PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabino Barrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noynoy Aquino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noynoy Aquino 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!

Barrera
vs
Aquino

186 cm
25
220 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

188 cm
22
200 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gabino Barrera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Noynoy Aquino!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Albert Achterberg and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aquino misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Aquino shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Barrera is trying to defend but Aquino finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Aquino seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ground and pound from Aquino.
Aquino wants to stand but Barrera has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Aquino misses with a head shot. Barrera uses the momentum to regain guard.
Aquino preventing the sweep.

Aquino got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barrera has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Aquino has managed to get both his arms back between Barrera's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aquino throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Barrera wants to sweep but no luck.
Aquino working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Barrera's head.
Aquino looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aquino won't allow Barrera to sweep him here.

Barrera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Barrera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aquino.
Aquino trying to stand up but can't free himself from Barrera's guard.
Aquino looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Aquino closes the distance and clinches up with Barrera, looking for a takedown. Aquino pushes Barrera against the cage but Barrera circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Aquino throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barrera's waist but Barrera gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aquino off to one side.
Barrera scores with a jab to the head.
Barrera defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Aquino.
Gabino Barrera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Noynoy Aquino.
Aquino looks gassed!
Aquino takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrera lands with a nice combination. Aquino backs away looking to recover.
Barrera closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Noynoy Aquino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aquino fails with a takedown attempt.
Barrera scores with a crisp jab that stopped Aquino in his tracks.
Aquino moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Barrera connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Aquino momentarily.
Aquino misses with a combination
and Barrera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Aquino takes a jab right on the kisser.
Decent striking displayed by Barrera there.
Barrera tries a head kick but it misses.
Aquino looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Barrera connects with a right hand. Aquino shakes it off.
Barrera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aquino gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Barrera is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Barrera looks to land a combination. Aquino sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrera scores with a jab. Aquino acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Barrera is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Aquino has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Barrera lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aquino circles away quickly and effectively.
Barrera tries to bum rush Aquino with a series of wild strikes but Aquino uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barrera lands with a straight right. Aquino didn't see that one coming.
Nice body punch from Barrera.
Barrera misses with a series of wild punches.
Barrera lands with a nice body punch.
Aquino closes the distance but Barrera moves to the side
and Barrera counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Barrera lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Aquino shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barrera managing to control the position.
Aquino throwing strikes from guard but Barrera blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aquino postures up in Barrera's guard and throws a big left but Barrera blocks it.
Barrera wants to sweep here but Aquino controlling him for the moment.
Barrera is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Barrera wants to work for an arm triangle but Aquino is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Barrera not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Aquino regains full guard. Nicely done.
Barrera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aquino swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barrera postures up in Aquino's guard and throws a big left but Aquino blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barrera misses with an uppercut. Aquino saw that one coming.
Barrera fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barrera bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Aquino's head backwards.
Barrera swinging wildly here.
Gabino Barrera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barrera connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Aquino tries for a takedown but Barrera circles away easily
and Barrera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Aquino doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Barrera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Aquino tries to clinch but Barrera moves away
and Barrera cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Aquino closes the distance but Barrera moves to the side
and Barrera cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Aquino closes the distance and clinches.
Barrera makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Aquino tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Barrera just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gabino Barrera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Noynoy Aquino.
Aquino manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Aquino has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Aquino is breathing heavily.
Barrera with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Aquino's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Barrera.
Barrera makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Aquino prevents Barrera from breaking the clinch.
Barrera lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barrera has Aquino pressed against the cage, preventing Aquino from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Barrera managing to block the knees to the body from Aquino.
Aquino drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barrera throws an elbow that misses.
Barrera lands an elbow inside.
Barrera creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aquino's defenses.

Barrera pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barrera takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Barrera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barrera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aquino shoots and misses
letting Barrera counter with a right hand.
Barrera lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Barrera misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aquino tries a head kick but it misses.
Gabino Barrera is winning the standup battle so far.
Barrera goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Aquino closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Barrera scores with a one two! Aquino had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barrera lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Aquino has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Aquino, right into the meat.
Barrera lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Aquino at a distance.
Aquino closes the distance but Barrera moves to the side
and Aquino takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A combination from Barrera does no damage.
Barrera scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Aquino fails with the takedown
and Barrera makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Barrera throws a series of punches but Aquino moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Barrera.
Aquino fails with the takedown
and Barrera counters with a nice uppercut.
Aquino with a lazy takedown attempt
and Barrera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barrera throws a combination. Aquino tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Barrera tests Aquino's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Aquino has his takedown stuffed
and Barrera counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Aquino fails with the takedown
and Barrera counters with a stiff right hand.
Aquino with a lazy takedown attempt
and Barrera counters with a good low kick that Aquino was not able to check.
Barrera closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Barrera is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aquino can do to turn this around?
Aquino has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Aquino shoots and misses
and Barrera counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Aquino dodges the punch combination from Barrera.
Aquino shoots and misses
and Barrera counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aquino tries to clinch but Barrera moves out of range.
Barrera scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Aquino clinches up with Barrera and pushes him back against the cage.

