PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Geoffrey Barbossa (ranked 1179 p4p, 124 weight class) and Kukulcan Tonga (ranked 1130 p4p, 120 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.

Barbossa
vs
Tonga

170 cm
32
162 lbs
24 - 6 - 3

181 cm
33
162 lbs
23 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

Aspire Clothing

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 24 - 6 - 3, fighting out of St Petersburg, Geoffrey Barbossa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Kukulcan Tonga!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tonga.
Barbossa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tonga moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barbossa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tonga was well out of range. Poor timing from Barbossa.
Barbossa slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Barbossa digs a good body shot into Tonga's ribs.
Barbossa ducks right into an uppercut from Tonga.
Decent striking displayed by Tonga there.
Barbossa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tonga manages to avoid it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Barbossa, right into the meat.
Tonga lands a nice hook to Barbossa's body. Barbossa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Barbossa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tonga.
Tonga takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Tonga throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Barbossa tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tonga is in Barbossa's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barbossa pulls Tonga in to control the position.
Tonga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barbossa swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonga in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barbossa wants to sweep here but Tonga controlling him for the moment.
Barbossa keeping moving, preventing Tonga from controlling successfully.
Tonga passes into half guard.
Tonga looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tonga is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Tonga is working for a kimura but Barbossa is defending it quite comfortably.

Tonga seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tonga is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Barbossa doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tonga.
Barbossa is doing well to control the position and prevent Tonga from advancing to side control.
Barbossa is refusing to be controlled, as Tonga sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa trying to control from the bottom.

Tonga is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Barbossa is concentrating on defense, preventing Tonga from advancing position.
Tonga thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barbossa's head.

Tonga is working for a kimura but Barbossa is defending it quite comfortably.

Tonga is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Barbossa doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tonga.

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.
Barbossa wants to improve his position but Tonga is controlling well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Barbossa cracks a nice hook into Tonga's ribs.
Tonga takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Barbossa scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tonga tries to score with a low kick but Barbossa moves his leg out of the way.
Barbossa throws a leg kick which misses Tonga's front leg but catches the back leg as Tonga tries to avoid it.
Barbossa throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Barbossa throws out a leg kick but Tonga moves out of range and Barbossa only half commits.
Barbossa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tonga.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Geoffrey Barbossa will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Barbossa leaves Tonga with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Barbossa misses with a looping left.
Tonga throws out a powerful jab.
Barbossa slips a jab and a cross from Tonga.
Geoffrey Barbossa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barbossa slips under a jab.
Tonga fails with a takedown attempt.
Tonga throws a lazy uppercut
and Barbossa counters with a nice uppercut.
Tonga gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Barbossa.
Tonga paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Barbossa walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Barbossa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barbossa feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Barbossa throws out a loose jab but Tonga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barbossa throws a body punch but Tonga moves out of range.
Tonga defending well as Barbossa loads up on a big left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbossa ducks under a wild hook from Tonga.
Barbossa is looking to wear down Tonga with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Tonga throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A big left from Tonga misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbossa lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Barbossa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tonga at a distance.
Tonga swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barbossa takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tonga tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Barbossa scores with a hook.
Tonga connects with a crisp jab.
Barbossa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tonga throws out the jab.
Tonga keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Barbossa misses with a two punch combination.
Tonga moves away from the strike by Barbossa.
Tonga with a nice cross.
Geoffrey Barbossa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barbossa ducks under a wild hook from Tonga.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barbossa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barbossa connects with a single shot there.
Nice defenses there by Barbossa.
Tonga lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tonga is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Tonga on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barbossa. Barbossa obviously looking to wear him down.
Tonga pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Barbossa.
Tonga might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Tonga connects with a jab.
Barbossa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tonga at a distance.
Good work by Tonga as he checks the leg kick.
Barbossa misses with an uppercut.
Barbossa scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Barbossa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tonga throws out the jab.
Barbossa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tonga with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Barbossa to score with a decent uppercut.
Barbossa thows a left - swing and a miss!
A nice side step and Tonga releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Barbossa throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Nice jab there from Barbossa.
Barbossa fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Tonga dives in for a single leg takedown but Barbossa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Geoffrey Barbossa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kukulcan Tonga.
Barbossa connects with the punch.
Barbossa takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Barbossa throws an overhand right that lands on Tonga's shoulder, as Tonga tries to avoid the shot.
Tonga steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Tonga works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Tonga.
Barbossa defending well as Tonga loads up on a big left hand.
Barbossa looks to land a right hand but Tonga moved out of range.
Barbossa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barbossa misses with a wild body shot.
Tonga looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barbossa.
Barbossa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tonga misses with an uppercut
and Tonga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tonga fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Barbossa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Tonga takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tonga ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barbossa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tonga takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Barbossa moves out of range of the body kick from Tonga.
Nice shot by Tonga.
Barbossa misses with a straight left.
Barbossa lands an overhand right.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tonga throws a body punch but Barbossa moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa lands a head shot.
Barbossa works the jab nicely.
Barbossa swings for the body but Tonga moves out of range.
Tonga's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Tonga jabs Barbossa to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tonga walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A lazy left from Tonga finds it's target.
Barbossa throws a chopping leg kick but Tonga manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Barbossa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tonga's calf.
Tonga uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barbossa.

