PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Estaban Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannibal Barca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hannibal Barca will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Gonzalez
vs
Barca

180 cm
25
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Fatty's

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Estaban Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hannibal Barca!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Dean Styles and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Gonzalez has Barca pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Gonzalez pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Barca tumbling to the mat - Gonzalez dives into Barca's guard.
Gonzalez wants to control from the top but Barca keeps moving.
Barca controls Gonzalez momentarily but Gonzalez frees himself.
Gonzalez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Barca trying to control the position from guard on top but Gonzalez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barca content to stall in guard here.
Gonzalez working a defensive guard here.
Barca sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gonzalez's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barca wants to work for an arm triangle but Gonzalez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gonzalez is not content to let Barca control the position.
Gonzalez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gonzalez trying to keep a closed guard but Barca is proving a slippery customer.
Barca pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gonzalez is keeping the position for now.
Barca forces his way into half guard.
Gonzalez is looking for a sweep. Barca is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gonzalez manages to get to full guard.
Gonzalez is controlling Barca's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barca tries to free his leg and advance position but Gonzalez is retaining full guard.
Gonzalez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gonzalez 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.
Gonzalez is pulling down on Barca's head to control his posture.
Barca trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barca sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gonzalez's guard.
Gonzalez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gonzalez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Barca controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gonzalez looking to control.
Gonzalez 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.
Gonzalez is trying to control the position but Barca postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barca wants to pass the guard but Gonzalez is keeping the position.
Barca engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gonzalez pulls Barca in close to prevent any damage.
We've been informed that Barca has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Gonzalez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barca gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gonzalez is breathing heavily.
Barca looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gonzalez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barca manages to get himself to full guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez looking to sit in guard and control but Barca gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Barca drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Barca jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gonzalez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Barca puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barca wants to free his trapped foot but Gonzalez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gonzalez is looking to improve his position.
Barca wants to free his trapped foot but Gonzalez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannibal Barca dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Gonzalez. No joy for Barca on that attempt.
Barca looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Barca fails to land the takedown.
Gonzalez seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Estaban Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hannibal Barca.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barca wants to clinch up but Gonzalez keeps it at a distance.
Barca fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gonzalez tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Barca manages to circle out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barca closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Barca is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Gonzalez gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Gonzalez prevents Barca from improving his position.

Gonzalez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gonzalez controlling the action here.

Gonzalez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barca is looking for a sweep. Gonzalez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gonzalez is working for a submission of some sort.
Gonzalez looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Gonzalez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barca keeps working.

Gonzalez seems to be looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gonzalez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Barca has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gonzalez is keen to just control but Barca is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is looking to stall here but Barca recovers full guard.
Estaban Gonzalez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Gonzalez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Barca is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Barca has escaped and now he's on top!

Barca pushing down on Gonzalez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Barca is working for a kimura but Gonzalez is defending it quite comfortably.

Barca seems to be working for a kimura but Gonzalez defends the submission attempt.
Gonzalez is doing well to control the position and prevent Barca from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barca is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gonzalez is just riding it out for now. Barca eventually gives up the hold.
Barca trying to control from half guard but Gonzalez is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gonzalez trying to hold on to Barca's head to control him but Barca postures up.
Gonzalez is looking to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barca is pressing down on Gonzalez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gonzalez is holding on for now.
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 Estaban Gonzalez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Barca moves into the clinch.
Gonzalez misses with a short punch on the inside.

Gonzalez is trying to trip Barca. He has hold of a leg but Barca is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Gonzalez persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barca is on top in guard.

Gonzalez keeping moving, preventing Barca from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barca is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Barca advances position into side control!
Gonzalez wants to control but Barca postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barca is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gonzalez has escaped the position, nice work there.

Barca wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gonzalez, who protects the arm well.
Barca takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gonzalez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Barca's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gonzalez is doing well to control the position and prevent Barca from advancing to side control.
Gonzalez is not content to let Barca control the position.
Barca looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Barca controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gonzalez wants to control but Barca is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Barca is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Gonzalez!

Barca wants to finish this one by submission but Gonzalez is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Barca.
Gonzalez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gonzalez trying to control the position from guard on top but Barca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barca being controlled here, momentarily.
Gonzalez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barca swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barca is trying to keep Gonzalez in close.

Gonzalez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Barca looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Barca looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Barca!

Gonzalez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Barca trying to control the position but Gonzalez is working away.

Barca tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gonzalez is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Gonzalez is looking to reverse the position.
Gonzalez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Barca's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gonzalez is staying active underneath Barca, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Barca wants to pass to mount but Gonzalez is defending the position.
Gonzalez tries to get to full guard but Barca has control of the leg.
Well, if Barca is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gonzalez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hannibal Barca comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barca has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hannibal Barca!