PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dante Exum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chester Barcelona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Exum comes to the ring accompanied by No Games. The key to victory for Dante Exum has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Exum
vs
Barcelona

195 cm
27
232 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

195 cm
22
230 lbs
6 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dante Exum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chester Barcelona!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barcelona instigates a clinch.

Barcelona gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Exum regains guard.
Barcelona forces his way into half guard.
Exum tries to roll over but Barcelona keeps him under control.
Barcelona is nestled in close to Exum, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Barcelona wants to lay and pray for a moment but Exum keeps working.
Exum is doing well to control the position and prevent Barcelona from advancing to side control.
Exum has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barcelona is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Exum definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Exum tries to get to full guard but Barcelona has control of the leg.
Exum is concentrating on defense, preventing Barcelona from advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barcelona performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
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.
Exum has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barcelona is working away from the top position though.

Barcelona is trying to work for a kimura but Exum is defending well.
Exum is trying to get back to full guard.
Barcelona keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Exum has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barcelona is working away from the top position though.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Barcelona missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Barcelona trying to control the action but Exum is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Barcelona wants to clinch.
Barcelona throws a left and a right that both miss

and Exum counters by moving into the clinch.
Exum stops a takedown attempt from Barcelona.

Exum breaks from the clinch.

Exum closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

Barcelona pulls guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barcelona trying to keep a closed guard but Exum is proving a slippery customer.
Exum throwing strikes but missing.
Barcelona working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Exum.
Barcelona utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Exum wants to pass the guard but Barcelona is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Exum postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barcelona wants to stand up but Exum is controlling him.

Barcelona had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Exum defends it easily.

Barcelona working for a triangle but Exum defends it easily.
Barcelona avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Barcelona working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Exum.
Exum working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Exum trying to control but Barcelona is working from the bottom.

Barcelona is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Exum throws a big elbow that misses.
Exum throws a strike but Barcelona rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Barcelona looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Barcelona wants to pass the guard but Exum is keeping the position.
Barcelona wants to control from the top but Exum keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barcelona passes into half guard.
Exum trying to control but Barcelona postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chester Barcelona dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Exum displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barcelona.
Barcelona fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Exum connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Barcelona momentarily.

Exum moves into range and clinches up with Barcelona.
Exum misses with a punch to the body.
Exum working Barcelona over with knees to the body.
Exum just leaning against Barcelona, taking a breather.
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.
Dante Exum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chester Barcelona.
Barcelona wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barcelona fails to pull guard.
A bit of stalling here from Exum.

Exum manages to pull guard.
Exum 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.
Exum is trying to control the position but Barcelona postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barcelona wants to pass the guard but Exum is keeping the position.
Exum not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Exum utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Exum wants to control the position but Barcelona says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Barcelona working the head and body with strikes.
Exum keeping hold of Barcelona's head, controlling as best he can.
Exum is looking to control Barcelona's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Exum avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Barcelona is trying to control the action in half guard but Exum is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barcelona thows a huge punch but Exum dodges it nicely.

Barcelona is looking for a kimura here.
Exum is looking to control Barcelona's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Exum avoid being mounted?

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Barcelona closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Barcelona tries to score with some ground and pound. Exum controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
You can see the frustration on Exum's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barcelona is trying to get an arm triangle but Exum is defending well.
Barcelona sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Exum is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Exum is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Exum regains half guard.
Barcelona stalling away here and it's allowed Exum to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Barcelona has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Barcelona postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Exum is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Barcelona, into his guard.

Chester Barcelona has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barcelona 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Exum throws a big elbow that misses.
Exum stopping the sweep attempt from Barcelona.
Exum postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Exum prevents Barcelona from getting back to his feet.

Barcelona had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Exum defends it easily.
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!

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Exum is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chester Barcelona will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Exum tries to clinch but Barcelona is having none of it.

Exum gets a clinch.
Exum landing knees to the head.
Barcelona is looking to take this one to the mat.
Exum scores a nice knee to the body.
Exum misses with a punch to the body.
Exum landing knees to the body.

Exum breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Exum swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Barcelona.

Exum takes the fight into the clinch.

Barcelona breaks the clinch.
Barcelona throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barcelona takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barcelona looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A good leg kick by Exum.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barcelona misses with a wild combination.
Barcelona shoots in looking for a takedown. Exum tries to sprawl out of it but Barcelona keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Exum manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Danga de danga de dang - Exum scores with a four punch combination!
Exum wants to clinch up but Barcelona keeps it at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Barcelona.
Dante Exum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chester Barcelona.
Barcelona takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Exum tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Barcelona manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barcelona shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Exum but Exum pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barcelona shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Exum as he avoids it easily.
Exum throws a leg kick which misses Barcelona's front leg but catches the back leg as Barcelona tries to avoid it.

Exum closes the distance and clinches.
Exum unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Exum is looking to take this one to the mat.
Exum utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Exum is working Barcelona over against the ropes.
Exum lands a knee to the head.

Exum has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Barcelona uses from the top position.
Exum controlling the position.
Exum working a defensive guard here.
Exum keeping moving, preventing Barcelona from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Exum is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Exum trying to strike off his back.
Exum is adopting a defensive guard.
Dante Exum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Exum keeping moving, preventing Barcelona from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Chester Barcelona is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Exum clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Exum unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Exum breaks from the clinch.
Barcelona walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Exum tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dante Exum is winning the standup battle so far.
Exum misses with a wild combination.
Exum wants to clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Exum.
Barcelona misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Exum changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dante Exum showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Barcelona has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Chester Barcelona!
Dante Exum spoke after the fight, 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.'.