PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Speed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Barbio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Speed comes to the cage accompanied by Pendulum / The Tempest. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Speed
vs
Barbio

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Perkele!

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Speed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, William Barbio!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Barbio.
Speed misses with a head kick.

Barbio dives in and scores a takedown into Speed's guard.
Barbio prevents Speed from getting back to his feet.
Barbio is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Speed is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barbio is controlling him.
Barbio is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. William Barbio hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Barbio gets a double leg takedown into Speed's guard.
Barbio has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Speed is proving hard to escape from.
Speed wants to stand but Barbio is controlling the position.
Barbio is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. William Barbio wasn't active enough on the ground.
Barbio blocks a low kick nicely.
Barbio fails with a takedown attempt.
Barbio checks a low kick from Speed.
Barbio shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Speed defends it nicely.
Speed looks for the body kick but Barbio saw that one coming.
Speed throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Speed blocks a head kick by Barbio.
Barbio checks a low kick from Speed.

Barbio shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Barbio wants to stand and escape but instead Speed has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Speed looking to sit in guard and control but Barbio gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Barbio trying to move into half guard but instead Speed has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbio is pulling down on Speed's head to control his posture.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barbio can do anything to dispel that myth.
Speed wants to control from the top but Barbio keeps moving.
Barbio is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Speed pushes down on Barbio's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Barbio dominated that 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.

Speed avoids a kick to the body.
Speed tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
William Barbio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Speed tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barbio shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Speed defends it nicely.
Barbio fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Speed avoids it really well and circles away.
Barbio moves in looking to clinch but Speed pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed lands with a kick to the temple. Barbio shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Barbio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Speed was well out of range. Poor timing from Barbio.
Barbio checks the leg kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Speed enables Barbio to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Speed manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Barbio decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Speed, up you get!

Barbio scores with a takedown into Speed's guard.
Speed keeping full guard, as Barbio tries to pass.
Speed being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbio looking to sit in guard and control but Speed gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Barbio working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Speed doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Speed manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Barbio is looking to stand back up but Speed counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Barbio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbio trying to control here.
Barbio is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barbio has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Speed is working away from the top position though.
Speed is looking to take a break and control but Barbio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Barbio throws a strike from the bottom but Speed passes into side control!
Speed has control of an arm but Barbio manages to advance to Speed's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Barbio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Barbio fails to land the takedown.
Speed throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Barbio is looking to clinch but Speed is avoiding it.
Barbio throws a sloppy head kick and Speed moves out of range easily.
Barbio is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barbio throws a right hand that Speed ducks under and follows up with a left that Speed also avoids with ease.
Barbio shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Speed as he jumps to the side.
Barbio blocks a head kick by Speed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed throws out a leg kick but Barbio moves out of range and Speed only half commits.
Speed throws a head kick but Barbio moves out of range.

Barbio closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Speed quickly recovers to half guard.
Barbio throwing shots but Speed is blocking nicely.
Barbio looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Barbio wants to stand up but Speed has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Barbio prevents Speed from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbio is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

OK we're going to have a standup here. William Barbio hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Speed throws a sloppy head kick and Barbio moves out of range easily.
Barbio tries to clinch but Speed is having none of it.

Barbio gets a takedown into half guard.
Speed tries to kick Barbio off but Barbio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbio is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Barbio thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Barbio is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Barbio engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

OK we're going to have a standup here. William Barbio hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Speed swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbio looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alexander Speed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Barbio.
Nice sprawl there from Speed as Barbio shoots in.
Barbio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Speed swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barbio blocks the body kick.
Alexander Speed is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barbio misses with a kick to the body.
Barbio fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Barbio checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Barbio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barbio has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Barbio!