PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hector Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heimo Vesa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Hector Barbosa has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Hector Barbosa seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Barbosa
vs
Vesa

165 cm
26
144 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

170 cm
22
155 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Meet the Future
Merciless Gladiators

Just Fight (Everything 7$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hector Barbosa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Heimo Vesa!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbosa lands a nice leg kick that just misses Vesa's sensitive parts.
Vesa throws a nice looking combination but Barbosa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vesa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Barbosa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Vesa.
Vesa misses with the combination.

Vesa closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Barbosa quickly recovers to half guard.
Barbosa is positioning himself well to prevent Vesa advancing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vesa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Barbosa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Barbosa tries to roll over but Vesa keeps him under control.
Vesa trying to control from half guard but Barbosa is working away.
Barbosa works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vesa's guard.
Vesa told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Barbosa is looking to work some ground and pound but Vesa has wrist control.
Barbosa stands up over Vesa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vesa throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Vesa wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Barbosa preventing the sweep.
Barbosa trying to control but Vesa is working from the bottom.
Barbosa landing with the ground and pound.
Barbosa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Vesa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barbosa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Vesa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barbosa.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barbosa throwing strikes but missing.
Vesa trying to control the position.
Barbosa seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbosa throwing strikes but missing.
Barbosa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barbosa works over Vesa with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesa working a defensive guard here.
Barbosa is looking to work some ground and pound but Vesa has wrist control.
Vesa wants to get back to his feet but Barbosa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Barbosa postures up in Vesa's guard and throws a big left but Vesa blocks it.
Vesa wants to sweep but no luck.

Barbosa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Vesa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barbosa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vesa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa trying to control but Vesa is working from the bottom.
Barbosa lands a couple of digs.
We've been hearing that Barbosa has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Vesa keeping moving, preventing Barbosa from controlling successfully.
Vesa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Barbosa postures up.
Barbosa throws an elbow that misses. Vesa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barbosa's guard. Nice move by Vesa!
Barbosa throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vesa wants to control from the top but Barbosa keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbosa being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Barbosa 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.

Vesa is looking to land body kicks.
Barbosa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barbosa throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vesa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vesa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barbosa.
Vesa throws a big shot that misses.
Vesa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barbosa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Barbosa dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Vesa. That did some damage!
Barbosa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vesa manages to avoid it.
Barbosa's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Vesa connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barbosa scrambles back to his feet.
Barbosa defending well as Vesa loads up on a big left hand.
Barbosa lands a nice hook to Vesa's body. Vesa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Vesa throws a nice looking combination but Barbosa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barbosa is looking to score with low kicks.

Barbosa clinches up with Vesa and pushes him back against the cage.
Barbosa lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Barbosa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vesa.
Hector Barbosa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heimo Vesa.
Barbosa dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Barbosa gets underhooks to prevent Vesa's takedown attempt.
Barbosa is struggling to control the position.
Vesa has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Barbosa after a bit of a struggle.
Vesa takes a knee to the side of the body.
Barbosa has Vesa pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Vesa managing to block the knees to the body from Barbosa.
The referee is keeping an eye on Barbosa - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Barbosa scores with a shoulder strike.
Barbosa lands with a left to the head.
A shot in the inside from Barbosa.
Vesa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Barbosa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Vesa takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa leaning against his opponent.
Barbosa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barbosa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Vesas head.
Barbosa misses with the head strike.
Barbosa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vesa is defending well for now.
Barbosa stalling against the cage.
Barbosa lands a right hand.
Barbosa stalling the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Hector Barbosa.
Barbosa takes one on the button.
Barbosa throws a nice head kick!
Vesa tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Barbosa scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Vesa thuds his right hand into Barbosa's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Vesa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barbosa but Barbosa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Barbosa scores with a leg kick.
Barbosa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barbosa is looking to slow Vesa down with leg kicks.
Barbosa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vesa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Some bone on bone action there as Vesa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Barbosa wants to slow Vesa down by chopping away at his legs.
Heimo Vesa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barbosa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barbosa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Vesa.
Barbosa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barbosa pivots, looking for a leg kick but Vesa is out of range and Barbosa settles back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Barbosa dominated that second 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.

Vesa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barbosa can pounce on him.
Horrible takedown by Vesa or perhaps it was just good defense by Barbosa which made him look bad.
Vesa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Barbosa throws a push kick but Vesa slaps the foot to one side.

