PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Simen Nielsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diogo Barbossa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diogo Barbossa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nielsen
vs
Barbossa

188 cm
21
189 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

184 cm
25
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simen Nielsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Diogo Barbossa!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Nielsen does no damage.

Nielsen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nielsen sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Nielsen is working for a kimura but Barbossa is defending it quite comfortably.

Barbossa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nielsen pulls his head out easily.
Barbossa is trying to control but can't.

Nielsen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barbossa is just riding it out for now. Nielsen eventually gives up the hold.
Nielsen is taking a breather. Barbossa says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen wants to take a breather but Barbossa is having none of it.
Nielsen is thwarting Barbossa's attempts to control the position.
Nielsen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Barbossa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Nielsen jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Barbossa manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Barbossa prevents Nielsen from improving position.
Nielsen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barbossa keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nielsen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Barbossa has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nielsen is breathing heavily.

Nielsen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Barbossa is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Barbossa controls the position for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen trying to control the action but Barbossa is working from the bottom.
Barbossa is looking for a sweep.
Barbossa wants to control but Nielsen postures up.
Barbossa is looking to regain half guard here but Nielsen keeps moving and retains side control.
Nielsen prevents Barbossa from escaping the position.
Barbossa stops Nielsen from passing to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barbossa is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Barbossa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Barbossa is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Nielsen is controlling him well.
Barbossa wants to control but Nielsen postures up.

Nielsen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Barbossa prevents Nielsen from improving position.
You can see the frustration on Barbossa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barbossa is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simen Nielsen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nielsen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Barbossa shoots in but Nielsen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nielsen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Barbossa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nielsen slaps away a takedown attempt from Barbossa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nielsen misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbossa slaps away a takedown attempt from Nielsen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simen Nielsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barbossa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nielsen shoots and misses

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

Barbossa ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Barbossa no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barbossa pushes Nielsen off and scrambles back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barbossa shoots in for a takedown but Nielsen shows good takedown defense.
Barbossa is looking to clinch.
Nielsen tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Barbossa counters by clinching up.

Barbossa gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Nielsen regains guard.
Nielsen has a closed guard, preventing Barbossa from standing up.

Nielsen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barbossa defends it easily.
Barbossa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nielsen is keeping the position for now.

Nielsen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barbossa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa trying to control but Nielsen is working from the bottom.
Barbossa wants to get up but he can't break Nielsen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Barbossa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nielsen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Barbossa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Barbossa looking to pass the guard.
Nielsen trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa wanted to stand there but Nielsen had control of the position.
Nielsen trying to keep a closed guard but Barbossa is proving a slippery customer.
Barbossa trying to control the position from guard on top but Nielsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nielsen leaves Barbossa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nielsen shoots in but Barbossa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Barbossa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nielsen's waist but Nielsen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barbossa off to one side.

Barbossa drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen keeping moving, preventing Barbossa from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Barbossa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nielsen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barbossa has managed to get both his arms back between Nielsen's legs - danger averted.
Barbossa trying to control but Nielsen is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Diogo Barbossa.
Nielsen closes the distance but Barbossa moves to the side

and Barbossa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nielsen!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diogo Barbossa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nielsen slaps away a takedown attempt from Barbossa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nielsen misses with a takedown

and Barbossa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nielsen working hard to break the clinch.
Nielsen tries to pull guard but Barbossa won't allow it.
Barbossa tries for a takedown. No joy.

Barbossa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice sprawl there from Nielsen as Barbossa shoots in.
Simen Nielsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diogo Barbossa.
Barbossa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Simen Nielsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Barbossa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nielsen tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Barbossa counters with a single leg into guard. Nielsen didn't expect that.
Nielsen trying to keep a closed guard but Barbossa is proving a slippery customer.
Barbossa postures up in Nielsen's guard and throws a big left but Nielsen blocks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nielsen working for a triangle but Barbossa defends it easily.
Barbossa wants to pass the guard but Nielsen is keeping the position.

Nielsen has his foot on Barbossa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barbossa works his way back into a safe position though.
Barbossa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Barbossa wants to control from the top but Nielsen keeps moving.
Barbossa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Barbossa wanted to stand there but Nielsen had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Diogo Barbossa has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Barbossa shoots in for a double leg but Nielsen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nielsen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nielsen tries to clinch but Barbossa moves away

and Barbossa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Barbossa obliges.

Barbossa jumps guard.
Barbossa wants to sweep here but Nielsen controlling him for the moment.

Nielsen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Barbossa manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Nielsen has Barbossa in his guard.
Nielsen trying to control the position.
Barbossa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barbossa decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nielsen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Barbossa drives through and clinches with Nielsen against the cage.

Barbossa gets control of Nielsen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Barbossa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Barbossa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nielsen!
Nielsen tries to lock up and control but Barbossa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nielsen is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Barbossa connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Nielsen can't escape the position.
Barbossa controlling the position easily from mount.
Barbossa lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Nielsen tries to hold on but Barbossa postures up.
Nielsen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Barbossa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diogo Barbossa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barbossa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diogo Barbossa!