Barrera breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gabino Barrera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aquino with a lazy takedown attempt
and Barrera counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Aquino clinches but Barrera breaks the clinch
and Barrera counters with a series of strikes. Aquino will be more careful next time no doubt.
Aquino has his takedown stuffed
and Barrera counters with a stiff right hand.
Danga de danga de dang - Barrera scores with a four punch combination!
Aquino throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Barrera counters with a three punch combo that has Aquino backing up. Aquino nods at Barrera to acknowledge the strikes.
Aquino tries to clinch up
and Barrera counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aquino closes the distance but Barrera moves to the side
and Barrera counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabino Barrera dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Aquino takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Aquino walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Barrera is working the combinations to good effect here.
Aquino misses with a takedown
and Barrera counters with a right hand to the body.
Barrera scores with a hook.
Barrera bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Aquino's head.
Barrera tries to bum rush Aquino with a series of wild strikes but Aquino uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Aquino throws the kick towards the body but Barrera avoids it.
Aquino misses with a double jab
and Barrera makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Barrera listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Barrera cracks a nice hook into Aquino's ribs.
Barrera explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Barrera scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Barrera works the jab nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barrera stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Barrera lands with a nice combination. Aquino backs away looking to recover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aquino throws a head kick but Barrera moves out of range.
Aquino throws a hook but Barrera blocks it.
Barrera getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Aquino misses with a takedown
enabling Barrera to counter with a crisp jab.
Barrera throws a combination. Aquino tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Aquino clinches but Barrera breaks the clinch
and Barrera counters with a stiff right hand.
Barrera throws a one two combo.
Barrera misses with the combination.
Aquino tries for a takedown but Barrera circles away easily
and Barrera counters with a left to the body.
Gabino Barrera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Noynoy Aquino.
Barrera scores with a one two! Aquino had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Aquino moves out of range of the body kick from Barrera.
Aquino shoots and misses
and Barrera counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Barrera throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Noynoy Aquino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aquino tries for a takedown but Barrera circles away easily
and Barrera counters with a series of strikes. Aquino will be more careful next time no doubt.
Aquino misses with a takedown
and Barrera counters with a nice uppercut.
A left and a right from Barrera both land. Nice combination.
Aquino tries to clinch
and Barrera counters with a nice body kick.
Barrera throws a body punch but Aquino moves out of range.
Barrera misses with a straight right.
Aquino throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Aquino misses with a takedown attempt
and Barrera counters with a straight right hand.
Aquino throws a sloppy head kick
and Barrera counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Aquino with a lazy takedown attempt
and Barrera counters with a series of strikes. Aquino will be more careful next time no doubt.
Aquino takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Aquino doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Barrera to counter with a crisp jab.
Aquino closes the distance but Barrera moves to the side
and Barrera counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aquino clinches but Barrera breaks the clinch
and Barrera counters with a nice body shot.
Aquino has his takedown stuffed
and Barrera counters with a series of strikes. Aquino will be more careful next time no doubt.
Aquino misses with an attempted mid kick.
Barrera throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Aquino's head.
Barrera lands an overhand right.
Aquino avoids a punch combination nicely.
Aquino wants to clinch but Barrera slips to the side
letting Barrera counter with a right hand.
Aquino is looking to clinch.
Aquino looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Aquino fails with the takedown
and Barrera makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Barrera throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Aquino tries to clinch up
and Barrera counters with a left and a right that stings Aquino.
Aquino dives in and grabs Barrera's left leg, looking for a takedown. Barrera pushes down on Aquino's head and hops out.
Aquino shoots in for a double leg but Barrera sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Barrera throws a combination. Aquino tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Barrera throws a series of punches but Aquino moves out of range.
Barrera moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Aquino shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Barrera counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barrera checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Barrera with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Barrera lands with a good body shot.
Aquino wants to clinch
enabling Barrera to counter with a crisp jab.
Gabino Barrera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barrera scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabino Barrera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barrera, 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:26
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabino Barrera!