PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ray Whitaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Barbu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benjamin Barbu will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Whitaker
vs
Barbu

177 cm
23
180 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

189 cm
23
178 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition 160Q with Proof

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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ray Whitaker !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Benjamin Barbu!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Whitaker lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Barbu has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Barbu and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A countering left hand to the body from Barbu misses.
Barbu has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Whitaker is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Whitaker misses with a hook
and Barbu counters with an outside leg kick.
Barbu misses with a lunging right hand
and Whitaker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barbu scores with a punch to the head.
Whitaker throws a low kick but Barbu avoids it.
Whitaker misses with a lunging right hand
and Barbu counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Whitaker thinking.
Whitaker throws a right hand that misses
and Whitaker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Barbu lands a nice hook to Whitaker 's body. Whitaker takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Whitaker swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Whitaker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Barbu scores with a nice strike.
A looping hook to the body misses from Whitaker . Barbu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Whitaker takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barbu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Whitaker .
It seemed like Barbu was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Whitaker misses with an uppercut.
Barbu misses with a right hand
and Whitaker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Whitaker darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A jab from Barbu misses.
Whitaker is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Whitaker misses with a wild body shot.
Whitaker throws an overhand right that lands on Barbu's shoulder, as Barbu tries to avoid the shot.
Barbu scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Whitaker throws the left hand but Barbu avoids the punch easily.
Whitaker throws a hook but Barbu avoids it easily.
Barbu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Whitaker throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Whitaker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Whitaker misses with a straight right.
Barbu scores with a hook to the body. Whitaker takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Barbu slips a jab from Whitaker .
Whitaker takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Whitaker misses with a lunging right hand
and Barbu makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker lands the left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice shot by Barbu.
Barbu has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Barbu moves into range and connects with a jab.
Whitaker throws a predictable looking body shot
and Barbu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barbu throws a solid leg kick but Whitaker takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barbu.
Whitaker throws a right hand that misses
and Barbu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fighters circle momentarily. Barbu darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Barbu misses with a hook. Whitaker ducked under it nicely.
Barbu works the jab nicely.
Whitaker lands a nice shot to the body.
A big left from Whitaker misses.
Whitaker fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Whitaker misses the target.
Whitaker has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Whitaker there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbu looks to land a left hand but Whitaker moved out of range nicely.
Barbu is looking to slow Whitaker down with leg kicks.
Whitaker scores with a jab to the body.
Whitaker looks to throw the jab but Barbu is out of range.
Barbu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Barbu swings widly with a right hand
and Whitaker counters with a thumping low kick.
Barbu misses with a straight right.
Whitaker swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Barbu.
Whitaker throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Barbu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Whitaker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barbu looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barbu throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barbu moves into range and connects with a jab.
Whitaker throws a shot from downtown. Barbu moves away and avoids it.
Barbu lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbu rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Whitaker to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barbu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Whitaker takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Barbu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Whitaker throws out the jab.
Barbu swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Barbu misses with a lunging right hand
and Whitaker makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Whitaker throws a looping overhand right but Barbu ducks down to avoid it.
A shot to the body from Barbu misses
and Whitaker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Whitaker misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Barbu counters with a right hand to the body.
The fighters circling - Barbu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Benjamin Barbu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barbu throws a looping overhand right but Whitaker ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barbu moves away from the strike by Whitaker .
Whitaker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barbu throws out the jab.
Whitaker is looking to counter punch.
Whitaker throws a combination that misses
enabling Barbu to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Barbu dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Barbu moves away from the strike by Whitaker .
Barbu swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Benjamin Barbu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barbu swings widly with a right hand
enabling Whitaker to counter with a crisp jab.
Whitaker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Whitaker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barbu.
Nice shot lands for Barbu.
Barbu uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Whitaker has time to react.
Whitaker cracks Barbu with a right hand to the side of the head.
Barbu misses with a lunging right hand
and Whitaker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Whitaker on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Barbu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Whitaker .
Whitaker checks a leg kick.
It looked like Whitaker wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
No joy there for Barbu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Whitaker is looking to counter punch.
Whitaker slips under a jab from Barbu.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barbu throws a low kick but it's checked well by Whitaker .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker pivots, looking for a leg kick but Barbu is out of range and Whitaker settles back down.
Barbu throws an overhand right that lands on Whitaker 's shoulder, as Whitaker tries to avoid the shot.
Whitaker takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Whitaker thows a left - swing and a miss!
Whitaker walks into a stiff left hand from Barbu.
Barbu throws a big shot that misses.
Whitaker looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbu is just out of range.
Whitaker avoids the body shot from Barbu.
Barbu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Whitaker .
A slow jab from Barbu misses its intended target.
