PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Freitag (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dragomir Barbu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Freitag comes to the cage accompanied by Limp Bizkit - Break stuff. Mike Freitag has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Freitag
vs
Barbu

184 cm
28
181 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

194 cm
19
181 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

TKO Clothing

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Freitag!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dragomir Barbu!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Reed Andrews and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freitag shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barbu as he avoids it easily.
Barbu scoring well with a low kick there.

Freitag scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Barbu sneaks out the side door and pushes Freitag away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Freitag throws a one two combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Freitag scores with a takedown into Barbu's guard.
Barbu is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Freitag in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Freitag won't allow Barbu to get back to his feet.
Freitag landing with the ground and pound.
Barbu is looking to stand up but Freitag isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freitag definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Barbu scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Freitag looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Freitag backing away here, and Barbu unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Freitag checks a low kick from Barbu.

Freitag gets a double leg takedown into Barbu's guard.
Barbu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Freitag trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Freitag wants to control from the top but Barbu keeps moving.
Barbu wants to stand and escape but Freitag is having none of it.
Barbu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barbu wants to stand and escape but Freitag is having none of it.

Barbu manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Barbu throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Freitag throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barbu's waist but Barbu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Freitag off to one side.
Freitag tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barbu swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Freitag. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barbu throws a low kick but Freitag moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freitag misses with a few strikes there.
Freitag smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Freitag misses with a leg kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Barbu. Freitag shrugs it off though.
Horrible takedown attempt by Freitag or perhaps it was just good defense by Barbu, which made it look bad.
Freitag lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barbu circles away quickly and effectively.
Barbu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A nice inside leg kick there by Barbu. That's going to slow Freitag down.
Freitag fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Barbu drives through and clinches with Freitag against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Barbu obliges.
Barbu scores a nice knee to the body.
Freitag is breathing heavily.
Barbu trying to land knees to the body.
Freitag drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barbu putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Freitag in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freitag avoiding damage as Barbu throws knees to the body.
Freitag tries for a takedown. No joy.
Barbu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barbu working Freitag over with knees to the body.
Freitag takes a knee to the side of the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Barbu takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Barbu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Freitag.
Barbu trying to land knees to the body.
Freitag blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barbu crunches a lovely knee into Freitag's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbu prevents the takedown attempt.
Barbu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Freitag avoids it.
Freitag managing to block the knees to the body from Barbu.
Barbu tries to land knees in the clinch but Freitag avoids the damage to the body.
Freitag avoiding damage as Barbu throws knees to the body.
Barbu trying to land knees to the body.
Barbu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Freitag.
Barbu trying to land knees to the body.
Barbu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Freitag is defending well for now.
Barbu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Freitag has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barbu gets underhooks to prevent Freitag's takedown attempt.
Knees to the body from Barbu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dragomir Barbu dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barbu keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barbu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Freitag is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barbu.
Freitag shoots in for a takedown but Barbu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Freitag throws a body punch but Barbu moves out of range.
Freitag misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Freitag. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freitag throws a right hand that Barbu ducks under and follows up with a left that Barbu also avoids with ease.
Barbu scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Barbu.
Dragomir Barbu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barbu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Barbu.
Freitag takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Barbu fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Freitag checks it well.
Barbu lands a leg kick that knocks Freitag off balance momentarily.
Barbu looks to land a body kick but Freitag moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freitag on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barbu. Barbu obviously looking to wear him down.
Barbu throws a sloppy head kick
and Freitag counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barbu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barbu throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Freitag tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barbu swivels and escapes.
Dragomir Barbu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barbu throws a nice inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Barbu.
Freitag appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Barbu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Barbu throws a low kick, looking for Freitag's leg but Freitag calmly moves out of range.
Freitag changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barbu tries to avoid it but Freitag manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barbu to the ground. Barbu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Barbu moves into the clinch.
Barbu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barbu misses with a knee strike.
Barbu with a knee to the head.
Barbu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Freitag.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbu tries to land knees in the clinch but Freitag avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barbu's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Barbu lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Mike Freitag has been cut.

Freitag turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Barbu tries to escape but Freitag is in control.
Freitag lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Freitag tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Freitag working the head with strikes.
Barbu taking a bit of punishment here - Freitag scoring with strikes.

Barbu bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
A slapping leg kick lands for Barbu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freitag misses with a takedown attempt - Barbu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Barbu only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Freitag is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Freitag, as that shot connected.
Freitag misses with a takedown attempt - Barbu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Barbu cracks the inside of Freitag's front leg.
Freitag misses with a straight left.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barbu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Freitag checks a leg kick.
A little feinted left hand from Freitag on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Freitag shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barbu as he jumps to the side.

Barbu clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbu connects with a knee to the head.
Barbu lands a nice knee to the body.
Barbu landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Freitag on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barbu lands a knee to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Barbu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Freitag.
Barbu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Freitag tries for a takedown. No joy.
Freitag goes for a takedown in the clinch but Barbu prevents it.
Freitag managing to block the knees to the body from Barbu.
Stalling in the clinch from Barbu.
Barbu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dragomir Barbu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mike Freitag's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Barbu feints and then cracks Freitag's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Freitag down.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Freitag.
Freitag shoots in but Barbu avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Freitag changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Barbu looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Barbu is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Barbu sneaks out the side door and pushes Freitag away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Freitag is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barbu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Freitag. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barbu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
As Barbu looks to move away, Freitag throws a big counter combo but Barbu just gets out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freitag throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barbu misses with a head kick.
Barbu defending well as Freitag loads up on a big left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Freitag. Barbu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barbu cracks the inside of Freitag's front leg.

Freitag gets a takedown into half guard.
Barbu tries to kick Freitag off but Freitag keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ground and pound from Freitag.
Barbu wants to get back to his feet.
Freitag missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ground and pound from Freitag.

Barbu has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Freitag is on him like a limpet, forcing Barbu back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barbu lands a good knee to the midsection. Freitag won't want to take too many of those.
Mike Freitag has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dragomir Barbu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freitag blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Freitag tries to score a body lock takedown but Barbu shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Barbu unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Freitag is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Barbu is defending well.
Barbu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freitag is trying to drag Barbu to the mat but Barbu just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Barbu crunches a lovely knee into Freitag's ribcage.
Barbu looking to throw knees to the head but Freitag is blocking nicely.

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.
Barbu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Freitag is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Barbu is defending well.
Barbu landing knees to the body.
Barbu trying to land knees to the body.
Barbu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Freitag blocks it with crossed arms.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dragomir Barbu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barbu has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dragomir Barbu!
Dragomir Barbu bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.