PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Romano Schoots (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luis Barrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luis Barrera 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!

Schoots
vs
Barrera

180 cm
30
155 lbs
21 - 15 - 0

177 cm
26
155 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Romano Schoots!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Luis Barrera!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schoots takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Barrera slips a straight right by Schoots.
Barrera has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Schoots.

Schoots drives through and clinches with Barrera against the cage.
Barrera prevents a body shot from Schoots.
Schoots tries a knee to the head but Barrera blocks it.
Barrera wants to take the fight to the mat but Schoots manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Schoots with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Barrera goes for a takedown attempt but Schoots pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Barrera throws a jab but it's blocked by Schoots.
Barrera tried to score with a low kick but Schoots checks it.
Barrera swings widly with a right hand
and Schoots counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barrera throws a hook but Schoots blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrera throws a body punch but Schoots moves out of range.
Barrera takes a swing at Schoots's ribcage but misses.
Barrera gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Barrera thows a body shot but no joy.
Barrera throws a left and a right that both miss
and Barrera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Schoots keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barrera.
Schoots needs to keep his hands up - Barrera had a free shot at his head there.

Barrera closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Schoots's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Schoots looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barrera is one step ahead there.
Schoots keeping moving, preventing Barrera from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrera in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Schoots wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schoots working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barrera.
Barrera trying to control but Schoots is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Schoots wants to sweep here but Barrera controlling him for the moment.
Barrera controls from within his opponent's guard.
Barrera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Schoots looking for a sweep. Not yet Schoots, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schoots keeping full guard, as Barrera tries to pass.
Schoots looking to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Schoots with a hook.
Schoots bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barrera shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Romano Schoots has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Barrera.
A swing and a miss from Barrera.
Schoots just misses with a punch to the body.
Barrera tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Schoots is able to avoid easily.
Barrera throws an overhand right that lands on Schoots's shoulder, as Schoots tries to avoid the shot.
Schoots lands a really nice looking cross but Barrera seems unphased.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrera swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Schoots counters with a good low kick that Barrera was not able to check.
Schoots wants to clinch.
Schoots swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barrera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Schoots to counter with a crisp jab.
Barrera tried to score with a low kick but Schoots checks it.
Barrera shoots in but no luck this time.
Schoots stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schoots works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A punch combination from Barrera misses.
Schoots misses with a straight right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barrera with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Barrera swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Schoots.

It looks like Romano Schoots has been cut.
No joy there for Schoots, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barrera misses with a straight right.
Barrera throws a lazy uppercut
and Schoots counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barrera looks to land a combination. Schoots sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Barrera shoots and misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Schoots swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barrera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Schoots.
Barrera throws a lazy head kick
and Schoots cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Schoots thows a body shot but no joy.
Barrera connects with a right hand. Schoots shakes it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schoots waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barrera.
Schoots connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A big right from Schoots misses.

Schoots closes the distance and pushes Barrera back into the cage.
Schoots leaning his opponent against the cage.
Barrera is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Schoots pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Schoots stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Schoots wants to stall.
Schoots with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Schoots with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schoots looking to stall.
Barrera has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Schoots is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Romano Schoots has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Barrera.
Barrera lands a left hand that snaps the head of Schoots backwards.
Schoots is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Barrera has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Schoots regains guard immediately.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barrera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Schoots working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barrera.
Schoots tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barrera scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Schoots avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Barrera in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrera forces his way into half guard.
Barrera seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Schoots does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Schoots taking some punishment here, with Barrera in his half guard.
Schoots wants to control but Barrera is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Barrera is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Schoots to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Schoots is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Schoots prevents Barrera from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schoots trying to control from half guard but Barrera is working away.
Barrera trying to control but Schoots postures up.
Barrera regains full guard. Nicely done.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schoots won't allow Barrera to sweep him here.
Schoots cracks Barrera with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Barrera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Romano Schoots's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Schoots digs a good hook to Barrera's body.

Schoots has taken the fight to the clinch.
Barrera goes for a takedown attempt but Schoots pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Schoots loads up on a big right hand but Barrera slips the punch.
A lazy left from Barrera finds it's target.
Schoots lands with an uppercut that bounces Barrera off the cage and back into range.
Barrera takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Barrera gets the takedown into side control.
Schoots struggling a bit here.
Barrera throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Schoots works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schoots wants to improve his position but Barrera is controlling well.
Schoots works his way to full guard. Good work.
Barrera looking to pass the guard.
Luis Barrera has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barrera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Schoots keeping moving, preventing Barrera from controlling successfully.
Schoots looking for a sweep. Not yet Schoots, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Schoots is keeping the position for now.
Barrera throws a strike but Schoots rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Schoots avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Schoots controls from within his opponent's guard.
Barrera wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Schoots is now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrera tries to roll over but Schoots keeps him under control.
Barrera is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Barrera manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Romano Schoots has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Barrera pushes Schoots off and scrambles back to his feet.
Barrera missing with a left hand there. Schoots was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Schoots.
Luis Barrera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Schoots staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrera swats away the attempt to clinch by Schoots.
Schoots connects with a jab.
Barrera checks the leg kick.
Barrera looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fighters circle momentarily. Barrera darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Barrera looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Schoots tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Luis Barrera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Schoots. Barrera does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barrera stalks Schoots and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Schoots's face. Schoots staggers backwards, shaken.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luis Barrera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barrera winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luis Barrera!
Luis Barrera gave a mention to GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).