PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Edson Bidon Barbosa (ranked 124 p4p, 78 weight class) and Henrique Gusmao (ranked 15 p4p, 10 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Barbosa
vs
Gusmao

178 cm
31
155
24 - 13 - 0

179 cm
32
155
28 - 8 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hardcore Alchemy

Gatoroids
Voodoo Nutrition

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 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edson Bidon Barbosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Henrique Gusmao!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gusmao throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gusmao's jab looks to have found its range, popping Barbosa under the eye.
Gusmao scores with a decent looking hook.
A good leg kick by Gusmao.
Gusmao lands the left hand.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Gusmao. Barbosa shrugs it off though.
Barbosa avoids the body shot from Gusmao.
Gusmao throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Gusmao does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Barbosa is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Barbosa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gusmao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barbosa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gusmao lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gusmao checks a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbosa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gusmao was well out of range. Poor timing from Barbosa.
Barbosa cracks Gusmao with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Barbosa throws a right hand that Gusmao ducks under and follows up with a left that Gusmao also avoids with ease.
Gusmao is looking to slow Barbosa down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gusmao. Gusmao obviously looking to wear him down.
Barbosa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gusmao moves away.
Gusmao tries to clinch up.
Barbosa misses with a right hand

and Gusmao holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Barbosa gets through Gusmao's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gusmao just misses with a elbow thrown towards Barbosa's brow.
Gusmao misses with a punch on the inside.
Barbosa has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Gusmao lands a nice shot to the body.
Gusmao lands an elbow inside that Barbosa shrugs off.
Gusmao tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gusmao misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barbosa prevents a body shot from Gusmao.
Barbosa takes an elbow to the forehead.
Gusmao misses with some punches.
Barbosa looking to slow down the pace here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gusmao as Barbosa tries to tie him up.
Barbosa can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Barbosa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gusmao is keeping busy.
Gusmao pushes Barbosa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa lands a right hand.
Gusmao lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Barbosa backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barbosa is trying to break free.
Gusmao misses with some punches.
Barbosa tries a body shot but Gusmao blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Barbosa.
Gusmao told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
A short right from Gusmao on the inside.
Barbosa avoids a wild elbow strike from Gusmao.
Barbosa misses with some punches.
Gusmao can't find room to land a body shot as Barbosa controls the action.
Barbosa working hard to break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barbosa.
Barbosa can't find room to land a body shot as Gusmao controls the action.
Barbosa prevents a body shot from Gusmao.
Gusmao lands a right hand.
Barbosa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gusmaos head.

