PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derek Trucks (ranked 922 p4p, 22 weight class) and Bernardo De Barros (ranked 856 p4p, 20 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Trucks
vs
De Barros

183 cm
29
196 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

173 cm
26
160 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derek Trucks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bernardo De Barros!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Barros uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Trucks.

Excellent takedown into side control there by De Barros.
De Barros working the ground and pound but Trucks is defending the strikes.

De Barros tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

De Barros is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Trucks is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Trucks gets back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

De Barros is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Trucks sees it coming and defends easily.
De Barros wants to advance to full mount but Trucks doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trucks wants to sweep here but De Barros controlling him for the moment.
Trucks keeping moving, preventing De Barros from controlling successfully.
De Barros pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Trucks is keeping the position for now.
De Barros missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Trucks is trying to keep De Barros in close.
De Barros stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Trucks swivels though and keeps the full guard.
De Barros is looking to work some ground and pound but Trucks has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
De Barros trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Trucks manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

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

De Barros working for submissions but it's allowed Trucks to get to half guard.
De Barros has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Trucks is keen to just control but De Barros is a slippery customer.
Trucks wants to stand up but De Barros has a hold of him and won't allow it.

De Barros looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Trucks pushes past his half guard into mount!
De Barros has given up his back.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Trucks has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of De Barros's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trucks has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Trucks controlling well, preventing De Barros from escaping the position.
De Barros keeps trying to improve his position.
De Barros tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Trucks moves to the back position.
You can see the frustration on De Barros's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
De Barros manages to reverse the position and now he's in Trucks's guard. Nice work there by De Barros.
De Barros wants to control from the top but Trucks keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trucks trying to control the position here.
De Barros working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Trucks's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as De Barros accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
De Barros pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Trucks is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Trucks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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 Derek Trucks will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

De Barros uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Trucks.

De Barros closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - De Barros lands in his opponent's guard.
De Barros trying to control but Trucks is working from the bottom.
De Barros is looking to work some ground and pound but Trucks has wrist control.
Trucks can't keep his opponent in guard - De Barros advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
De Barros not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bernardo De Barros has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Barros tries to pass the half guard into mount. Trucks knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

De Barros is working for a submission of some sort.
Trucks keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De Barros is working for a submission of some sort.
De Barros wants to pass the guard but Trucks is defending well.

De Barros is looking for a kimura but Trucks is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for De Barros to get the leverage.
Trucks pushes De Barros off looking to stand but De Barros dives back in and keeps control.
Trucks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Trucks trying to hold on to De Barros's head to control him but De Barros postures up.
Trucks is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of De Barros's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take De Barros's back!
Trucks biding his time, looking for the opening.
De Barros rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Trucks works his way into side control.
De Barros is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
De Barros is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
De Barros is still trying to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
De Barros is trying to control Trucks's posture but Trucks avoids it.
De Barros is looking for a sweep.
Trucks wants to lay and pray for a moment but De Barros keeps working.
De Barros tries to improve position but can't.
Trucks taking a breather here.

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.
De Barros gets back to half guard.
Trucks controlling the action here.

De Barros actively working from the bottom here.
De Barros is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
De Barros gets full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Trucks's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
De Barros is trying to keep Trucks in close.

De Barros throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Trucks escapes and throws De Barros's legs to the side, diving into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bernardo De Barros will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

De Barros misses with a hook. Trucks ducked under it nicely.
De Barros has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Bernardo De Barros has been cut.
De Barros misses with an uppercut.
De Barros shoots and misses
and Trucks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A slapping leg kick lands for Trucks.
Trucks misses with a leg kick.
Trucks uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before De Barros has time to react.
De Barros fails with an attempt to clinch.
Trucks seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
De Barros takes a swing at Trucks's ribcage but misses.
De Barros tries for a takedown but Trucks sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Trucks throws a hook but De Barros blocks it.
Trucks throws a hook but De Barros avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from De Barros.
Derek Trucks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bernardo De Barros.
Trucks lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Trucks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from De Barros.
De Barros darts in looking for a takedown but Trucks gets double underhooks and turns De Barros into the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from De Barros finds it's target.
De Barros misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Trucks.
De Barros blocks a jab.
Trucks thumps De Barros with a low kick.
De Barros swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Derek Trucks is winning the standup battle so far.
De Barros tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Oooooh!!! Trucks has knocked De Barros down with a huge combo! Trucks steps away and waves a wobbly De Barros back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

De Barros is rocked!
Trucks throws a monster overhand right that drops De Barros! Trucks follows up with more strikes from mount and the fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Derek Trucks!
After winning the bout, Derek Trucks thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.