PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Fjera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Barbosa
vs
Fjera

191 cm
22
244 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

188 cm
24
277 lbs
9 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

GREEN!160
Héritage!

Supreme Nutrition
Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Frank Barbosa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Fjera!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbosa tries to land a front kick but Fjera steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Barbosa is looking to chop away at Fjera's legs.
And Fjera tries to counter it with a takedown but Barbosa pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Fjera throws a body shot but no joy.
Barbosa throws a chopping leg kick but Fjera manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Barbosa looks to land a left hand but Fjera moved out of range nicely.
Fjera connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Barbosa momentarily.
Fjera throws a jab when Barbosa was well out of range.
Barbosa throws a leg kick which misses Fjera's front leg but catches the back leg as Fjera tries to avoid it.
Barbosa throws a body kick that misses
and Fjera counters with a straight right hand.
Barbosa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Fjeras jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A telegraphed right hand from Barbosa misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fjera swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fjera misses with a hook. Barbosa ducked under it nicely.
Barbosa fires out a quick counter leg kick but Fjera just manages to avoid it.
Barbosa misses with a wild body shot.
Fjera now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Barbosa throws a hook to the side of Fjera's head but Fjera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barbosa throws a lazy uppercut
and Fjera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fjera tests Barbosa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Barbosa throws a body punch but Fjera moves out of range.
Barbosa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Fjera cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barbosa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fjera.
Barbosa moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Barbosa connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Fjera's hands.

It looks like Nick Fjera has been cut.
Barbosa takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Fjera looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbosa is just out of range.
Barbosa looks to land a body kick but Fjera moved away.
Barbosa throws the kick towards the body but Fjera avoids it.

Fjera drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fjera fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Fjera is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Barbosa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fjera looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Barbosa is avoiding damage well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Fjera throws an elbow but Barbosa slips to the side and avoids it well.
Fjera is looking to take a break and control but Barbosa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barbosa managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Fjera.
Fjera scoring with punches and elbows.
Fjera is trying to ground and pound but Barbosa uses the momentary lack of control by Fjera to regain half guard.
Fjera is looking to take a break and control but Barbosa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fjera looks to land a strike but Barbosa avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Fjera working some strikes from top position.
Fjera landing some decent shots from guard.
Fjera throwing strikes from guard but Barbosa blocks nicely.
Fjera trying to control the position from guard on top but Barbosa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fjera throwing strikes from guard but Barbosa blocks nicely.
Fjera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fjera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fjera has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fjera drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Barbosa dives on top into guard.

Fjera looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Fjera looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Barbosa has picked Fjera up and slammed him! Fjera can't keep hold of the triangle and Barbosa manages to pass to side control!
Fjera misses with a strike from the bottom.
Fjera tries to improve position but can't.
Fjera being controlled for a moment.
Fjera is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Fjera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nick Fjera'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.

Fjera is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Barbosa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fjera throws a hook to the side of Barbosa's head but Barbosa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barbosa throws a low kick, looking for Fjera's leg but Fjera calmly moves out of range.
Fjera now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Fjera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fjera misses the shot to the body.
Fjera has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Barbosa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barbosa throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Fjera throws a big shot that misses.
Fjera throws a big shot that misses.
Nick Fjera seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A nice inside leg kick there by Barbosa. That's going to slow Fjera down.
Fjera might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fjera takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Fjera lands a body shot.
Barbosa misses with a kick to the body

and Fjera counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fjera is looking to work some ground and pound but Barbosa has wrist control.
Fjera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa looking for a sweep. Not yet Barbosa, not yet.
Fjera throwing strikes from guard but Barbosa blocks nicely.
Barbosa has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Fjera postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fjera tries to free his leg and advance position but Barbosa is retaining full guard.
Fjera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fjera forces his way into half guard.
Fjera thows a huge punch but Barbosa dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fjera missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fjera not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Fjera is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Barbosa still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Barbosa has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Fjera manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Barbosa trying to control from half guard but Fjera is working away.
Barbosa is thwarting Fjera's attempts to control the position.
Fjera is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Barbosa jumps into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fjera is trying to improve his position.
Fjera is still trying to improve position.
Fjera can't do much from the bottom here.
Fjera is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Barbosa prevents Fjera from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Barbosa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Fjera actively working from the bottom here.
Barbosa blocks the strikes from Fjera.
Fjera is looking to get back to full guard here but Barbosa has managed to pass to side control instead.
Fjera 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fjera is trying to control Barbosa's posture but Barbosa avoids it.
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 Frank Barbosa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nick Fjera's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fjera moves into range and connects with a jab.
Fjera lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Fjera keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
We've been told by Barbosa's head coaches at Slaughterhouse MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Barbosa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fjera.
Barbosa looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Barbosa moves out of range of the strikes.
Barbosa misses with a low kick as Fjera jumps back.
Fjera is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A jab from Fjera does it's job there.
A big left from Barbosa misses.
Fjera misses with a hook
and Barbosa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses.

