PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aslanbek Barayev (ranked 953 p4p, 112 weight class) and Pedro Rocha Barros (ranked 1168 p4p, 132 weight class). Barayev kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Antirespect - There. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barayev
vs
Rocha Barros

173 cm
26
148 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

174 cm
26
149 lbs
5 - 4 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Aslanbek Barayev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Pedro Rocha Barros!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Winston Alpacca and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch but Rocha Barros swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rocha Barros throws a lazy uppercut

and Barayev counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rocha Barros looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Rocha Barros pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Aslanbek Barayev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rocha Barros circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barayev looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Barayev is looking to clinch but Rocha Barros is avoiding it.
Barayev fails with an attempt to clinch.
A nice side step and Rocha Barros releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Rocha Barros pushes him off.
Rocha Barros smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rocha Barros throws a hook but Barayev blocks it.
Barayev is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Rocha Barros.
Barayev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rocha Barros! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barayev defending well as Rocha Barros loads up on a big left hand.
A jab from Rocha Barros misses.
Barayev is looking to clinch.
Barayev tries to clinch but Rocha Barros moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barayev pushes Rocha Barros up against the cage in a clinch.
Barayev jumps guard but Rocha Barros stands there with Barayev around his waist. Barayev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Rocha Barros breaks the clinch.
Barayev has been working on his balance at ELITE Island Gym - 19 Elite Coaches, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Rocha Barros.
Rocha Barros loads up on a big right hand but Barayev slips the punch.
Barayev seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Barayev moves into range and clinches up with Rocha Barros.
Barayev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rocha Barros smiles and moves away.
Barayev is looking to clinch but Rocha Barros is avoiding it.
Rocha Barros circles away from the clinch attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rocha Barros. Barayev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rocha Barros is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barayev.
Rocha Barros misses with a body shot.
Barayev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barayev tries to clinch but Rocha Barros is having none of it.
Rocha Barros swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rocha Barros scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rocha Barros swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rocha Barros misses the jab.
Rocha Barros throws out a loose jab but Barayev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barayev seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Rocha Barros pushes him off.
Rocha Barros avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rocha Barros swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barayev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barayev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rocha Barros manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A little jabbing left from Rocha Barros on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rocha Barros circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barayev doesn't manage to clinch there - Rocha Barros circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rocha Barros! But no joy.
Barayev takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barayev tries to clinch there but Rocha Barros circles away.
It seemed like Rocha Barros was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rocha Barros throws a hook but Barayev avoids it easily.
A lazy left from Rocha Barros finds it's target.
Rocha Barros misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barayev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barayev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rocha Barros throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barayev is looking to counter the offense by Rocha Barros and move into the clinch.
Barayev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rocha Barros manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barayev is looking to clinch.
Barayev doesn't manage to clinch there - Rocha Barros circles away.
Barayev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rocha Barros lands a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Barayev.
Rocha Barros misses with a body shot.
Rocha Barros thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rocha Barros connects with the punch.
Barayev doesn't manage to clinch there - Rocha Barros circles away.
Barayev is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha Barros is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Rocha Barros pushes him off.
Rocha Barros misses with an uppercut. Barayev saw that one coming.
Rocha Barros tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barayev was well out of range. Poor timing from Rocha Barros.
Barayev doesn't manage to clinch there - Rocha Barros circles away.
Barayev is looking to clinch but Rocha Barros is avoiding it.
Barayev tries to clinch but Rocha Barros is having none of it.
Barayev takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Barayev tries to clinch up
and Rocha Barros counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rocha Barros connects with the punch.
Barayev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rocha Barros pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barayev wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rocha Barros paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barayev closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Rocha Barros counter with a right hand.
Barayev tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Rocha Barros to counter with a crisp jab.
Barayev moves away from the strike by Rocha Barros.
Rocha Barros misses with a straight left.
Barayev tries to clinch
and Rocha Barros counters with a straight right hand.
Barayev moves away from the strike by Rocha Barros.
Rocha Barros ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barayev moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barayev is looking to clinch.
Barayev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rocha Barros paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rocha Barros stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barayev is looking to clinch.
Barayev wants to clinch but Rocha Barros slips to the side
and Rocha Barros counters with a right hand to the body.
Barayev wants to clinch.
Rocha Barros looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rocha Barros bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Barayev's head backwards.
Rocha Barros throws the left hand but Barayev avoids the punch easily.
Rocha Barros loads up on a big right hand but Barayev slips the punch.
Barayev tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rocha Barros connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barayev tries to clinch up but Rocha Barros circles away and keeps his distance.
Rocha Barros throws out a counter right but Barayev avoids it with no problem.
