PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mansour Barnaoui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Sigit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sigit has chosen Gie as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as The Sigit enters the cage!

Barnaoui
vs
Sigit

182 cm
28
167 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

173 cm
31
170 lbs
22 - 13 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mansour Barnaoui!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, The Sigit!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sigit thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mansour Barnaoui seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good standup being displayed there by Barnaoui as he connects with a hook.
Sigit ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barnaoui swings for the body but Sigit moves out of range.
Sigit with the counter takedown but Barnaoui avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Barnaoui. No joy for Sigit on that attempt.
Sigit tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnaoui swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barnaoui buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barnaoui scoring well with a low kick there.
Barnaoui scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Sigit fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barnaoui avoids it really well and circles away.
Sigit shoots in but no luck this time.
Mansour Barnaoui has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Sigit.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sigit.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnaoui is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sigit goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Barnaoui has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sigit but great work by Barnaoui.
Sigit is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Barnaoui wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sigit, who protects the arm well.
Sigit regains half guard there - taking advantage of Barnaoui's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Barnaoui prevents Sigit from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnaoui is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sigit is looking for a sweep. Barnaoui is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sigit actively working from the bottom here.

Sigit looking for subs from the bottom but Barnaoui mounts him!
Sigit really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
BOOM! Barnaoui connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Barnaoui prevents Sigit from getting the reversal.
Barnaoui can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sigit is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sigit is desperately trying to improve his position but Barnaoui has a good base and remains in mount.
Barnaoui controlling the position easily from mount.
Barnaoui looking to control but Sigit is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Barnaoui controlling his opponent.
Sigit working to try and regain half guard.
Barnaoui landing strikes, looking to finish!
Barnaoui postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sigit looks a forlorn figure.
Sigit felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sigit defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Barnaoui.

Barnaoui goes for an armbar but Sigit turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Sigit.
Barnaoui bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sigit's guard.

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

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

Barnaoui avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Barnaoui trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mansour Barnaoui dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Barnaoui keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sigit throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barnaoui's waist but Barnaoui gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sigit off to one side.
A low kick from Barnaoui is predictable there

and Sigit counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Barnaoui!
Barnaoui wants to control but Sigit postures up.
Barnaoui sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Barnaoui manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Barnaoui looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnaoui has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sigit with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sigit advances to half guard.
Sigit is pressing down on Barnaoui's thigh, looking to free his foot. Barnaoui is holding on for now.
Sigit seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Barnaoui is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barnaoui is pressing down on Sigit's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sigit landing with the ground and pound.
Barnaoui 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sigit accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barnaoui is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sigit can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sigit chips away with some ground and pound.
Barnaoui is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barnaoui is pulling down on Sigit's head. It's preventing any offense from Sigit, at least for the moment.
Sigit postures up and lands a big shot to Barnaoui's brow.
Barnaoui keeping moving, preventing Sigit from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sigit looking to sit in guard and control but Barnaoui gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sigit has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barnaoui can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barnaoui seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Sigit is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barnaoui is aware though and is defending well.

Sigit escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barnaoui gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Barnaoui lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sigit throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Sigit has his foot on Barnaoui's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barnaoui works his way back into a safe position though.
Barnaoui throws a big right hand that misses.
Barnaoui lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Barnaoui forces his way into half guard.
Barnaoui trying to pass the guard but Sigit defending well.
Sigit is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Sigit showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sigit looks for a takedown but Barnaoui sprawls well.
Barnaoui throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sigit on the side of the head.
Barnaoui throws the left hand but Sigit avoids the punch easily.
Barnaoui tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sigit was well out of range. Poor timing from Barnaoui.
Sigit feints the counter takedown.
The crowd cheers as Barnaoui lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sigit doesn't seem phased though.
Sigit shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barnaoui but Barnaoui pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sigit fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mansour Barnaoui has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Sigit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sigit fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Barnaoui lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnaoui scores with a hook to the body. Sigit takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sigit takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Barnaoui connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Barnaoui pushes Sigit away with a front kick.
Sigit takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sigit has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Barnaoui finds it's way round the side to connect with Sigit's head.
Barnaoui tries a head kick but it misses.
Barnaoui cracks the inside of Sigit's front leg.
Sigit closes the distance and clinches up with Barnaoui, looking for a takedown. Sigit pushes Barnaoui against the cage but Barnaoui circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barnaoui throws a low kick but Sigit moves out of range easily.
It looks like Barnaoui has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Sigit goes for a double leg but Barnaoui avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barnaoui continues to drive forward.
Barnaoui appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A good leg kick by Barnaoui.
Sigit chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barnaoui can pounce on him.
Sigit shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barnaoui as he avoids it easily.
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!
Sigit with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Barnaoui to score with a decent uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Barnaoui.
Sigit throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barnaoui sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Good work by Sigit as he checks the leg kick.
Barnaoui swinging wildly here.
Barnaoui looks to land a combination. Sigit sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Barnaoui throws out a leg kick but Sigit moves out of range and Barnaoui only half commits.
Sigit uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barnaoui.
Barnaoui lands an overhand right.
Barnaoui is looking to chop away at Sigit's legs.
Sigit changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Barnaoui connects with a body shot that sends Sigit's belly button to the back.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Barnaoui.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sigit shoots in looking for a takedown but Barnaoui manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sigit's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sigit.
Barnaoui scores with a leg kick.
Barnaoui with a nice cross.
Barnaoui lands a glancing blow to the side of Sigit's head.
Mansour Barnaoui is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sigit shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barnaoui as he jumps to the side.
Barnaoui fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sigit misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sigit fails to land the takedown.
Sigit shoots for a takedown but Barnaoui saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Barnaoui goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mansour Barnaoui is winning the standup battle so far.
Barnaoui scores with the left hand. Sigit knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnaoui will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barnaoui goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sigit darts in looking for a takedown but Barnaoui gets double underhooks and turns Sigit into the cage.
Barnaoui is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sigit avoids the body shot from Barnaoui.
Barnaoui scores with a punch to the head.
Sigit moves out of range of the leg kick from Barnaoui.
Barnaoui scores with a three punch combo!

