PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Barboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Weidman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anderson Weidman will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Barboa
vs
Weidman

183 cm
20
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

206 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rocky Barboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anderson Weidman!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barboa rushes Weidman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Barboa manages to break the clinch.
Rocky Barboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barboa throws a series of punches but Weidman avoids them all with ease.

Barboa moves into the clinch.
Barboa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Weidman backwards.
Barboa jumps guard but Weidman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Barboa leaning against his opponent.
Barboa has Weidman pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Weidman manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Barboa has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Weidman regains guard immediately.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Weidman working a defensive guard here.
Barboa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Barboa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Weidman on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Weidman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barboa defends well.
Barboa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Barboa looking to pass the guard.
Barboa is looking to work some ground and pound but Weidman has wrist control.

Weidman has his foot on Barboa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barboa works his way back into a safe position though.
Barboa throws an elbow that misses. Weidman uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barboa's guard. Nice move by Weidman!
Barboa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Weidman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barboa pushes Weidman off and gets back to his feet.
Barboa misses with a double jab
and Weidman counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Barboa is breathing heavily.

Barboa moves into the clinch successfully.
Weidman keeps control of Barboa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Barboa tries to break the clinch but Weidman is controlling the position.
Weidman has a couple of punches blocked by Barboa.

Barboa gets control of Weidman's arms and successfully pulls guard. Barboa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barboa keeping moving, preventing Weidman from controlling successfully.
Barboa could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Barboa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Weidman is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weidman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Barboa is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Weidman wants to control from the top but Barboa keeps moving.
Barboa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Anderson Weidman.

Barboa instigates a clinch.

Barboa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Weidman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Barboa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barboa fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Barboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Weidman wants to stall.

Barboa turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Barboa manages to end up in side control.
Barboa working away.
Weidman sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Weidman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barboa is working away from the top position though.
Weidman is trying to stand up here but Barboa is controlling him well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Weidman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Weidman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Barboa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Weidman throws a jab but it's blocked by Barboa.
Barboa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Weidman to counter with a crisp jab.
Barboa misses with a series of wild punches.
Weidman takes a swing at Barboa's ribcage but misses.
Barboa moves out of range of the strikes.
Weidman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barboa manages to avoid it.

Barboa has Weidman up against the cage in a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weidman is trying to force a seperation but Barboa has the dominant position.
Barboa lands a hook that snaps the head of Weidman backwards.
Barboa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Weidman walks away with a smile on his face. Barboa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Barboa dives in and grabs Weidman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Weidman pushes down on Barboa's head and hops out.
Weidman scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barboa moves in looking to clinch but Weidman pushes him off.
Weidman keeps the fight on the outside.
Barboa misses with a combination
and Weidman counters with a three punch combo that has Barboa backing up. Barboa nods at Weidman to acknowledge the strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barboa doesn't manage to clinch there - Weidman circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barboa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Weidman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A left lands for Weidman.

It looks like Rocky Barboa has been cut.
Weidman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Barboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barboa tries to close the distance and clinch but Weidman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barboa avoids a punch combination nicely.
A jab from Barboa misses.
Weidman lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weidman with a hook.
Weidman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barboa takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Weidman lands with a shot to the body.
Weidman with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barboa takes one on the button.
Weidman connects with a body shot that sends Barboa's belly button to the back.
Barboa avoids the body shot from Weidman.
Weidman lands with a shot to the body.
Anderson Weidman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Weidman looks to score with a jab to the body but Barboa is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weidman lands a nice shot to the body.
Weidman fails to land with a series of punches.
Weidman swings for the body but Barboa moves out of range.
Barboa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barboa drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Barboa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Barboa darts in looking for a takedown but Weidman gets double underhooks and turns Barboa into the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Weidman trying to stall but Barboa improves his position.
Weidman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Barboa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Weidman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rocky Barboa's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Barboa throws a left and a right that both miss
and Weidman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A looping hook to the body misses from Weidman. Barboa does a little dance to reset his feet.
A punch combination from Barboa misses.
Weidman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barboa manages to avoid it.
Weidman has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Rocky Barboa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barboa gets caught by a brutal right hook which buckles his knees! Barboa tries to backpedal with his spaghettilegs but Weidman is headhunting and goes for the kill. A jab and a right hook connect and Barboa buckles badly as his eyes roll back. The referee steps in and saves Barboa!! Barboa is complaining but he was clearly out on his feet. Weidman throws his mouthpiece into the crowd. Mmmm spit-tastic.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anderson Weidman!