Fjera shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fjera showed some decent athleticism there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fjera missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fjera is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Fjera throwing shots but Barbosa is blocking nicely.
Fjera sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barbosa defending well though.
Barbosa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Fjera is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Fjera looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Barbosa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Fjera connects with a nice short shot to Barbosa's temple.
Fjera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fjera.
Fjera not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barbosa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fjera.
Fjera stalling away here and it's allowed Barbosa to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Fjera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fjera scoring with some ground and pound.
Fjera lands a couple of elbows.
Fjera lands a couple of digs.
Fjera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fjera looking to pass the guard.
Fjera distracts Barbosa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fjera throwing strikes but missing.
Fjera throws a big right hand that misses.
Fjera won't allow Barbosa to sweep him here.
Barbosa is trying to keep Fjera in close.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fjera's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barbosa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fjera postures up in Barbosa's guard and throws a big left but Barbosa blocks it.
Fjera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barbosa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fjera chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fjera accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fjera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Fjera throws a big elbow that misses.
Fjera with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fjera with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fjera throwing strikes from guard but Barbosa blocks nicely.
Barbosa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fjera shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Barbosa defends it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Fjera really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nick Fjera's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Barbosa misses with a hook. Fjera ducked under it nicely.
Fjera throws out a counter right but Barbosa avoids it with no problem.
Fjera blocks a head kick by Barbosa.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fjera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fjera throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Barbosa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Barbosa throws a head kick but Fjera moves out of range.
A nice side step and Fjera releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Barbosa takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Barbosa moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Fjera shoots in for a takedown but Barbosa shows good takedown defense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa misses with a body kick.
Barbosa looks for the body kick but Fjera saw that one coming.
Barbosa wants to land a leg kick but Fjera is out of range.
Fjera swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa is looking to score with low kicks.
Barbosa blocks a jab.
Fjera throws a looping overhand right but Barbosa ducks down to avoid it.
Barbosa throws a lazy uppercut

and Fjera counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fjera throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Fjera throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Barbosa to regain full guard.
Fjera wants to pass the guard but Barbosa is keeping the position.
Fjera looking to sit in guard and control but Barbosa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Fjera not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fjera wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fjera has his foot on Barbosa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barbosa works his way back into a safe position though.
Fjera wants to sweep but no luck.

Fjera working for a triangle but Barbosa defends it easily.
Fjera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barbosa is one step ahead there.
Fjera wants to control but Barbosa passes easily into half guard.

Fjera actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fjera is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barbosa pulls his head out easily.
Fjera trying to control here.

Fjera looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Fjera is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barbosa pulls his head out easily.

Fjera looking for submissions off his back.
Fjera is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barbosa's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barbosa's back!
Well, with Fjera on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Barbosa is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Fjera missing with strikes from the back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fjera missing with strikes from the back.
Fjera misses with an elbow to the head.
Barbosa covering up well under a barage of strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Fjera dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Nick Fjera's cut.
That's time! Barbosa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. 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.

Fjera changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fjera lands with a straight right. Barbosa didn't see that one coming.
Barbosa throws a half hearted mid kick.
Fjera just misses with a punch to the body.
Barbosa throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Fjera feints the counter takedown.
Barbosa misses with a wild body shot.
Barbosa fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Barbosa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Barbosa cracks Fjera with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa cracks the inside of Fjera's front leg.
Fjera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barbosa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Barbosa lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fjera shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Barbosa is trying to control but can't.
Fjera working the head and body with strikes.
Barbosa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fjera working Barbosa over with strikes.
Fjera trying to control from half guard but Barbosa is working away.
Fjera throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Barbosa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fjera thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Frank Barbosa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fjera is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Nick Fjera has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barbosa tries to lock up and control but Fjera gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Barbosa takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Fjera goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Barbosa is on top in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barbosa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Barbosa is sitting in close to Fjera's body. Fjera has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Barbosa is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Barbosa is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Fjera.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Nick Fjera!
Nick Fjera is the new heavyweight champion!
An out of breath Nick Fjera thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.