PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chester Barcelona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Exum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Exum is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: No Games. Chester Barcelona has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Barcelona
vs
Exum

195 cm
22
230 lbs
5 - 10 - 0

195 cm
26
232 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 5 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chester Barcelona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dante Exum!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barcelona takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Barcelona shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Exum is trying to defend but Barcelona finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Barcelona decides to stand and escape the position.
Barcelona tries to score a power double leg takedown but Exum sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barcelona somewhat.
Barcelona fails with the takedown.
Exum shoots in looking for a takedown but Barcelona manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Exum's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Exum gets caught napping as Barcelona dives in and scores a takedown. Exum manages to retain guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Barcelona trying to control but Exum is working from the bottom.
Exum trying to keep a closed guard but Barcelona is proving a slippery customer.
Exum keeping moving, preventing Barcelona from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barcelona is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Barcelona cracks Exum with a solid left hand.
Exum has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Barcelona has passed into side control.
An elbow from Barcelona crashes against the mat.
Barcelona is looking to take a break and control but Exum is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barcelona is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Exum will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Exum sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Exum trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Exum is trying to get back to full guard.
Barcelona wants to control but Exum is keeping him busy.

Barcelona decides to stand up.
Exum shoots in but Barcelona avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Exum gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barcelona looking to throw knees to the head but Exum is blocking nicely.
Barcelona fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Barcelona manages to pull guard.
Barcelona wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Exum looking to sit in guard and control but Barcelona gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Barcelona is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Exum is pulling down on Barcelona's head to control his posture.
Exum keeping moving, preventing Barcelona from controlling successfully.
Exum looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Exum is adopting a defensive guard.
Exum preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Exum wants to control the position but Barcelona says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Barcelona is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Exum sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Exum trying to control but Barcelona postures up.
Barcelona is stalling here. Exum is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Barcelona seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Exum has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Barcelona sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Exum trying to control from half guard but Barcelona is working away.
Exum not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Barcelona is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Exum pulls his head out easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Exum thows a huge punch but Barcelona dodges it nicely.
Exum thows a huge punch but Barcelona dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chester Barcelona dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice body kick there by Exum.
Barcelona tries to close the distance and clinch but Exum swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Exum is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barcelona.
Exum unleashes a big counter combination but Barcelona bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Nice sprawl there from Exum as Barcelona shoots in.
We've been told by Barcelona's head coaches at Turka Elite Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Exum plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Chester Barcelona is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barcelona tries to clinch there but Exum circles away.
Barcelona shoots for a double leg takedown but Exum sprawls well. He's pushed Barcelona's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chester Barcelona. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Exum has a takedown stuffed.
Barcelona is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Exum can do to turn this around?

Barcelona moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Exum trying to control the position but instead, Barcelona has worked for underhooks and has pushed Exum into the ropes.
Barcelona has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Exum is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Exum breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Exum closes the distance and clinches up with Barcelona, looking for a takedown. Exum pushes Barcelona against the ropes but Barcelona circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Exum has a takedown stuffed.
Barcelona wants to clinch.
Barcelona shoots in but no luck this time.
Barcelona fails with a takedown attempt.
Exum fails to land the takedown.
Barcelona throws a leg kick that misses.
A punch combination from Barcelona misses.
Barcelona dives in for a single leg takedown but Exum sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Exum shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barcelona sprawls well. Barcelona wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Exum gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Exum or perhaps it was just good defense by Barcelona, which made it look bad.

Barcelona scores with a takedown into Exum's guard.
Exum not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Exum keeping moving, preventing Barcelona from controlling successfully.
Exum is trying to control the position but Barcelona postures up.

Barcelona stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Barcelona dives in and grabs Exum's left leg, looking for a takedown. Exum pushes down on Barcelona's head and hops out.
Barcelona tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Exum manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Exum is defended easily by Barcelona.

Barcelona dives in and scores a takedown into Exum's guard.
Barcelona is looking to advance position but Exum has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Barcelona avoids a series of strikes thrown by Exum.
Barcelona tries to reverse the position but Exum maintains control.
Barcelona gets back to half guard.

Exum is looking for a kimura but Barcelona is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Exum to get the leverage.
Barcelona is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Exum throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Exum thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barcelona's head.
Exum not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barcelona is looking for a sweep. Exum is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barcelona regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Exum.
Exum throwing strikes but missing.
Exum postures up.

Barcelona throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barcelona is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
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 Chester Barcelona will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Exum throws a front kick that sends Barcelona stumbling back into the ropes.
Exum fails with a takedown attempt.
Exum misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Barcelona dives in for a single leg takedown but Exum sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Barcelona will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Barcelona defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Exum.
Chester Barcelona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dante Exum.
Barcelona tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Barcelona closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Exum quickly recovers to half guard.

Barcelona gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Exum dives in for a single leg takedown but Barcelona sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Exum keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barcelona throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As Barcelona backs off Exum throws a huge counter combo but Barcelona manages to avoid it all.
Exum fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Barcelona dives in for a single leg takedown but Exum sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Exum misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Barcelona moves into the clinch.
Exum lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Barcelona.
Exum keeps control of Barcelona as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Barcelona pulls guard effortlessly.
Exum throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barcelona works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Exum wants to control from the top but Barcelona keeps moving.
Barcelona striking off his back but it's not causing Exum any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Exum looking to pass the guard.
Exum must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barcelona wants to sweep here but Exum controlling him for the moment.
Exum wants to control from the top but Barcelona keeps moving.
Exum preventing the sweep.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Barcelona working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Exum.
Barcelona wants to sweep but no luck.
Exum wants to control from the top but Barcelona keeps moving.
Exum throws an elbow that misses. Barcelona uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Exum's guard. Nice move by Barcelona!

Barcelona trying to control the position from guard on top but Exum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Exum is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barcelona trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Exum is on top in guard.

Barcelona throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Chester Barcelona is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barcelona working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Exum.
Barcelona wants to control the position but Exum says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Barcelona slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Barcelona looking for a guillotine here but Exum defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barcelona preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barcelona not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barcelona looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barcelona working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Exum.
Exum throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Exum postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Chester Barcelona overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Exum throws an elbow that misses. Barcelona uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Exum's guard. Nice move by Barcelona!

Dante Exum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Exum is looking for a triangle but Barcelona pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chester Barcelona showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barcelona, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chester Barcelona!
In defeat, Dante Exum stepped up to the mic, saying 'we work hard every single day and this loss will soon be a distant memory. I want to congratulate my opponent for a match well played and I will work even harder to avenge this loss.'.