PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Luis Carlos Linhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hector Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Carlos Linhares
vs
Barbosa

171 cm
25
144 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

165 cm
25
144 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luis Carlos Linhares!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hector Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Dean Styles and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice cross by Linhares.

Linhares gets tackled into the cage by Barbosa. Barbosa maintains the clinch.
Barbosa dodges an elbow strike from Linhares.
Barbosa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Linhares is keeping busy.
Linhares avoiding damage as Barbosa throws knees to the body.
Linhares managing to block the knees to the body from Barbosa.
Linhares lands a left hand that snaps the head of Barbosa backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Linhares.
Linhares misses with an elbow over the top.
Linhares avoiding damage as Barbosa throws knees to the body.
Linhares fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Barbosa blocking some punches.
Linhares misses with a punch on the inside.
Barbosa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Barbosa misses with a knee to the head.
The referee calls for Barbosa to work.

Linhares jumps guard.
Barbosa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa stopping the sweep attempt from Linhares.
Barbosa postures up in Linhares's guard and throws a big left but Linhares blocks it.

Linhares is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Barbosa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Linhares utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barbosa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Linhares has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Barbosa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linhares looking for a sweep. Not yet Linhares, not yet.
Linhares trying to control the position.
Barbosa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Linhares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barbosa works over Linhares with some ground and pound from guard.
Barbosa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Barbosa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barbosa preventing the sweep.
Linhares keeping moving, preventing Barbosa from controlling successfully.
Barbosa won't allow Linhares to sweep him here.
Barbosa wants to pass the guard but Linhares is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linhares looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barbosa is one step ahead there.
Barbosa connects with a couple of short punches.
Barbosa trying to control but Linhares is working from the bottom.
Barbosa stopping the sweep attempt from Linhares.

Linhares is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Barbosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Linhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linhares looking for a sweep. Not yet Linhares, not yet.
Barbosa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Barbosa not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Linhares not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barbosa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barbosa tries to free his leg and advance position but Linhares is retaining full guard.
Barbosa trying to control but Linhares is working from the bottom.
Barbosa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barbosa won't allow Linhares to sweep him here.
Linhares keeping moving, preventing Barbosa from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hector Barbosa will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Linhares pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice cross by Barbosa.
Linhares lands a really nice looking cross but Barbosa seems unphased.
Linhares throws a leg kick which misses Barbosa's front leg but catches the back leg as Barbosa tries to avoid it.
Linhares on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Barbosa throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Linhares shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Nice sprawl there from Linhares as Barbosa shoots in.
Linhares jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Barbosa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big left from Linhares misses.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barbosa moves out of range as Linhares throws a body kick.
Linhares throws a sloppy head kick

and Barbosa counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Linhares not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barbosa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Linhares looking for a guillotine here but Barbosa defends easily.

Linhares is looking for a triangle but Barbosa pushes his legs off easily.

Linhares is looking for a triangle but Barbosa pushes his legs off easily.
Barbosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Linhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Linhares is trying to control the position but Barbosa postures up.
Barbosa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Linhares is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linhares tries to stand but Barbosa is controlling from the bottom.
Linhares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barbosa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Linhares wants to control from the top but Barbosa keeps moving.
Linhares is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Barbosa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Luis Carlos Linhares wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
The fighters circling - Linhares throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Linhares looks for the body kick but Barbosa saw that one coming.
Linhares throws a leg kick but Barbosa checks it.
Linhares misses with a hook.
Linhares works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Barbosa avoids the body shot from Linhares.
Luis Carlos Linhares is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barbosa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Linhares looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Linhares throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Good work by Barbosa as he checks the leg kick.
A head kick misses from Barbosa.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Barbosa.
Barbosa lands a nice leg kick that just misses Linhares's sensitive parts.
Barbosa throws a leg kick which misses Linhares's front leg but catches the back leg as Linhares tries to avoid it.
Linhares lands a jab to the nose.
Barbosa throws a leg kick but Linhares checks it.
Linhares staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Barbosa fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Linhares is out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Linhares uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barbosa.
A good leg kick by Linhares.
Linhares on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barbosa. Barbosa obviously looking to wear him down.

Barbosa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Linhares is refusing to be controlled, as Barbosa sits in half guard.

Linhares looking for submissions off his back.

Linhares looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barbosa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Linhares with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
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 Luis Carlos Linhares will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Linhares.
Linhares loads up on a big right hand but Barbosa slips the punch.
Linhares throws the left hand but Barbosa avoids the punch easily.
Barbosa checks a leg kick.
Linhares fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Barbosa checks it well.
Linhares misses with an uppercut

and Barbosa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Barbosa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Barbosa is trying to control. Linhares wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Linhares slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Barbosa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Barbosa is looking to pass into half guard but Linhares pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Linhares is in guard.
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!
Barbosa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hector Barbosa has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linhares trying to control the position from guard on top but Barbosa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Linhares is fighting to break Barbosa's control of his arms but Barbosa is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Barbosa wants to improve his position but instead Linhares has moved into half guard.
Barbosa wants to get back to full guard.
Linhares moves into full mount! Barbosa won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Barbosa regains half guard.
Barbosa is trying to control but can't.
Linhares is keen to just control but Barbosa is a slippery customer.
Barbosa wants to get back to full guard.
Linhares is trying to control. Barbosa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Barbosa is trying to control but can't.
Linhares not doing much here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

