PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Edson Barboza (ranked 4755 p4p, 4843 weight class) and Matic Skafar (ranked 404 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Barboza
vs
Skafar

180 cm
25
150
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Edson Barboza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matic Skafar!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Chris Edwards and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barboza darts in and clinches Skafar up against the cage.

Skafar pulls guard effortlessly.
Skafar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Skafar has a closed guard, preventing Barboza from standing up.
Barboza preventing the sweep.
Skafar has his hands on Barboza's head, controlling the position.
Skafar bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barboza's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skafar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skafar is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Skafar stops Barboza from standing up.
Skafar controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Skafar trying to control the position from guard on top but Barboza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Barboza wants to stand up but Skafar is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Edson Barboza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barboza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Skafar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Skafar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barboza appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Barboza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Skafar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Skafar is looking for the big counter here.

Barboza closes the distance and pushes Skafar back into the cage.
Skafar presses Barboza against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Skafar gets control of Barboza's arms and successfully pulls guard. Skafar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Skafar is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barboza is aware though and is defending well.
Skafar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barboza decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Skafar, up you get!
Barboza connects with a body shot.
Edson Barboza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barboza throws a lazy head kick

and Skafar counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Skafar.

Barboza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Skafar shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barboza but Barboza pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Skafar looks winded!
Skafar is looking to clinch.
Barboza appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Barboza lands a head kick. Skafar smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Barboza lands a head kick!
Barboza with a nice calf kick.
Barboza keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A head kick misses from Barboza.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Skafar! But no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skafar has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barboza misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Barboza moves into the clinch.
Skafar has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Barboza is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Edson Barboza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matic Skafar.
Skafar is stalling here.

Barboza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barboza scores with a head kick.
Barboza misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barboza scores with a nice head shot.
Barboza throws a nice head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edson Barboza dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Skafar shoots in looking for a takedown but Barboza manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Skafar's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Barboza moves in looking to clinch but Skafar pushes him off.
Skafar tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Barboza works the jab nicely.
Skafar tries to clinch but Barboza moves out of range.
Skafar fails with a takedown attempt.
Barboza throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Skafar.
Skafar tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barboza sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Skafar somewhat.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Edson Barboza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matic Skafar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skafar takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Skafar is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skafar has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barboza.
Barboza goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Barboza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Barboza has taken the fight to the clinch.
Barboza is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Barboza is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Skafar is looking to take this one to the mat.

Skafar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Edson Barboza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
An inside leg kick lands from Barboza.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barboza pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barboza lands a head kick!
Barboza throws a nice head kick!
Skafar dives in for a single leg takedown but Barboza sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Skafar is breathing heavily.
Barboza connects with a solid leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice takedown defense from Barboza. No joy for Skafar on that attempt.
Skafar looks to land a body kick but Barboza moved away.
Barboza showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Skafar.
Skafar looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Barboza scores with a one two! Skafar had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barboza connects with a single shot there.
Barboza tries a head kick but it misses.
Barboza dips to his left and cracks Skafar with an uppercut!
Barboza goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Danga de danga de dang - Barboza scores with a four punch combination!
A nice leg kick lands there from Barboza.
Barboza throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Skafar shoots in but no luck this time.
Edson Barboza is winning the standup battle so far.
Skafar takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
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!
Skafar takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Barboza scores with a head kick.
Barboza lands with a kick to the temple. Skafar shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Skafar closes the distance and pushes Barboza back into the cage.
Skafar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Skafar can't get the takedown.

Barboza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Barboza gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Skafar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Skafar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barboza.

Barboza moves into the clinch successfully.

Barboza manages to break the clinch.
Skafar will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Barboza lands with an overhand left.
Barboza throws a one two combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edson Barboza dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Barboza. Skafar shrugs it off though.
Barboza misses with a head kick.
Barboza avoids the head kick by Skafar.
Skafar wants to clinch.
Skafar misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters circling a little - Barboza finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Horrible takedown attempt by Skafar or perhaps it was just good defense by Barboza, which made it look bad.
Skafar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skafar closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barboza circles away.

Skafar tries to keep at a distance but Barboza has taken the fight into the clinch.

Skafar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barboza feints a jab promting Skafar to slip. Barboza then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Skafar slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Barboza scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Barboza throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Skafar.
Barboza throws a head kick that Skafar semi-blocks.
Barboza pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barboza throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Skafar misses with a body kick.
Barboza is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Skafar can do to turn this around?

Skafar tries to keep at a distance but Barboza has taken the fight into the clinch.

Barboza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Skafar wants to clinch up but Barboza keeps it at a distance.
Barboza misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A combination from Barboza does no damage.
Skafar has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Skafar there as he acknowledges the shot.
Barboza stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barboza wants it to stay on the feet.
Edson Barboza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matic Skafar.
Skafar tries to clinch but Barboza moves out of range.
Skafar takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Barboza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barboza lands a high kick!
Skafar tries for a takedown but Barboza sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Barboza moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Barboza misses with a series of wild punches.
Skafar steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Barboza.
Barboza is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barboza bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Barboza throws a right and a left that Skafar avoids nicely.
Skafar shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barboza but Barboza pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Skafar takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Skafar shoots in looking for a takedown. Barboza tries to sprawl out of it but Skafar keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barboza manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Skafar tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barboza manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Skafar moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Barboza throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Skafar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barboza throws a head kick but Skafar moves out of range.
Skafar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barboza moves away.
Skafar has a takedown stuffed.
Skafar throws a leg kick but Barboza sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Barboza seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Barboza moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
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!

Barboza rushes Skafar and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barboza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barboza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Skafar is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Skafar is pushing Barboza up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Matic Skafar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edson Barboza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Barboza manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edson Barboza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barboza, 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edson Barboza!