PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Barbalho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mick Knox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mick Knox has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barbalho
vs
Knox

180 cm
24
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
20
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pedro Barbalho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mick Knox!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knox throws a hook but Barbalho blocks it.
Knox wants to clinch up but Barbalho keeps it at a distance.
Knox throws a head kick that misses.
Knox moves in looking to clinch but Barbalho pushes him off.
Knox throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Knox throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Barbalho misses with a double jab.
Knox throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Barbalho counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Knox thinking.
Barbalho lands with a nice body punch.
Knox has a takedown stuffed.
Knox closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barbalho circles away.
No luck for Knox with that takedown attempt.
Pedro Barbalho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mick Knox.
Barbalho catches Knox with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Barbalho scores with a jab. Knox acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbalho stalks Knox and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Knox's face. Knox staggers backwards, shaken.
Knox connects with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbalho goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nice shot by Barbalho.
Mick Knox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barbalho looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Barbalho misses.
Knox throws a head kick that half lands.
Knox throws a sloppy head kick and Barbalho moves out of range easily.
Knox looks gassed!
Barbalho throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barbalho goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Knox dives in and grabs Barbalho's left leg, looking for a takedown. Barbalho pushes down on Knox's head and hops out.
A combination from Barbalho does no damage.
Barbalho misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Knox lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Knox walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knox has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Barbalho. Those never looked like landing.
Barbalho clobbers Knox with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Knox looks to land a combination but Barbalho avoids it well.
Barbalho swats away the attempt to clinch by Knox.
Knox throws a head kick but Barbalho moves out of range.
Knox lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Knox misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barbalho digs a good hook to Knox's body.
Pedro Barbalho is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Knox takes one to the side of the head.
Barbalho misses with the combination.
Barbalho's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Barbalho duly obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Barbalho misses with a wild body shot.
Barbalho looks to land a combination but Knox avoids it well.
Knox doesn't manage to clinch there - Barbalho circles away.
Knox tries to clinch up
and Barbalho counters with a left and a right that stings Knox.
Knox looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barbalho is fending him off so far but Knox persists. Nope, Barbalho circles away and we're back to standing.
Knox tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Left hook, right uppercut from Barbalho.
Knox is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Barbalho.
Barbalho is working the combinations to good effect here.
Knox throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbalho stalks Knox and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Knox's face. Knox staggers backwards, shaken.
Knox checks a leg kick.
Jab, jab by Barbalho - just one landing.
Barbalho looks to land a combination but Knox avoids it well.
Knox shoots in and drives through. Barbalho sprawls well.
Knox on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Knox moves into range and clinches up with Barbalho.
Knox is trying to break the clinch but Barbalho has him pressed against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A frustrated look appears on Barbalho's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barbalho lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barbalho lands with a light punch inside.
Barbalho jumps guard but Knox turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Knox escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Knox wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Knox tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Barbalho manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barbalho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Knox moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barbalho lands a jab to Knox's midsection.
Nice body kick there by Knox.
Barbalho throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Knox shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barbalho as he avoids it easily.
Barbalho throws a body punch but Knox moves out of range.
Knox shoots for a takedown but Barbalho saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Knox throws a head kick that half lands.
Barbalho lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Knox circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Knox is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pedro Barbalho is winning the standup battle so far.
Knox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbalho connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Barbalho scores with a jab.

Knox gets a clinch.
Knox working hard to break the clinch.
Knox is trying to maintain a safe position but Barbalho gets an underhook and turns Knox into the cage.
Barbalho presses Knox against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Knox breaks from the clinch.
Barbalho throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barbalho scores with a three punch combo!
Barbalho misses with the combination.
Knox looks to land a combination but Barbalho avoids it well.
Knox tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Barbalho as Knox shoots in.
Pedro Barbalho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mick Knox.
Barbalho lands with a nice combination. Knox backs away looking to recover.
Pedro Barbalho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed right hand from Knox misses the target.
Sloppy strikes from Barbalho. Those never looked like landing.
Knox with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Barbalho to score with a decent uppercut.
Knox is looking to clinch but Barbalho is avoiding it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barbalho avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Some wild striking there from Barbalho.
Barbalho misses with a wild combination.
Knox fails with a takedown attempt.
Knox dodges the punch combination from Barbalho.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbalho avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Barbalho wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Barbalho finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Barbalho lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Barbalho stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barbalho wants it to stay on the feet.
Knox moves to clinch but Barbalho breaks away
and Barbalho counters with a series of strikes. Knox will be more careful next time no doubt.
Barbalho fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Knox is out of range.
Knox takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Knox throws a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbalho uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Knox has time to react.
Knox has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Knox closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Knox's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barbalho misses with a few strikes there.
Knox shoots in but no luck this time.
Knox pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Knox tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barbalho changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barbalho cracks Knox with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Knox throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knox is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barbalho sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pedro Barbalho will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A cross from Barbalho lands.
Barbalho circles away from the clinch attempt.
Knox pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barbalho throws a low kick but it's checked well by Knox.
Knox misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Knox throws a sloppy head kick and Barbalho moves out of range easily.
Barbalho stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barbalho wants it to stay on the feet.
Barbalho lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Knox circles away quickly and effectively.

Knox takes the fight into the clinch.
Knox is trying desperately to land a takedown but Barbalho is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Knox.
A short body shot lands from Barbalho as the two fighters clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barbalho wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Knox has him pressed against the cage.
Barbalho wants to break the clinch but can't.
Barbalho wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Barbalho tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Knox smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbalho looks to land a combination but Knox avoids it well.
Knox shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barbalho sprawls well. Barbalho wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Knox gets slowly back to his feet.
Barbalho looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice straight punches there by Barbalho. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Barbalho.
Knox looks to land a body kick but Barbalho moved away.
Knox moves in looking to clinch but Barbalho pushes him off.
Knox tries for a takedown but Barbalho sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pedro Barbalho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mick Knox.
Barbalho dips to his left and cracks Knox with an uppercut!
Knox has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Barbalho scores with a three punch combo!
Barbalho throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Knox lands with a slapping head kick.
Knox doesn't manage to clinch there - Barbalho circles away.
Knox misses with a body shot
and Barbalho counters with a left and a right that stings Knox.
Knox tries a head kick but it misses.
Knox avoids a punch combination nicely.
Knox misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Knox.
Barbalho moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Knox throws a series of punches but Barbalho avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbalho throws a nice looking combination but Knox bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barbalho dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Knox misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barbalho swinging wildly here.
Knox keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Knox is looking to clinch but Barbalho is avoiding it.
Barbalho throws a series of punches but Knox moves out of range.
Barbalho misses with a series of wild punches.
Barbalho stuffs the takedown.
Barbalho throws a one two combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Knox fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barbalho scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Knox looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbalho is just out of range.
Barbalho throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Knox fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Barbalho thuds a left hand into Knox's body.
Knox has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Knox walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barbalho misses with a looping right.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Knox.
Mick Knox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pedro Barbalho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nice body punch from Barbalho.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pedro Barbalho showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barbalho, 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pedro Barbalho!
A victorious Pedro Barbalho thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.