Barayev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A little jabbing left from Rocha Barros on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha Barros avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rocha Barros now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Rocha Barros throws a series of punches but Barayev moves out of range.
As Rocha Barros tries to get set, Barayev tries to push him back and clinch up but Rocha Barros manages to avoid the attempt.
Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Rocha Barros pushes him off.
Barayev doesn't manage to clinch there - Rocha Barros circles away.
Barayev tries to clinch but Rocha Barros is having none of it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rocha Barros.
Barayev staying out of range there.
Rocha Barros cracks a nice hook into Barayev's ribs.
Rocha Barros has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barayev tries to clinch up but Rocha Barros circles away and keeps his distance.
Rocha Barros looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Barayev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barayev is looking to clinch but Rocha Barros is avoiding it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rocha Barros! But no joy.
Barayev tries to clinch up but Rocha Barros circles away and keeps his distance.
Barayev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rocha Barros digs a good body shot into Barayev's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barayev tries to clinch up.
Barayev tries to clinch but Rocha Barros moves out of range.
Rocha Barros throws a shot from downtown. Barayev moves away and avoids it.
Barayev wants to clinch.
Barayev tries to clinch but Rocha Barros is having none of it.
Rocha Barros swats away the attempt to clinch by Barayev.
Rocha Barros looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Barayev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rocha Barros looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rocha Barros throws the left hand but Barayev avoids the punch easily.
Barayev tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Rocha Barros manages to circle out of the way.
Rocha Barros circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rocha Barros swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rocha Barros paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rocha Barros keeps the fight on the outside.
Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Rocha Barros pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Rocha Barros misses.
Rocha Barros swinging wildly here.
Barayev is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Rocha Barros.
Barayev wants to clinch up but Rocha Barros keeps it at a distance.
Barayev tries to clinch but Rocha Barros is having none of it.
Barayev slips under a jab from Rocha Barros.
Rocha Barros swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barayev is looking to clinch but Rocha Barros is avoiding it.
Barayev tries to clinch up but Rocha Barros circles away and keeps his distance.
Barayev tries to clinch but Rocha Barros moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rocha Barros! But no joy.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rocha Barros paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barayev moves to clinch but Rocha Barros breaks away
and Rocha Barros counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rocha Barros misses with a looping left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Rocha Barros showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rocha Barros swats away the attempt to clinch by Barayev.
Barayev tries to clinch but fails miserably
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
and Rocha Barros connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barayev closes the distance but Rocha Barros moves to the side
and Barayev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rocha Barros throws a lazy right hand but Barayev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barayev tries to counter by clinching up but Rocha Barros breaks away and moves out of range.
Barayev tries to clinch up.
A nice side step and Rocha Barros releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rocha Barros. Barayev does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Rocha Barros misses.
Rocha Barros avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Rocha Barros.
Rocha Barros throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barayev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Barayev wants to clinch up but Rocha Barros keeps it at a distance.
Rocha Barros misses with a few strikes there.
Barayev tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rocha Barros counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Rocha Barros.
Pedro Rocha Barros seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rocha Barros misses with a hook.
Barayev wants to clinch but Rocha Barros slips to the side
and Rocha Barros counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rocha Barros looks to land a right hand but Barayev moved out of range.
Rocha Barros circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rocha Barros counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Barayev is looking to clinch.
Rocha Barros throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barayev ducks under a wild hook from Rocha Barros.
Rocha Barros throws a good cross that connects.
Rocha Barros throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barayev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rocha Barros moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Barayev tries to clinch up but Rocha Barros circles away and keeps his distance.
Rocha Barros looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Aslanbek Barayev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha Barros throws a lazy right hand but Barayev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rocha Barros misses with a right hand

and Barayev counters by clinching up.
Barayev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rocha Barros struggles to land a body shot inside as Barayev controls his hands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Barayev manages to pull guard.

Barayev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rocha Barros can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barayev keeping moving, preventing Rocha Barros from controlling successfully.
Barayev keeping full guard, as Rocha Barros tries to pass.

Barayev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rocha Barros stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barayev swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barayev is trying to control the position but Rocha Barros postures up.
Rocha Barros passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Barayev gets back to half guard.
Rocha Barros wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barayev keeps working.

Barayev is defending against the submission attempts here by Rocha Barros.
Rocha Barros passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barayev tries to reverse the position but Rocha Barros maintains control.
Rocha Barros pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

Rocha Barros goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Barayev is on top in guard.
Rocha Barros looking for a sweep. Not yet Rocha Barros, not yet.
Rocha Barros avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Barayev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Barayev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Rocha Barros escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barayev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pedro Rocha Barros comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rocha Barros winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pedro Rocha Barros!
After winning the bout, Pedro Rocha Barros thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.