PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Barba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Goran Schwarzeneg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barba
vs
Schwarzeneg

188 cm
28
203 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

187 cm
29
210 lbs
9 - 34 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Determined

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Barba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 34 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Goran Schwarzeneg!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schwarzeneg falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barba cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Schwarzeneg wants to clinch but Barba slips to the side

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

Barba gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Barba throwing strikes but missing.
Schwarzeneg is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Barba is stalling in the full guard.
Schwarzeneg really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barba. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Barba trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Barba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Schwarzeneg is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Barba throwing strikes but missing.

Barba drops back looking for a leg! Schwarzeneg is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Schwarzeneg manages to kick Barba off! Barba jumps back into Schwarzeneg's guard.
Barba landing with the ground and pound.
Barba cracks Schwarzeneg with a solid left hand.
Barba throwing strikes from guard but Schwarzeneg blocks nicely.
Barba wants to control from the top but Schwarzeneg keeps moving.

Barba drops back, looking for a kneebar! Schwarzeneg looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Schwarzeneg looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Schwarzeneg!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Barba tries to improve position but can't.
Barba misses with a strike from the bottom.
Schwarzeneg takes a little break here. Barba wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Barba sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg throwing shots but Barba is blocking nicely.
Schwarzeneg wants to stand up but Barba has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barba is trying to get back to full guard.
Schwarzeneg controlling the action here.
Barba moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Schwarzeneg must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Barba working for a triangle but Schwarzeneg defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barba is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Barba dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Schwarzeneg shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Schwarzeneg is looking to clinch.

Barba clinches with his opponent.
Schwarzeneg tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barba smiles and moves away.

Schwarzeneg tries to keep at a distance but Barba has taken the fight into the clinch.

Barba decides to pull guard.

Barba throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Schwarzeneg escapes and throws Barba's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Barba is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg working away.
Barba manages to work his way to half guard, despite Schwarzeneg's best efforts.
Barba keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Barba is trying to stand back up but Schwarzeneg is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barba is trying to maintain the position but Schwarzeneg is very close to passing his half guard.
Barba punching from the bottom.

Barba looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg prevents Barba from improving his position.

Barba actively working from the bottom here.

That's four 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.
Schwarzeneg is thwarting Barba's attempts to control the position.
Schwarzeneg is trying to control. Barba wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Barba actively working from the bottom here.
Barba makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Barba.
Barba working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Barba 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Schwarzeneg shoots for a takedown but Barba saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Barba shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Schwarzeneg napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Schwarzeneg takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Barba working the ground and pound.
Schwarzeneg gets back to half guard.
Schwarzeneg avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Barba.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barba performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Barba throwing shots but Schwarzeneg is blocking nicely.
Barba throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg has hold of Barba's hands but Barba slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Barba wants to take a breather but Schwarzeneg is having none of it.
Barba sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Schwarzeneg defending well though.

Barba is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Barba prevents Schwarzeneg from improving his position.
Barba lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nice strikes from Barba there.
Barba sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Schwarzeneg defending well though.
Schwarzeneg has hold of Barba's hands but Barba slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Schwarzeneg has hold of Barba's hands but Barba slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Barba lands strikes from half guard.
Schwarzeneg takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barba landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Barba trying to control from half guard but Schwarzeneg is working away.
Barba is really struggling to control Schwarzeneg but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Barba missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Barba works his way into side control.
Barba is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Schwarzeneg can do to turn this around?
Barba scoring with punches and elbows.
Barba cracks Schwarzeneg with a big right hand but Schwarzeneg just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Barba landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barba is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Schwarzeneg looks calm but he's in trouble here. Barba gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Schwarzeneg is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Barba lets go of the hold and Schwarzeneg can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Frank Barba!