Tonga shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tonga showed some decent athleticism there.
Tonga throwing shots but Barbossa is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tonga prevents Barbossa from improving his position.

Tonga seems to be working for a kimura but Barbossa defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geoffrey Barbossa dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice shot lands for Barbossa.
Barbossa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Tonga fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barbossa.
Geoffrey Barbossa is winning the standup battle so far.
Barbossa lands with an uppercut that bounces Tonga off the cage and back into range.
Tonga tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Barbossa scores with a punch to the head.
A bone on bone clash there as Tonga blocks the leg kick.
Tonga throws a jab when Barbossa was well out of range.
Barbossa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tonga.
Tonga throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Barbossa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tonga tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Barbossa is able to avoid easily.
Tonga has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Barbossa takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Barbossa misses with a looping left.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barbossa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barbossa throws a front kick aimed at Tonga's knee but Tonga avoids it well.
Barbossa misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbossa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Tonga's head.
Tonga lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Barbossa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Barbossa throws an overhand right that lands on Tonga's shoulder, as Tonga tries to avoid the shot.
Barbossa looks to land a right hand but Tonga moved out of range.
Tonga misses the jab.
Barbossa pivots, looking for a leg kick but Tonga is out of range and Barbossa settles back down.
Sloppy strikes from Tonga. Those never looked like landing.
Barbossa swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Barbossa listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tonga checks a low kick from Barbossa.
Barbossa uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tonga has time to react.
Tonga ducks under a wild hook from Barbossa.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Tonga! But no joy.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tonga.
Tonga scores with a jab to the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tonga chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barbossa can pounce on him.
Tonga uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barbossa.
Tonga throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kukulcan Tonga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa takes one to the side of the head.
Tonga misses with a head kick.
Barbossa appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tonga has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barbossa.
Tonga misses with an uppercut
letting Barbossa counter with a right hand.
Good work by Tonga as he checks the leg kick.
Barbossa tries to score with a low kick but Tonga moves his leg out of the way.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Tonga! But no joy.
Tonga moves out of range of the strikes.
Barbossa throws a big shot that misses.
Barbossa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Barbossa misses with a leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Tonga. Beautiful body shot.
Barbossa finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Barbossa moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromTonga.
Some wild striking there from Barbossa.
Barbossa looks to land a right hand but Tonga moved out of range.
Barbossa walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Barbossa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Tonga shoots in for a takedown but Barbossa shows good takedown defense.
Geoffrey Barbossa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonga throws a lazy right hand but Barbossa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barbossa keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Tonga will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barbossa avoids the head kick by Tonga.
Barbossa works Tonga's body with a nice hook.
Tonga misses with a straight right.
Tonga tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbossa was well out of range. Poor timing from Tonga.
Tonga takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
The fighters circle momentarily. Barbossa darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Tonga gets a takedown into half guard.
Tonga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Tonga is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Barbossa is looking for a sweep. Tonga is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tonga thows a huge punch but Barbossa dodges it nicely.
Barbossa keeping control of the position.
Barbossa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tonga.
Tonga throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Tonga looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Tonga slips a nice elbow through Barbossa's hands, connecting with Barbossa's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Geoffrey Barbossa.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barbossa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Geoffrey Barbossa!
A very excited looking Geoffrey Barbossa made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.