PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marcelo Barbosa (ranked 3896 p4p, 197 weight class) and Gary Dema (ranked 5384 p4p, 244 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.

Barbosa
vs
Dema

165 cm
19
137 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

172 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Barbosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gary Dema!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Ben Watson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbosa thuds a left hand into Dema's body.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dema misses with a hook.
Dema misses with a straight left.
Barbosa misses with an attempted mid kick.
Dema on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barbosa. Barbosa obviously looking to wear him down.
Dema looks to throw the jab but Barbosa is out of range.

Dema gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dema wants to stall.
Dema lands an elbow that stopped Barbosa in his tracks for a moment.
Dema misses with a knee strike.
Dema blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Dema obliges.
Barbosa throws a punch but it's blocked by Dema.
Dema lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Barbosa can't find room to land a body shot as Dema controls the action.
Dema is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barbosa lands a nice uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Barbosa.
Dema lands an elbow inside that Barbosa shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dema lands a knee to the head.
Dema unloads a knee to the mid-section. Barbosa lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Dema creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Barbosa's defenses.
Barbosa struggles to land a body shot inside as Dema controls his hands.
Dema lands a knee to the head.
Barbosa tries a body shot but Dema blocks it.
Dema landing knees to the head.
Barbosa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dema lands an elbow inside that Barbosa shrugs off.
Barbosa tries to pull guard but Dema forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Barbosa tries to throw a body punch but Dema avoids it by throwing Barbosa back against the ropes.
Dema lands a knee to the body.
Dema misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barbosa.
Barbosa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dema lands an elbow that stopped Barbosa in his tracks for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbosa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dema has him pressed against the ropes.
Barbosa struggles to land a body shot inside as Dema controls his hands.
Barbosa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dema lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Barbosa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Dema to keep the fight standing.
Dema blocking some punches.
Dema goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dema can't find room to land a body shot as Barbosa controls the action.
Dema misses with a knee strike.
A knee to the head by Dema.
Dema trying to control the position but instead, Barbosa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Dema into the ropes.
Barbosa taking a breather.
Dema lands a nice elbow.
Dema slowing the pace effectively.
Dema lands an elbow that stopped Barbosa in his tracks for a moment.
Barbosa tries to throw a body punch but Dema avoids it by throwing Barbosa back against the ropes.
Dema stalling the fight.
Barbosa is trying to pull guard but Dema turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcelo Barbosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dema is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dema.
Barbosa wants to break free but Dema has control.
Barbosa is trying to break free.
Dema is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Dema using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Dema scores with a knee to the head.
Barbosa jumps guard but Dema stands there with Barbosa around his waist. Barbosa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Barbosa jumps guard but Dema stands there with Barbosa around his waist. Barbosa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Barbosa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barbosa jumps guard but Dema turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Barbosa scores with a shot to the side of Dema's head.
Dema tries a body shot but Barbosa blocks it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Dema obliges.
Barbosa wants to break the clinch but can't.
Barbosa working hard to break the clinch.
Dema is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dema trying to control the position but instead, Barbosa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Dema into the ropes.
Barbosa has a couple of punches blocked by Dema.
Barbosa is trying to force a seperation but Dema has the dominant position.
Dema misses with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Dema.
Barbosa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barbosa has had enough of the clinch but Dema keeps him there for the moment.
Barbosa misses with the head strike.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Knees to the body from Dema.
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!
Dema landing knees to the head.
Dema leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Barbosa takes an elbow to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Dema dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Barbosa lunges at Dema with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Dema's hand.
Dema takes a swing at Barbosa's ribcage but misses.
Barbosa connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Barbosa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dema.

Dema moves into the clinch.
Gary Dema seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Barbosa tries a body shot but Dema blocks it.
Dema with a knee to the head.
Dema tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Barbosa avoids it.
Dema is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Dema missing with knees to the body.
Dema throws an elbow that misses.
Barbosa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dema lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Dema pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Barbosa throws a head punch that misses.
Dema with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Barbosa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Barbosa struggles to land a body shot inside as Dema controls his hands.
Barbosa takes an elbow to the forehead.
Barbosa misses with some punches.
Barbosa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dema smiles and moves away.
Barbosa thuds a left hand into Dema's body.
Barbosa avoids the body shot from Dema.
Dema pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barbosa scores with a jab to the body.
Barbosa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barbosa dodges the punch combination from Dema.
Barbosa is looking to counter punch.
Barbosa scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Dema is rocked!
Barbosa fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Dema to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Dema looks to clinch but Barbosa throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Dema taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Marcelo Barbosa!