PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kaue ALmeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

ALmeida
vs
Barbosa

177 cm
24
187 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

211 cm
21
187 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kaue ALmeida!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ALmeida fails to land the takedown.
ALmeida looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barbosa is fending him off so far but ALmeida persists. Nope, Barbosa circles away and we're back to standing.
ALmeida throws an off balance right hand
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. ALmeida will be more careful next time no doubt.

ALmeida closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Barbosa quickly recovers to half guard.
Barbosa is trying to get back to full guard.
ALmeida not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
ALmeida slows the pace down in half guard.
Barbosa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. ALmeida is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa regains full guard. Nicely done.
Barbosa wants to stand up but ALmeida is controlling him.
Barbosa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barbosa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Barbosa has his hands on ALmeida's head, controlling the position.

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

ALmeida closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Barbosa's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

ALmeida gets to his feet - Barbosa follows without any prompting.
ALmeida misses with a lunging right hand
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. ALmeida will be more careful next time no doubt.

ALmeida closes the distance and clinches.
Barbosa tries to break free but ALmeida pushes him back against the cage.

ALmeida breaks from the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Barbosa as ALmeida shoots in.
Barbosa lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaue ALmeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for ALmeida with that takedown attempt.
Barbosa is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ALmeida falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
Kaue ALmeida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A low kick from ALmeida misses
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. ALmeida will be more careful next time no doubt.
ALmeida misses with a body punch
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has ALmeida backing up. ALmeida nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
ALmeida throws a series of punches but Barbosa avoids them all with ease.
ALmeida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barbosa throws a counter combo.
Barbosa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barbosa tries to sprawl but ALmeida drives through with a takedown into half guard.
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!
Barbosa moves into full guard.
Barbosa wants to stand but ALmeida is controlling the position.
ALmeida preventing the sweep.
Barbosa pulls ALmeida in close to his closed guard and prevents ALmeida from doing any damage or advancing position.
Barbosa keeping full guard, as ALmeida tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Barbosa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

ALmeida fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Barbosa, pushing him back against the cage.

Barbosa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jose Barbosa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
ALmeida tries for a takedown but Barbosa circles away easily
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. ALmeida will be more careful next time no doubt.
ALmeida dives in for a single leg takedown but Barbosa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from ALmeida misses
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.
ALmeida tries to clinch up.
Barbosa unleashes a big counter combination but ALmeida bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

ALmeida manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Barbosa on his heels. He'll look to pass Barbosa's guard now, I'm sure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Barbosa trying to control the position.

ALmeida decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Barbosa, up you get!
Kaue ALmeida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
ALmeida tries to land a body kick
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
ALmeida closes the distance looking to clinch
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. ALmeida will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Barbosa. No joy for ALmeida on that attempt.
As ALmeida backs off Barbosa throws a huge counter combo but ALmeida manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaue ALmeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
ALmeida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barbosa lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
ALmeida misses with a takedown attempt
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has ALmeida backing up. ALmeida nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
ALmeida fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
ALmeida closes the distance looking to clinch
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barbosa wants it to stay on the feet.
As ALmeida backs off Barbosa throws a huge counter combo but ALmeida manages to avoid it all.
ALmeida tries for a takedown but Barbosa circles away easily
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has ALmeida backing up. ALmeida nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.

ALmeida closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Barbosa did well to prevent ALmeida getting side control.
Barbosa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Barbosa is trying to control the position but ALmeida postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa pulls ALmeida in close to prevent any damage.
ALmeida is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kaue ALmeida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barbosa wants to get back to his feet but ALmeida is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Barbosa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
ALmeida sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Barbosa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

ALmeida moves to clinch but Barbosa breaks away
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has ALmeida backing up. ALmeida nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
ALmeida misses with a takedown
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has ALmeida backing up. ALmeida nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.

Barbosa tries to keep at a distance but ALmeida has taken the fight into the clinch.
Barbosa being controlled against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
ALmeida tries to land knees in the clinch but Barbosa avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

ALmeida breaks the clinch.
Barbosa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barbosa throws a counter combo.
Barbosa avoids the head kick by ALmeida.
ALmeida misses with a takedown
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings ALmeida.
ALmeida with a lazy takedown attempt
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has ALmeida backing up. ALmeida nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaue ALmeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
ALmeida swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jose Barbosa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
ALmeida throws a sloppy head kick
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ALmeida fails with the takedown
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings ALmeida.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
ALmeida throws a poor cross that misses
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
ALmeida doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings ALmeida.
A low kick from ALmeida is predictable there
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. ALmeida will be more careful next time no doubt.
ALmeida tries to clinch but Barbosa moves away
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. ALmeida will be more careful next time no doubt.
ALmeida fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ALmeida gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
ALmeida with a poor takedown
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
ALmeida doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has ALmeida backing up. ALmeida nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
ALmeida tries for a takedown but Barbosa circles away easily
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings ALmeida.
ALmeida shoots and misses
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

ALmeida is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
ALmeida falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes that really hurt ALmeida! The ref looks into his eyes and sees nobody home - he's called the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jose Barbosa!
Jose Barbosa is the new middleweight champion!