PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between George Barant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Augusto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barant comes to the cage accompanied by Umeshoryu - Zaid Tabani. Rodrigo Augusto has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with George Barant's chin.

Barant
vs
Augusto

180 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

169 cm
24
174 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes musicals

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, George Barant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rodrigo Augusto!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Augusto tries a head kick but it misses.
Augusto wants to clinch up but Barant keeps it at a distance.
Augusto throws a head kick but Barant moves out of range.
Barant throws a series of punches but Augusto avoids them all with ease.
Augusto throws a right hand that Barant ducks under and follows up with a left that Barant also avoids with ease.
Barant moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Augusto misses with a looping left.
Some bone on bone action there as Augusto checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rodrigo Augusto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Augusto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Augusto moves to clinch but Barant breaks away

and Barant counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Barant wants to pass the guard but Augusto is keeping the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barant's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barant is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Augusto manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched 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!

Augusto has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Barant uses from the top position.
Barant with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barant wants to control from the top but Augusto keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barant lands a couple of digs.
Barant looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Barant postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barant knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Augusto on the ground.

Barant got a little sloppy there for a moment and Augusto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barant has managed to get both his arms back between Augusto's legs - danger averted.
Augusto keeping moving, preventing Barant from controlling successfully.
Barant stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Augusto swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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.

Barant avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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

Barant manages to get back to half guard.
Barant tries to kick Augusto off but Augusto keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Barant has a hand on Augusto's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Augusto takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

Augusto is working for a guillotine from mount but Barant frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Barant really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Barant really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Augusto manages to capitalize on a mistake by Barant to take his back!
Barant is trying to get back to his feet but Augusto has full control of the position and if anything, Barant has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Barant looking very determined here, making life difficult for Augusto.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Barant is trying to stand back up.

Augusto looking for the choke from the back.

Augusto looking for the choke from the back.
Barant trying to get back to his feet but Augusto is in full control for now.

Augusto is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Barant has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Augusto dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Barant lands with a nice combination. Augusto backs away looking to recover.
Good exchange - Barant coming out on top.
Augusto fails with an attempt to clinch.
Augusto wants to clinch.
Barant fails to land with a series of punches.
Augusto throws a sloppy head kick and Barant moves out of range easily.
Barant ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Barant avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Augusto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barant manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Augusto throws a sloppy head kick and Barant moves out of range easily.
Augusto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barant swivels and escapes.
Augusto is breathing heavily.
Barant slips under a jab from Augusto.
Augusto tries to clinch but Barant moves out of range.
Barant feinted with a counter takedown.
Augusto shoots in but Barant avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barant connects with a looping right hand.
Augusto misses with a takedown

and Barant counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barant.
George Barant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Augusto.
Barant is in close to Augusto's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Barant lands a couple of digs.
Barant is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Barant is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Augusto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barant's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barant lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barant lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Barant working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Barant works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Barant stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Augusto is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
George Barant is winning the standup battle so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Augusto tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barant defends well and Augusto ends up having to push Barant into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Barant changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Barant comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Barant feints a jab promting Augusto to slip. Barant then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Augusto slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Barant lands an overhand right.
Barant is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Augusto throws a head kick that misses
and Augusto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Barant is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Barant fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Augusto sprawls well initially but Barant persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barant lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rodrigo Augusto has got the better of the ground game so far.

Barant is working for a kimura but Augusto is defending it quite comfortably.
Barant trying to pass the guard but Augusto defending well.
Barant landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Barant blocks the strikes from Augusto.
Barant blocks the strikes from Augusto.
Augusto 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.
Barant scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Augusto punching from the bottom.
Barant is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Augusto can do to turn this around?

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.
Barant wants to control but Augusto is keeping him busy.
Augusto is looking to control Barant's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Augusto avoid being mounted?
Barant is nestled in close to Augusto, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Augusto tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Barant manages to move to mount!
Barant raining down hammerfists from mount.
Barant landing strikes, looking to finish!
Barant with good strikes from the mount here!
Barant unloading with bombs!

Augusto is rocked!
Barant with good strikes from the mount here!
Augusto is still in real trouble! Can Barant finish him?
Barant landing punches.
Augusto tries to hold on but Barant pushes him away.
Barant lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Barant unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Augusto wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Barant celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). George Barant!
In his post fight interview, George Barant started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.