Whitaker looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Barbu checks a leg kick.
Whitaker takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Barbu takes one to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barbu lands with an overhand left.
Barbu moves out of range of the strikes.
Whitaker just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Whitaker .
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barbu throws a right hand that Whitaker ducks under and follows up with a left that Whitaker also avoids with ease.
Whitaker throws a lazy right hand but Barbu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A low kick from Barbu misses
and Whitaker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barbu just misses with a punch to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Whitaker misses the target.
Whitaker scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Whitaker takes a swing at Barbu's ribcage but misses.
Barbu throws a sloppy body shot
and Whitaker makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Barbu throws a lazy uppercut
and Whitaker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barbu throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Whitaker on the side of the head.
Barbu scores with a punch to the head.
Whitaker takes a swing at Barbu's ribcage but misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Barbu misses.
Whitaker tries to score with a low kick but Barbu moves his leg out of the way.
A little jabbing left from Barbu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Whitaker on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A swing and a miss from Barbu.
Whitaker throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Barbu to counter with a crisp jab.
Whitaker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbu was well out of range. Poor timing from Whitaker .
Barbu looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barbu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barbu misses the jab.
Whitaker misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Whitaker stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbu looks to land a left hand but Whitaker moved out of range nicely.
Barbu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Whitaker misses with a hook. Barbu ducked under it nicely.
Whitaker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little feinted left hand from Whitaker on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Whitaker misses with an uppercut.
It seemed like Barbu was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A jab from Whitaker misses.
Whitaker misses with a left hand
and Barbu counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Whitaker takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Barbu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Whitaker .
Whitaker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barbu throws out the jab.
Whitaker takes a swing at Barbu's ribcage but misses.
Barbu missing with a left hand there. Whitaker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Benjamin Barbu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Barbu misses with a lunging right hand
and Whitaker counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Whitaker fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Whitaker misses with a two punch combination.
Whitaker misses with a right hand
and Barbu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Whitaker , as that shot connected.
Barbu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Whitaker moves away.
Barbu is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Whitaker misses with an uppercut.
Barbu throws out a counter right but Whitaker avoids it with no problem.
Barbu moves out of range of the strikes.
Barbu lands with an overhand left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A leg kick checked by Barbu.
A little jabbing left from Barbu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Barbu throws a looping overhand right but Whitaker ducks down to avoid it.
Barbu avoids the body shot from Whitaker .
Barbu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Whitaker was well out of range. Poor timing from Barbu.
A quick step to the side and Whitaker tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Whitaker misses.
Barbu throws a solid leg kick but Whitaker takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barbu.
Barbu missing with a left hand there. Whitaker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Whitaker looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Barbu lands a nice looking body shot.
Barbu connects with a right hand. Whitaker shakes it off.
Barbu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Whitaker manages to avoid it.
Whitaker was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Whitaker misses with a combination
and Barbu counters with a nice uppercut.
Whitaker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Whitaker misses with a hook. Barbu ducked under it nicely.
Barbu digs a good body shot into Whitaker 's ribs.
Whitaker looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice defenses there by Whitaker .
Benjamin 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.
Barbu ducks under a wild hook from Whitaker .
The fighters circling - Barbu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Whitaker half committed to a counter leg kick.
Whitaker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Whitaker throwing a counter right hand but Barbu manages to avoid it.
Whitaker is looking to chop away at Barbu's legs.
Despite the aggression on Barbu's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Barbu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Whitaker .
Barbu cracks Whitaker with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Whitaker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barbu lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Whitaker at a distance.
Barbu throws a jab but it's blocked by Whitaker .
Barbu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barbu lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Whitaker at a distance.
Whitaker swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Barbu.
Whitaker cracks Barbu with an open hand slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barbu.
Barbu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Whitaker counters with a nice low kick that buckles Barbu's knee momentarily.
Barbu throws a hook but Whitaker avoids it easily.
Whitaker swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Whitaker misses with a body shot.
Whitaker throws a right and a left that both miss.
A little jabbing left from Barbu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Barbu staying out of range there.
Barbu throws a jab but it's blocked by Whitaker .
A decent looking cross lands there for Barbu.
Barbu takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Barbu is looking to score with low kicks.
Barbu misses with a jab, cross combination.
A quick step to the side and Whitaker tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barbu paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker just misses with a punch to the body.
Barbu with a nice cross.
Barbu takes a swing at Whitaker 's ribcage but misses.
Whitaker was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Whitaker misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Whitaker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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!
Whitaker throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barbu misses with an uppercut. Whitaker saw that one coming.
A big left from Whitaker misses.
Barbu throws a lazy right hand but Whitaker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Whitaker tries to move into range but Barbu moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Whitaker lands with a good body shot.
Whitaker throws a series of punches but Barbu moves out of range.
Ray Whitaker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Whitaker throws out a loose jab but Barbu uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Benjamin Barbu.
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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Benjamin Barbu!
Benjamin Barbu spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.