PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Emilio Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Mir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frank Mir told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Barbosa
vs
Mir

197 cm
25
235 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
265 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emilio Barbosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Frank Mir!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Barbosa, as that shot connected.
A jab from Barbosa finds it's way through Mir's defenses.

Barbosa clinches up against the cage.

Barbosa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barbosa tries to clinch there but Mir circles away.
Barbosa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mir shoots for a double leg takedown but Barbosa sprawls well. He's pushed Mir's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mir showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barbosa.
Barbosa tries to clinch up.

Barbosa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mir to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mir postures up in Barbosa's guard and throws a big left but Barbosa blocks it.
Mir sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Barbosa's guard.

Mir is working for a submission of some sort.
Mir is looking to take a break and control but Barbosa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa wants to get back to full guard.
Barbosa is trying to stand.
Mir lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Barbosa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mir pulls his head out easily.
Barbosa is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Mir jumps into side control!
Barbosa tries to bench press Mir off him but Mir keeps the position.

That's two 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.
Mir cracks Barbosa with a big right hand but Barbosa just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Barbosa is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barbosa is looking for a sweep. Mir is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barbosa gets back to full guard.
Mir is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Barbosa has his foot on Mir's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mir works his way back into a safe position though.

Mir is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Barbosa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mir defends well.
Mir in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa keeping moving, preventing Mir from controlling successfully.
Barbosa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barbosa will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mir trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barbosa misses with a wild combination.
Barbosa stalks Mir and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mir's face. Mir staggers backwards, shaken.
Barbosa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mir takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Mir looks for a takedown but Barbosa sprawls well.
Emilio Barbosa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Mir.
Mir looks gassed!
Barbosa scores with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mir misses with a takedown attempt - Barbosa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mir takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mir walks into a straight right hand from Barbosa.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Barbosa.
Mir fails with a takedown attempt.
Barbosa with a jab.
Emilio Barbosa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barbosa cracks a nice hook into Mir's ribs.

Barbosa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Barbosa works on Mir's body with a couple of short punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barbosa is struggling to control the position.
Mir trying to control the position but instead, Barbosa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mir into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emilio Barbosa dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Barbosa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Barbosa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mir dives in and grabs Barbosa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Barbosa pushes down on Mir's head and hops out.
Barbosa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mir doesn't seem bothered though.
Emilio Barbosa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barbosa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Barbosa counters with a stiff right hand.
Barbosa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbosa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Barbosa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mir is breathing heavily.
Barbosa is working Mir over against the cage.

Barbosa manages to break the clinch.
Nice cross by Barbosa.
Barbosa lands with a hook. Mir tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A punch lands to the side of Mir 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa jabs at Mir's body.
Barbosa fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Barbosa displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Mir takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mir walks into a left hand.
Barbosa lands a really nice looking cross but Mir seems unphased.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbosa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mir swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Barbosa moves into the clinch.

Barbosa breaks from the clinch.
Mir on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Barbosa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barbosa lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Barbosa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mir can do to turn this around?
Jab, jab by Barbosa - just one landing.
Mir ducks under a wild hook from Barbosa.
Mir takes one to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa throws a jab when Mir was well out of range.
Mir tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barbosa swivels and escapes.

Barbosa darts in and clinches Mir up against the cage.

Barbosa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barbosa lands a nice hook to Mir's body. Mir takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Barbosa scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Jab, jab by Barbosa - just one landing.
Mir takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Barbosa throws a series of punches but Mir avoids them all with ease.
Mir walks into a stiff left hand from Barbosa.
Barbosa lands with a shot to the body.
Frank Mir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mir shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barbosa as he jumps to the side.
Emilio Barbosa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Mir.
Barbosa bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Mir's head backwards.
Barbosa works the jab nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mir in his tracks.
Barbosa misses with a two punch combination.
Barbosa throws a right and a left that both miss.

Barbosa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Barbosa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barbosa lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mir fails with the takedown
and Barbosa counters with a nice body shot.
Barbosa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mir looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mir has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Barbosa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Barbosa has managed to clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Barbosa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barbosa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barbosa lands a head shot.
Mir shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barbosa lands with a nice body punch.
Barbosa throws a series of strikes that have Mir backpedaling.
Barbosa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Barbosa lands a jab to the head.
Mir shoots in for a double leg but Barbosa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice shot by Barbosa.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbosa stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Barbosa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barbosa misses with a wild combination.
Mir shoots in for a takedown but Barbosa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emilio Barbosa dominated that second round.
That's time! Barbosa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mir with a poor takedown

and Barbosa counters by moving into the clinch.
Mir has Barbosa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Barbosa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Barbosa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Barbosa closes the distance and pushes Mir back into the cage.

Barbosa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barbosa connects with a nice looking jab.
Barbosa lands a head shot.
Barbosa paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A combination from Barbosa does no damage.
Barbosa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mir ducks right into an uppercut from Barbosa.
Barbosa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mir doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Barbosa counters with a straight right hand.
Emilio Barbosa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Mir.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barbosa misses with a wild combination.
Barbosa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa is looking to clinch.
Mir takes a jab right on the kisser.
Barbosa swats away the attempt to clinch by Mir.

Mir feints and as Barbosa raises his hands in defense, Mir changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mir wants to control from the top but Barbosa keeps moving.
Mir stopping the sweep attempt from Barbosa.

Barbosa has his foot on Mir's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mir works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mir content to stall in guard here.
Mir wants to control from the top but Barbosa keeps moving.
Barbosa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mir prevents Barbosa from getting back to his feet.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mir walks into a jab.
Barbosa connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mir fails to land the takedown.
Barbosa connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Mir moves forwards but Barbosa connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Barbosa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Barbosa lands an overhand right.
Barbosa scores with a three punch combo!
Barbosa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barbosa fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Barbosa rushes Mir and presses him up against the cage.

Mir manages to pull guard.
Barbosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Mir is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barbosa stays in close to Mir's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Mir is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emilio Barbosa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barbosa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Emilio Barbosa.
Barbosa misses with the combination.

Barbosa has Mir up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mir drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emilio 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emilio Barbosa!