Barbosa feints and as Vesa raises his hands in defense, Barbosa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barbosa is in close to Vesa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Barbosa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Vesa trying to keep a closed guard but Barbosa is proving a slippery customer.
Barbosa postures up in Vesa's guard and throws a big left but Vesa blocks it.
Vesa trying to control the position.
Barbosa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Barbosa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barbosa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Barbosa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesa working a defensive guard here.
Barbosa throwing strikes from guard but Vesa blocks nicely.
Barbosa postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Barbosa cracks Vesa with a solid left hand.
Barbosa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Barbosa wants to control from the top but Vesa keeps moving.
Vesa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barbosa manages to get himself to full guard.
Barbosa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hector Barbosa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barbosa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Vesa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barbosa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vesa has managed to get both his arms back between Barbosa's legs - danger averted.
Barbosa trying to keep a closed guard but Vesa is proving a slippery customer.
Vesa being controlled here momentarily.
Vesa tries to free his leg and advance position but Barbosa is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Vesa wants to control from the top but Barbosa keeps moving.
Vesa wants to pass the guard but Barbosa is keeping the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vesa closes the distance and clinches up with Barbosa, looking for a takedown. Vesa pushes Barbosa against the cage but Barbosa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barbosa digs a good body shot into Vesa's ribs.
Barbosa connects with an inside leg kick.
Barbosa moves in looking to clinch but Vesa pushes him off.
A telegraphed right hand from Vesa misses the target.

Barbosa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Vesa controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vesa postures up in Barbosa's guard and throws a big left but Barbosa blocks it.
Vesa 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 keeping moving, preventing Vesa from controlling successfully.
Vesa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Heimo Vesa hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Barbosa throws a hook to the side of Vesa's head but Vesa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barbosa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vesa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Vesa feints and as Barbosa raises his hands in defense, Vesa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Hector Barbosa did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
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.

Barbosa clinches.
Barbosa stalling the fight.
Barbosa misses with a body punch.

Vesa wants the takedown. Barbosa is fighting it off but Vesa persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Barbosa's guard against the cage.
Barbosa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vesa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Barbosa keeping moving, preventing Vesa from controlling successfully.
Barbosa can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vesa controls the pace.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Barbosa wants to control the position but Vesa says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesa wants to pass the guard but Barbosa is defending well.
Barbosa is trying to get back to full guard.
Barbosa is looking to control Vesa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Barbosa avoid being mounted?
Vesa controlling the action here.
Barbosa regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa controlling Vesa's posture.
Barbosa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A big left from Vesa misses.
Vesa shoots in but no luck this time.
Barbosa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vesa.
A head kick misses from Barbosa.
Barbosa misses with a leg kick
and Barbosa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Barbosa lands a body shot.
Barbosa paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A big right from Vesa misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barbosa scoring well with a low kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Barbosa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barbosa will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barbosa defending well as Vesa loads up on a big left hand.
Vesa avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Vesa throws a leg kick
and Barbosa counters with a low kick, right behind Vesa 's knee.
Heimo Vesa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barbosa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Vesa throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Barbosa attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Vesa on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hector Barbosa is winning the standup battle so far.
Vesa lands with an overhand left.
Barbosa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Vesa gets caught flat footed, as Barbosa shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Vesa trying to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbosa working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vesa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barbosa looking to sit in guard and control but Vesa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Barbosa 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.
Barbosa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vesa stopping the sweep attempt from Barbosa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vesa trying to control but Barbosa is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Barbosa had his way with Heimo Vesa in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Vesa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vesa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barbosa.
A combination from Vesa does no damage.
Barbosa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Barbosa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vesa lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Vesa misses with a takedown attempt - Barbosa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Barbosa misses with a low kick as Vesa jumps back.
Barbosa fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Vesa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A clash of legs there as Barbosa blocks the low kick.
Vesa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Vesa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Barbosa staying out of range there.
Vesa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Barbosa.
Vesa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barbosa.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesa throws a poor cross that misses
and Barbosa counters with a thumping low kick.
Vesa punishes Barbosa's body with a nice straight punch.
Vesa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barbosa pinned against the cage. Barbosa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vesa is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Vesa shoots in for a double leg but Barbosa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hector Barbosa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heimo Vesa.

Barbosa clinches.
Still in the clinch, Barbosa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Vesa managing to block the knees to the body from Barbosa.
Vesa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Barbosa is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Barbosa slows down the pace here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barbosa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesa being controlled against the cage.
Barbosa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Vesa.
Barbosa leaning against his opponent.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Barbosa.
Barbosa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Barbosa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Barbosa stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Barbosa scores with a shot to the side of Vesa's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barbosa smiles and moves away.

Barbosa gets caught flat footed, as Vesa shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Vesa sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Barbosa's guard.
Barbosa wants to get back to full guard.
Vesa is trying to control the action in half guard but Barbosa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barbosa is trying to maintain the position but Vesa is very close to passing his half guard.
Heimo Vesa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vesa stalling away here and it's allowed Barbosa to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Vesa!
Hector Barbosa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vesa tries to reverse the position but Barbosa maintains control.
Barbosa dominating with strikes here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbosa is trying to control here but Vesa has managed to regain half guard.

Vesa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barbosa pulls his head out easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barbosa is keen to just control but Vesa is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hector Barbosa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Barbosa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Gold scores the fight 48:47
Judge James Glass scores the fight 50:45
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 50:45

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