Sigit is rocked!
Sigit takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mansour Barnaoui clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Barnaoui does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Barnaoui misses with a body kick.
Sigit shoots for a takedown but Barnaoui saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sigit closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nice jab there from Barnaoui.
Sigit is still on wobbly legs! Can Barnaoui finish him?
Sigit tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barnaoui defends well and Sigit ends up having to push Barnaoui into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sigit takes a jab right on the kisser.
Barnaoui cracks Sigit with an open hand slap.
Barnaoui throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barnaoui cracks Sigit with an open hand slap.

Sigit looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sigit trying to control but Barnaoui is working from the bottom.
Sigit is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sigit throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barnaoui works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barnaoui pulls Sigit in to control the position.
Sigit seems to have recovered his senses.

Barnaoui escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sigit gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Barnaoui throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sigit landing some decent shots from guard.
The Sigit has got the better of the ground game so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Barnaoui holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Barnaoui is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

Barnaoui looking for a guillotine here but Sigit defends easily.
Barnaoui is trying to control the position but Sigit postures up.
Sigit trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnaoui is trying to keep Sigit in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Barnaoui works Sigit's body with a nice hook.

Sigit moves into the clinch.
Sigit is looking to take this one to the mat.
Mansour Barnaoui has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Sigit.

Barnaoui breaks the clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barnaoui.
Sigit will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Barnaoui connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sigit shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Barnaoui defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnaoui connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mansour Barnaoui is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sigit shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barnaoui but Barnaoui pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Barnaoui looks to land a right hand but Sigit moved out of range.
Sigit drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Barnaoui defends it well.
Sigit moves out of range of the leg kick from Barnaoui.
Barnaoui swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sigit.
Sigit shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sigit has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sigit avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barnaoui stuffs the takedown attempt from Sigit. Sigit gets slowly back to his feet.
Barnaoui scores with a one two! Sigit had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mansour Barnaoui had his way with The Sigit in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Barnaoui moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sigit fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A jab from Barnaoui finds it's way through Sigit's defenses.
Barnaoui lands a jab to the nose.
Sigit fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Barnaoui throws a body kick that misses.
Barnaoui lands with a kick to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnaoui cracks Sigit with an open hand slap.
Sigit's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Barnaoui 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 Sigit has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sigit and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Sigit feints the counter takedown.
Barnaoui misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnaoui stuffs the takedown attempt from Sigit. Sigit gets slowly back to his feet.
Mansour Barnaoui has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Sigit.
Barnaoui keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sigit is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Barnaoui keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barnaoui tries to counter with a takedown but Sigit is quick to defend against it.
Barnaoui scores with a nice right hand.
Sigit uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barnaoui.
Sigit uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Barnaoui.
Sigit darts in trying to clinch

and Barnaoui counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barnaoui.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sigit working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barnaoui doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barnaoui manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Sigit throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sigit keeping moving, preventing Barnaoui from controlling successfully.
Barnaoui postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Sigit looking for a guillotine here but Barnaoui defends easily.

Barnaoui avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barnaoui drops back looking for a leg! Sigit is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sigit manages to kick Barnaoui off! Barnaoui jumps back into Sigit's guard.

Barnaoui has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Sigit to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Barnaoui is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Sigit pulls down on the head and he's put Barnaoui to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). The Sigit!
The Sigit is the new lightweight champion!
After the fight, The Sigit was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.