with an uppercut. Barbosa saw that one coming.
Barbosa uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Smith has time to react.
Smith throws a lazy uppercut
and Barbosa counters with a stiff right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Barbosa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith cracks Barbosa with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Barbosa connects with a nice looking jab.

Barbosa closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the ropes.
Barbosa lands a nice uppercut.
Junior Barbosa seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Barbosa is working Smith over against the ropes.
A left hand lands to the body for Barbosa.
Barbosa lands a hook to the side of the head.

Kenny Smith's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barbosa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A head punch on the inside from Smith fails to land.
Barbosa tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith is trying to maintain a safe position but Barbosa gets an underhook and turns Smith into the ropes.
Barbosa blocking some punches.
Smith misses with some punches.
Smith with a knee to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barbosa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Barbosa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Barbosa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Barbosa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbosa is just out of range.
Smith throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Smith misses with an attempted mid kick.
Barbosa throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Barbosa goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Barbosa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Smith.
Smith scores with a nice body kick.
Smith checks a leg kick.
Smith misses with a hook
and Barbosa counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith slips under a jab from Barbosa.
Barbosa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barbosa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barbosa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Decent striking displayed by Smith there.
Barbosa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Barbosa in a clinch.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Barbosa is defending well for now.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Barbosa throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith taking a breather.
Smith takes a shot to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Barbosa.
Barbosa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Barbosa struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
Smith prevents a body shot from Barbosa.
Smith lands a knee to the body.
Barbosa misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Barbosa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Smith takes a shot to the head.
Barbosa lands with a right to the head.

Barbosa breaks the clinch.
Barbosa throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith tries to land a leg kick but Barbosa saw it coming and moves away.
Barbosa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith throws a leg kick but Barbosa sees it coming and moves out of range.
Barbosa lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Barbosa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith slips under a jab from Barbosa.
Barbosa moves out of range of the strikes.

Barbosa cracks Smith with a perfect right hand that drops him to the mat! Smith is sitting up but I can't see if he's OK from my position. The referee's count has reached 5,6,7 and Smith is still not up. Can he make it? 8,9, he's up! Wow, he cut that one a bit fine!

Smith is rocked!

Jeez, Kenny Smith's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Kenny Smith's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:16 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Junior Barbosa!
Junior Barbosa is the new middleweight champion!
A victorious Junior Barbosa thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
Kenny Smith was interviewed post fight and said 'You bastard! You killed Kenny!'.