Barbosa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Gusmao.
Barbosa drops his hands momentarily and Gusmao takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Gusmao swings for the body but Barbosa moves out of range.
Barbosa throws a leg kick but Gusmao sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Gusmao tries to counter with a clinch but Barbosa shakes him off and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusmao with a nice calf kick.
Gusmao throws out a powerful jab.
Gusmao connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gusmao lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barbosa's sensitive parts.
Gusmao blocks a jab.
Gusmao throws out a counter right but Barbosa avoids it with no problem.
Barbosa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Barbosa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gusmao jabs Barbosa right on the nose. Barbosa blinks but takes it well.
Gusmao lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gusmao dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Barbosa misses the shot to the body.
Barbosa looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
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!
Gusmao fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Gusmao keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gusmao only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Gusmao with a nice calf kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Barbosa misses its intended target.
Barbosa throws a jab but it's blocked by Gusmao.
Barbosa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gusmao can pounce on him.
Gusmao misses with a leg kick.
Gusmao connects with a solid leg kick.
Gusmao pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barbosa was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Henrique Gusmao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some bone on bone action there as Gusmao checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Barbosa on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Jab, jab by Barbosa - just one landing.
Barbosa misses the jab.
Barbosa digs a good body shot into Gusmao's ribs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barbosa walks into a jab.
Gusmao throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gusmao is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barbosa quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Henrique Gusmao dominated that round.
That's time! Barbosa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Barbosa tries to work over Gusmao's front leg with a kick but Gusmao checks it.
Gusmao throws a head kick that misses.
Barbosa is looking to counter with a body kick.
Barbosa misses with an uppercut.
Gusmao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gusmao looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A jab lands there for Gusmao.
Gusmao ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barbosa moves away.
Good exchange - Barbosa coming out on top.
Gusmao looks to land a left hand but Barbosa moved out of range nicely.
Barbosa was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Gusmao punishes Barbosa's body with a nice straight punch.
Gusmao slips under a jab from Barbosa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gusmao connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Barbosa momentarily.
Gusmao thows a body kick. Barbosa tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Nice uppercut lands for Barbosa. That snapped Gusmao's head back.
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!
Barbosa throws a body kick that misses
and Gusmao counters with a right hand to the body.
Barbosa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gusmao.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Gusmao tenderised Barbosa's leg. Barbosa is trying to keep his angry face on.
Barbosa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Barbosa keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Barbosa gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sloppy strikes from Barbosa. Those never looked like landing.
Barbosa staying out of range there.
Barbosa is looking to counter with a body kick.
Barbosa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Barbosa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gusmao can pounce on him.
Gusmao moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Decent striking displayed by Gusmao there.
A good leg kick by Gusmao.
Gusmao throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Barbosa has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gusmao. Barbosa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gusmao thumps Barbosa with a low kick.
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!
Barbosa takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Gusmao throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
It looked like Barbosa wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gusmao lands a head shot.
Gusmao misses with a straight left.
Gusmao lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gusmao moves out of range as Barbosa strikes.
Gusmao connects with an inside leg kick.
Gusmao attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A low kick lands for Gusmao.
An inside leg kick lands from Gusmao.
Gusmao on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gusmao lands a glancing blow to the side of Barbosa's head.
Barbosa takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Barbosa throws a low kick but it's checked well by Gusmao.
Gusmao tries a quick counter leg kick but Barbosa is wise to it.
Gusmao smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusmao jabs Barbosa right on the nose. Barbosa blinks but takes it well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
An inside leg kick lands from Gusmao.
Gusmao thows a leg kick but Barbosa checks it
and Gusmao takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Henrique Gusmao seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gusmao tries to clinch up.
Gusmao tests Barbosa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gusmao misses with a low kick.
Barbosa is looking for a counter combo.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barbosa.
Gusmao turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A jab from Barbosa misses.
Gusmao will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gusmao bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Barbosa's head backwards.
Barbosa looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Barbosa's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Gusmao connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barbosa scrambles back to his feet.
Barbosa fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gusmao has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
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!
Barbosa misses with a looping left.
Barbosa takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusmao darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Gusmao misses with an uppercut. Barbosa saw that one coming.
Barbosa just misses with a punch to the body.
Gusmao feints and then cracks Barbosa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Barbosa down.
Gusmao defending well as Barbosa loads up on a big left hand.
Nice uppercut there from Gusmao.
Gusmao fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gusmao scores with a hook to the body. Barbosa takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gusmao.
Gusmao cracks Barbosa with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gusmao walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Barbosa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Barbosa throws a lazy uppercut
and Gusmao counters with a slapping leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gusmao.
Barbosa tries to move into range but Gusmao moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Henrique Gusmao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gusmao listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Barbosa wants to land a leg kick but Gusmao is out of range.
Barbosa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gusmao attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
It looked like Barbosa wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gusmao throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gusmao takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gusmao scores with the left hand. Barbosa knows he should have avoided that one.
Barbosa throws out a loose jab but Gusmao uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gusmao connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gusmao showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barbosa.
Gusmao was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gusmao misses with a low kick as Barbosa jumps back.
A swing and a miss from Barbosa.
Gusmao is looking to slow Barbosa down with leg kicks.
Gusmao is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barbosa.
As Gusmao backs away, Barbosa returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A low kick lands for Gusmao.
Barbosa drops his hands momentarily and Gusmao takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Barbosa checks a low kick from Gusmao.
Gusmao works Barbosa's body with a nice hook.
Some bone on bone action there as Barbosa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Gusmao scores with a hook to the body. Barbosa takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gusmao scores with a jab.
Gusmao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barbosa defending well as Gusmao loads up on a big left hand.
Barbosa throws a big shot that misses.
Barbosa missing with a left hand there. Gusmao was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gusmao.
Gusmao throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Barbosa misses its target.
Edson Bidon Barbosa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henrique Gusmao is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusmao lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barbosa's sensitive parts.
Gusmao wants to land a leg kick but Barbosa is out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gusmao wants to slow Barbosa down by chopping away at his legs.
Gusmao moves out of range as Barbosa strikes.
Gusmao misses with a low kick.
Barbosa swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gusmao lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A good leg kick by Gusmao.
Gusmao throws a hook but Barbosa avoids it easily.
Gusmao takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Gusmao keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Gusmao moves out of range of the leg kick from Barbosa.
Barbosa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barbosa shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Barbosa throws a hook to the side of Gusmao's head but Gusmao sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusmao scores with a leg kick.
Gusmao lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gusmao throws a lazy right hand but Barbosa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gusmao jabs Barbosa to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gusmao.
Gusmao lands a nice shot to the body.
Gusmao misses with a jab to the body
and Barbosa counters with a slapping leg kick.
Barbosa throws a body punch but Gusmao moves out of range.
Barbosa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gusmao misses with a hook.
Gusmao tries to clinch but Barbosa is having none of it.
Barbosa tried to counter with a leg kick but Gusmao avoided it.
Gusmao scoring well with a low kick there.
Barbosa walks into a stiff left hand from Gusmao.
Barbosa takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gusmao scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Gusmao misses with an uppercut. Barbosa saw that one coming.
Barbosa takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Barbosa on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gusmao scores with a jab to the head.
Gusmao is looking to slow Barbosa down with leg kicks.
That kick from Gusmao tenderised Barbosa's leg. Barbosa is trying to keep his angry face on.
Gusmao throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gusmao dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Barbosa. That did some damage!
Barbosa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gusmao with the inside leg kick.
Gusmao looks to land a body kick but Barbosa moved away.
Gusmao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barbosa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henrique Gusmao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gusmao has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henrique Gusmao!
Henrique Gusmao spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.