PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thanh Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royler Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Davis
vs
Barbosa

151 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thanh Davis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royler Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Davis moves into range and clinches up with Barbosa.

Barbosa breaks from the clinch.

Barbosa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Davis really is a fat lump.
Barbosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Davis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barbosa tries to free his leg and advance position but Davis is retaining full guard.
Barbosa throws an elbow that misses. Davis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barbosa's guard. Nice move by Davis!
Davis wants to control from the top but Barbosa keeps moving.
Barbosa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barbosa pulls Davis in close to his closed guard and prevents Davis from doing any damage or advancing position.
Barbosa doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis stays in close to Barbosa's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Thanh Davis.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Barbosa.

Barbosa manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Davis on his heels. He'll look to pass Davis's guard now, I'm sure.
Barbosa looking to pass the guard.
Davis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Davis kicks Barbosa off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barbosa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Davis napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Davis is pushing Barbosa's head away, looking to escape. Barbosa manages to hold on to the position though.
Davis can't do much from the bottom here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Davis is being controlled here.
You can see the frustration on Davis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Barbosa throwing strikes but Davis manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Davis trying to control the action but Barbosa is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Barbosa's shoulder. That is not cool.
Barbosa is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Davis's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Davis wants to control but Barbosa is keeping him busy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Davis is looking to stall here but Barbosa recovers full guard.
Davis postures up.
Davis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barbosa looking to control.
Davis wants to pass the guard but Barbosa is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Davis wants to control from the top but Barbosa keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Thanh Davis.
Davis lands a body shot.
Barbosa misses with a body shot.

Barbosa looking to score a takedown here. Davis is defending well but Barbosa drives through and ends up in Davis's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Davis keeping moving, preventing Barbosa from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davis is trying to hold Barbosa in close to prevent damage but Barbosa has managed to pass into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royler Barbosa dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Barbosa closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Davis's guard.
Davis wants to stand up but Barbosa is controlling him.
Barbosa trying to control but Davis is working from the bottom.
Davis is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Davis keeping full guard, as Barbosa tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Royler Barbosa has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Barbosa throws the kick towards the body but Davis avoids it.

Davis rushes Barbosa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Davis manages to pull guard.
Barbosa trying to control but Davis is working from the bottom.
Barbosa is looking to pass into half guard but Davis pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Davis is in guard.
Barbosa has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Davis has passed into side control.
Davis avoids the strikes from the bottom by Barbosa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis controls the position.
Barbosa is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

Davis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Barbosa is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Davis's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Davis trying to control from half guard but Barbosa is working away.
Barbosa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Davis.
Davis prevents Barbosa from improving his position.
Royler Barbosa has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Davis there.
Davis perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Davis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barbosa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Davis stalling away here and it's allowed Barbosa to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Barbosa keeping moving, preventing Davis from controlling successfully.
Barbosa controlling the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Thanh Davis wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Barbosa gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis tries to buck Barbosa off but Barbosa is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Davis is letting Barbosa control him for a moment.
Davis is not content to let Barbosa control the position.
Davis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barbosa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Davis wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Royler Barbosa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Barbosa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Barbosa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Barbosa prevents Davis from standing back up.
Barbosa controlling the action here.
Barbosa stalling away here and it's allowed Davis to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Barbosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Davis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barbosa gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Barbosa looking to score a takedown here. Davis is defending well but Barbosa drives through and ends up in Davis's guard.
Barbosa being controlled here momentarily.
Barbosa content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Royler Barbosa wasn't active enough on the ground.

Barbosa bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Davis is trying to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbosa wants to control but Davis is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Davis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Barbosa decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Barbosa shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Barbosa showed some decent athleticism there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Davis is not content to let Barbosa control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa trying to control the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Barbosa wants to pass to mount but Davis is defending the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royler Barbosa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barbosa 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royler Barbosa!