PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Itchy Sinclair (ranked 705 p4p, 978 weight class) and Baldomir Barbosa (ranked 101 p4p, 139 weight class). Barbosa has chosen Unfaithful as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sinclair
vs
Barbosa

179 cm
18
182
15 - 5 - 0

185 cm
28
186
15 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Itchy Sinclair!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Baldomir Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sinclair scores with a one two! Barbosa had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Barbosa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sinclair momentarily.
Barbosa avoids the head kick by Sinclair.
Barbosa has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Barbosa gets caught flat footed, as Sinclair shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sinclair is standing up over Barbosa. Barbosa looks to escape but Sinclair dives into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Barbosa takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sinclair trying to control the action but Barbosa is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbosa tries to escape but Sinclair is in control.

Sinclair wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Barbosa, who protects the arm well.

Sinclair is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Barbosa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa tries to escape but Sinclair is in control.
Barbosa dodges the ground and pound from Sinclair.
Sinclair trying to control the position but Barbosa is working away.
Barbosa defending against the ground and pound.
Sinclair in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Sinclair has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

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.
Sinclair throwing strikes but Barbosa manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Barbosa trying to control the action but Sinclair is working from the bottom.

Barbosa decides to stand back up. Barbosa steps back and let's Sinclair get back to his feet.
Barbosa paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Barbosa moves out of range of the body kick.
Barbosa swings for the body but Sinclair moves out of range.
Sinclair throws the left hand but Barbosa avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barbosa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sinclair misses with a hook
and Barbosa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barbosa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Barbosa misses with a leg kick.
Barbosa avoids the body shot from Sinclair.
Nice defenses there by Sinclair.
Sinclair misses with a body shot.
Barbosa drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sinclair defending well as Barbosa loads up on a big left hand.
Sinclair throws a hook but Barbosa avoids it easily.
Barbosa takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sinclair throws a looping overhand right but Barbosa ducks down to avoid it.
Barbosa lands with an uppercut that bounces Sinclair off the cage and back into range.
Barbosa misses with a straight right.
Sinclair slips a straight right by Barbosa.
Sinclair paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barbosa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Baldomir Barbosa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sinclair misses with a straight right.
Sinclair shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barbosa pinned against the cage. Barbosa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sinclair uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barbosa.
Sinclair takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Barbosa swinging wildly here.
A swing and a miss from Sinclair.
Sinclair throws a jab but it's blocked by Barbosa.
Barbosa now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Sinclair tries to land a front kick but Barbosa steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Barbosa misses with a looping right.
Sinclair appears to be looking for a big counter.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sinclair. Barbosa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barbosa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barbosa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sinclair drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Itchy Sinclair will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Barbosa connects with a jab.
Sinclair feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Barbosas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sinclair comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A nice combination there by Sinclair.
Barbosa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barbosa scores with a decent looking hook.
Barbosa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sinclair counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Barbosa thinking.
Sinclair is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Barbosa.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbosa takes one to the side of the head.
Sinclair fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barbosa avoids it really well and circles away.
Barbosa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Baldomir Barbosa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barbosa takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Barbosa throws a looping overhand right but Sinclair ducks down to avoid it.
Itchy Sinclair is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sinclair ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barbosa takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sinclair.
Barbosa thows a left - swing and a miss!
It looked like Sinclair was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Sinclair misses with a combination
and Barbosa counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sinclair displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barbosa throws out the jab.
It looked like Sinclair wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sinclair is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barbosa.
Nice body punch from Sinclair.
Sinclair just misses with a punch to the body.
Barbosa takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sinclair uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barbosa.
Sinclair will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Barbosa lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Barbosa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sinclair swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Barbosa throws a body shot but no joy.
Sinclair jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Barbosa lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sinclair misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair misses with a wild body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sinclair throws a hook but Barbosa blocks it.
It seemed like Barbosa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sinclair showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barbosa.
Barbosa misses with a hook
and Sinclair counters with a series of strikes. Barbosa will be more careful next time no doubt.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sinclair misses with a body shot
and Barbosa counters with a straight right hand.
Barbosa dodges the punch combination from Sinclair.
Barbosa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sinclair moves away.
A slow jab from Barbosa misses its intended target.
Sinclair throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barbosa.
A little jabbing left from Barbosa on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Barbosa loads up on a big right hand but Sinclair slips the punch.
Barbosa fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Barbosa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sinclair.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair needs to keep his hands up - Barbosa had a free shot at his head there.

It looks like Itchy Sinclair has been cut.
Barbosa scores with a body shot.
Sinclair throws an off balance right hand
and Barbosa counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sinclair darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Barbosa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sinclair shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Itchy Sinclair. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barbosa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sinclair.
Barbosa misses with a hook. Sinclair ducked under it nicely.
Barbosa cracks Sinclair with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nice cross by Barbosa.

Sinclair is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Barbosa's half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sinclair seems to be looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sinclair tries to pass the half guard into mount. Barbosa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sinclair wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barbosa keeps working.
Sinclair passes to full mount!

Sinclair jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Barbosa is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Barbosa and Sinclair has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Sinclair is chipping away with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Baldomir Barbosa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Itchy Sinclair's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Barbosa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sinclair manages to avoid it.
No luck for Sinclair with that takedown attempt.
Barbosa lands with a hook. Sinclair tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nice uppercut there from Barbosa.
Barbosa loads up on a big right hand but Sinclair slips the punch.
Sinclair misses with a wild body shot.
Sinclair connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Barbosa walks into a stiff left hand from Sinclair.
Sinclair fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Sinclair misses.
Barbosa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses.
Barbosa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sinclair counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sinclair takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sinclair shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Barbosa eats them both and turns towards Sinclair to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
A punch combination from Barbosa misses.

Sinclair drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Barbosa keeping moving, preventing Sinclair from controlling successfully.
Sinclair not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Barbosa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barbosa keeping moving, preventing Sinclair from controlling successfully.
Sinclair postures up and lands a big shot to Barbosa's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair trying to control the position from guard on top but Barbosa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sinclair has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Barbosa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sinclair wants to pass the guard but Barbosa is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sinclair is defended easily by Barbosa.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Itchy Sinclair. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barbosa slips under a jab from Sinclair.
Sinclair works Barbosa's body with a nice hook.
Sinclair steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barbosa.
Barbosa misses with a wild body shot.
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 walks into a jab.
Barbosa scores with a punch to the head.
Barbosa takes a swing at Sinclair's ribcage but misses.
Sinclair was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa scores with a jab to the head.
Barbosa throws an overhand right that lands on Sinclair's shoulder, as Sinclair tries to avoid the shot.
Sinclair throws a looping overhand right but Barbosa ducks down to avoid it.
A little jabbing left from Barbosa on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Barbosa lands with a good body shot.
Sinclair on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sinclair ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barbosa moves away.
Barbosa swings widly with a right hand

and Sinclair counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sinclair wants to control from the top but Barbosa keeps moving.
Sinclair advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Sinclair wants to pass to mount but Barbosa is defending the position.
Ground and pound from Sinclair.
Sinclair keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've been hearing good reports from Sinclair'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.
Sinclair trying to control the action but Barbosa is working from the bottom.
Sinclair stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Itchy Sinclair.
I think Sinclair has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Baldomir Barbosa!
Baldomir Barbosa took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.