We're going to have a standup here because Luis Carlos Linhares wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Linhares throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Barbosa.
Luis Carlos Linhares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barbosa throws a low kick, looking for Linhares's leg but Linhares calmly moves out of range.
Linhares swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Linhares throws a front kick that sends Barbosa stumbling back into the cage.
A swing and a miss from Linhares.
Luis Carlos Linhares is winning the standup battle so far.
Barbosa's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Linhares connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barbosa scrambles back to his feet.
Linhares throws a low kick but it's checked well by Barbosa.
Barbosa checks a low kick from Linhares.
Linhares blocks a leg kick.
Barbosa delivers a nice body kick.
Linhares scores with a hook.
Linhares stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barbosa.
Barbosa tries to move into range but Linhares moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Linhares uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barbosa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Linhares's corner calls for a 1-2. Linhares obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Linhares. Barbosa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barbosa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Linhares sprawls well. Linhares wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barbosa gets slowly back to his feet.
Barbosa wants to land a leg kick but Linhares is out of range.
Barbosa tries to clinch but Linhares moves out of range.
Linhares loads up on a big right hand but Barbosa slips the punch.

Linhares gets caught flat footed, as Barbosa shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Linhares working a defensive guard here.
Linhares wants to control but Barbosa passes easily into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barbosa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Linhares's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Luis Carlos Linhares did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Linhares fakes the leg kick and cracks Barbosa in the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Barbosa lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Linhares has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Linhares and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A big left from Linhares misses.
Barbosa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Linhares defends it nicely.
Barbosa walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Linhares checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Linhares cracks the inside of Barbosa's front leg.
Linhares lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barbosa circles away quickly and effectively.
A head kick misses from Linhares.
Linhares throws a wild body kick that Barbosa sees coming a mile off.
Barbosa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Linhares gets tackled into the cage by Barbosa. Barbosa maintains the clinch.
Linhares throws an elbow that misses.
Barbosa missing with knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linhares is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Barbosa is keeping busy.
Linhares blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barbosa tries a knee to the head but Linhares blocks it.
Barbosa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Linhares has a couple of punches blocked by Barbosa.

Linhares jumps guard and drags Barbosa to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Linhares manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Linhares trying to control but Barbosa is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Linhares pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Linhares is stalling here but it's allowed Barbosa to get half guard.
Linhares is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Linhares is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Barbosa sees it coming and defends easily.
We've been hearing that Linhares has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Linhares is thwarting Barbosa's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linhares looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Barbosa wants to control but Linhares is keeping busy.
Barbosa tries to get to full guard but Linhares has control of the leg.
Linhares controlling the pace.
Barbosa is controlling Linhares's trapped leg to prevent Linhares from advancing to side control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Luis Carlos Linhares wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Linhares looks to land a body kick but Barbosa moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Linhares.
Barbosa throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Barbosa throws a leg kick that misses.
Barbosa on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Linhares throws a push kick but Barbosa slaps the foot to one side.
Barbosa avoids a kick to the body.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Barbosa.
Linhares throws a body kick that misses.
Linhares shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Barbosa throws a push kick but Linhares slaps the foot to one side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Linhares has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barbosa.
Barbosa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Linhares throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Linhares, right into the meat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Carlos Linhares had his way with Hector Barbosa in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Linhares thumps Barbosa with a low kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Barbosa!
A cross from Linhares lands.
Barbosa is looking to score with low kicks.
Barbosa with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Linhares throws a looping overhand right but Barbosa ducks down to avoid it.
Linhares moves out of range of the leg kick from Barbosa.
Linhares rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barbosa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barbosa blocks a head kick by Linhares.
Linhares misses with an attempted mid kick.
Linhares lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Barbosa goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Linhares takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Linhares slips under a jab from Barbosa.
Linhares misses with a low kick as Barbosa jumps back.
Linhares thows a body kick. Barbosa tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Linhares is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa cracks the inside of Linhares's front leg.
Barbosa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A jab lands there for Linhares.
Barbosa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Barbosa thumps Linhares with a low kick.

Barbosa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Linhares!
Barbosa is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Linhares sneaks back into half guard.
Barbosa is trying to control. Linhares wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Linhares holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Linhares has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barbosa is working away from the top position though.
Barbosa is keen to just control but Linhares is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa lands with a punch from half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbosa is nestled in close to Linhares, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Linhares is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barbosa pulls his head out easily.
Linhares is looking to improve his position.
Linhares is refusing to be controlled, as Barbosa sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linhares works his way to full guard. Good work.
Barbosa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Linhares not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barbosa wants to control from the top but Linhares keeps moving.
Barbosa is stalling in the full guard.
Linhares wants to sweep here but Barbosa controlling him for the moment.
Barbosa postures up in Linhares's guard and throws a big left but Linhares blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa wants to control from the top but Linhares keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hector Barbosa hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Linhares bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Barbosa's head backwards.
Linhares on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barbosa. Barbosa obviously looking to wear him down.
Barbosa throws a low kick but Linhares moves out of range easily.
Linhares throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Barbosa on the side of the head.
Barbosa throws a sloppy head kick and Linhares moves out of range easily.
Hector Barbosa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Linhares misses with a looping right.
Linhares chopping away at his opponent's legs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Linhares turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barbosa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Barbosa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Linhares pinned against the cage. Linhares gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Luis Carlos Linhares is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Linhares does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hector Barbosa.
I think Linhares has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 49:47
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 49:47
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 49:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luis Carlos Linhares!
Luis Carlos Linhares retains his bantamweight title!
An out of breath Luis Carlos Linhares thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.