PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dragomir Barbu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vlad Ikban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dragomir Barbu had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Barbu
vs
Ikban

196 cm
20
187 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
20
170 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 London, Dragomir Barbu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vlad Ikban!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, John Kavanagh and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Barbu. Those never looked like landing.
Barbu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barbu lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ikban backs up against the cage.

It looks like Vlad Ikban has been cut.
Barbu changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ikban tries to avoid it but Barbu manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ikban to the ground. Ikban escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Barbu dives in for a single leg takedown but Ikban sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ikban is trying to counter with his kicks.
Barbu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As Barbu backs off Ikban throws a huge counter combo but Barbu manages to avoid it all.

Barbu darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Ikban kicks off Barbu and gets to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ikban wants to clinch but Barbu slips to the side
and Barbu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ikban doesn't manage to clinch there - Barbu circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ikban pushes Barbu up against the cage in a clinch.
Barbu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barbu gets through Ikban's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A bit of stalling here from Barbu.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ikban swings wildly with an uppercut but Barbu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ikban taking a breather.

Barbu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barbu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ikban pinned against the cage. Ikban gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dragomir Barbu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbu throws a solid leg kick but Ikban takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barbu.
Barbu has a takedown stuffed.

Barbu clinches up with Ikban and pushes him back against the cage.

Barbu manages to break the clinch.
Barbu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Barbu manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ikban on his heels. He'll look to pass Ikban's guard now, I'm sure.
Barbu prevents Ikban from getting back to his feet.
Barbu engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ikban wants to sweep here but Barbu controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbu throwing strikes but missing.
Barbu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ikban bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barbu's guard.

Ikban throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barbu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ikban pushing down on Barbu's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Barbu is looking for a sweep. Ikban is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Ikban is looking for a kimura but Barbu is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ikban to get the leverage.
Barbu is trying to control but can't.
Barbu is trying to stand back up but Ikban is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbu is pressing down on Ikban's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Barbu controlling the position.
Ikban trying to control but Barbu is working from the bottom.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Barbu manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Ikban lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Barbu lands a knee to the head.
Ikban swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Barbu has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ikban is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Barbu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dragomir Barbu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vlad Ikban's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ikban slaps away a takedown attempt from Barbu, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dragomir Barbu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ikban moves in looking to clinch but Barbu pushes him off.
Ikban tries to clinch but Barbu moves out of range.
Ikban tries to clinch but Barbu is having none of it.
Barbu wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Ikban stuffs the takedown.
Barbu shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ikban as he jumps to the side.
Ikban is trying to counter with his kicks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dragomir Barbu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbu throws a head kick but Ikban moves out of range.
Ikban slaps away a takedown attempt from Barbu, before circling back to the center of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikban is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Barbu is keeping busy.

Barbu breaks from the clinch.
Barbu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ikban goes for a double leg but Barbu avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barbu continues to drive forward.
Barbu shoots in and drives through. Ikban sprawls well.
Dragomir Barbu is winning the standup battle so far.
Ikban tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barbu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barbu shoots in for a takedown but Ikban shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dragomir Barbu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barbu lands a lovely overhand right.
Barbu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ikban can do to turn this around?
Barbu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ikban defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Barbu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barbu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Ikban closes the distance and pushes Barbu back into the cage.
Barbu has Ikban pressed against the cage, preventing Ikban from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ikban misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barbu fails to pull guard.
Ikban misses with a knee to the head.
Ikban misses with a short punch on the inside.
Barbu jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ikban walks away with a smile on his face. Barbu gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Barbu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ikban counters with a left to the body.
Ikban throws a body punch but Barbu moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ikban avoids it really well and circles away.
Barbu wants to clinch.
Ikban closes the distance but Barbu moves to the side
and Barbu makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Barbu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ikban avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ikban tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barbu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barbu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ikban swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barbu is looking to counter punch.
Barbu throws a leg kick but Ikban checks it.

Ikban moves into the clinch successfully.

Barbu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Barbu changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ikban looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ikban wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Ikban 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ikban tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Ikban showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vlad Ikban's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Barbu thuds his right hand into Ikban's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ikban can't find room to land a body shot as Barbu controls the action.
Barbu is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Barbu jumps guard but Ikban turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ikban gets underhooks to prevent Barbu's takedown attempt.
Barbu has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ikban avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dragomir Barbu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ikban wants to take the fight to the mat but Barbu manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ikban is trying to force a seperation but Barbu has the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbu is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ikban to keep the fight standing.
Barbu goes for a takedown attempt but Ikban pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barbu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikban tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barbu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barbu is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Ikban avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ikban throws out a counter right but Barbu avoids it with no problem.
Barbu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Barbu clinches.
Barbu fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Barbu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barbu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
As Barbu backs off Ikban throws a huge counter combo but Barbu manages to avoid it all.
Ikban fails to land the takedown.
Barbu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ikban misses with a takedown attempt
and Barbu counters with a one-two to the body.
Barbu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ikban circles away.
Ikban tries to close the distance and clinch but Barbu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barbu shoots for a double leg takedown but Ikban sprawls well. He's pushed Barbu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ikban tries to counter with a clinch but Barbu shakes him off and moves away.
Barbu circles away from the clinch attempt.

Ikban closes the distance and clinches.
Vlad Ikban seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The referee calls for Barbu to work.
Come on Barbu - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Barbu for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Barbu wants to take the fight to the mat but Ikban manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ikban wants a takedown but no success here.
Barbu really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikban trying to control the position but instead, Barbu has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ikban into the cage.
Ikban stalls.

Barbu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barbu shoots for a takedown but Ikban saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Ikban misses.

Ikban closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Barbu to the mat! Barbu manages to get full guard.

Barbu is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ikban presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Ikban swings wildly with an uppercut but Barbu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ikban prevents a takedown attempt there.
Barbu letting Ikban take a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbu avoiding damage as Ikban throws knees to the body.
Ikban is trying to stall.
Ikban tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Barbu's elbow.

Barbu breaks the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ikban is defended easily by Barbu.
Barbu drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ikban sprawls and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barbu getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dragomir Barbu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Barbu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dragomir Barbu!