PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bento Barboza (ranked 266 p4p, 227 weight class) and Andrei Kersikov (ranked 46 p4p, 38 weight class). Barboza comes to the cage accompanied by Angel Of Death. The crowd seem to be enjoying Kersikov's choice of entrance music: Head of the Table. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barboza
vs
Kersikov

190 cm
26
265
20 - 5 - 0

201 cm
26
269
7 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

HELLBENT
SynCity Fightwear

Conviction
Pearson Specter Litt

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bento Barboza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andrei Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barboza cracks Kersikov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

It looks like Andrei Kersikov has been cut.
Kersikov lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Bento Barboza has been cut.
Barboza looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Barboza blocks a jab.
Barboza quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Kersikov lands a nice hook to Barboza's body. Barboza takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kersikov lands a right hook to the body.
Kersikov 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.
Kersikov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Barboza moves out of range of the strikes.
Barboza connects with a body shot that sends Kersikov's belly button to the back.
Barboza scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov works Barboza's body with a nice hook.
Barboza checks a leg kick nicely.
Barboza defending well as Kersikov loads up on a big left hand.
Barboza throws a leg kick but Kersikov moved away.
A countering left hand to the body from Kersikov misses.
Barboza dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kersikov. That did some damage!
Barboza works the jab nicely.
Barboza checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kersikov tried to score with a low kick but Barboza checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barboza misses with a looping right.
Barboza has been working on his boxing with his coaches at FIST OF FURY in the buildup to the fight.
Good exchange - Kersikov coming out on top.
Barboza misses with a body shot.
Barboza throws a leg kick
and Kersikov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kersikov misses the shot to the body.
Kersikov thows a leg kick but Barboza checks it
and Barboza counters with a nice leg kick.
Kersikov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Barboza finds it's way round the side to connect with Kersikov's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice uppercut lands for Barboza. That snapped Kersikov's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barboza tries to move into range but Kersikov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kersikov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barboza misses with a low kick.
Barboza moves out of range of the body kick.
Kersikov slips a jab from Barboza.
Kersikov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kersikov throws a jab but it's blocked by Barboza.
Barboza misses with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barboza scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kersikov misses with a straight left.
Barboza swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kersikov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A shot to the body from Kersikov misses
and Barboza counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kersikov tries to land a leg kick but Barboza saw it coming and moves away.
Barboza is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kersikov.
Barboza throws a body shot but no joy.
Kersikov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
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 Bento Barboza will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kersikov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barboza counters with a straight right hand.
Kersikov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Barboza throws the left hand but Kersikov avoids the punch easily.
Kersikov slips under a jab.
Kersikov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Barboza checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good work by Kersikov as he checks the leg kick.
Kersikov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov avoids the body shot from Barboza.
Kersikov is looking for the big counter here.
Kersikov misses with a body shot.
Barboza swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Bento Barboza is winning the standup battle so far.
Barboza throws a big shot that misses.
Barboza uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kersikov.
Barboza throwing a counter right hand but Kersikov manages to avoid it.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Barboza closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Barboza pushes Kersikov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kersikov blocking some punches.
A right handed body shot lands from Barboza.
Kersikov is breathing heavily.
Barboza tries a body shot but Kersikov blocks it.
Barboza tries to throw a body punch but Kersikov avoids it by throwing Barboza back against the cage.
Barboza misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Kersikov.
Barboza lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kersikov dodges an elbow strike from Barboza.
Barboza lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Barboza throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kersikovs head.
Kersikov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barboza misses with a body punch.
Barboza goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barboza tries a body shot but Kersikov blocks it.
Barboza throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A shot in the inside from Kersikov.
A right handed body shot lands from Barboza.
Kersikov throws a punch but it's blocked by Barboza.
Kersikov throws a punch but it's blocked by Barboza.
Kersikov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kersikov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barboza fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A knee to the head by Kersikov.
Kersikov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Barboza backwards.
Kersikov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kersikov lands an uppercut.
Kersikov struggles to land a body shot inside as Barboza controls his hands.
Kersikov blocks the elbow strike.
Kersikov working aggressively here.
Barboza blocks a body shot from Kersikov.
Kersikov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kersikov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kersikov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barboza backwards.
Andrei Kersikov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Barboza being controlled against the cage.
Barboza throws a punch but it's blocked by Kersikov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Barboza fails to land.
Kersikov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barboza blocks it with crossed arms.
Barboza working aggressively here.
Barboza lands an elbow inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kersikov looking to stall.
Barboza lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barboza blocks an uppercut.
Barboza throws a head punch that misses.
Barboza misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kersikov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kersikov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Barboza misses with some punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Barboza.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bento Barboza will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kersikov misses with a jab to the body
enabling Barboza to counter with a crisp jab.
Andrei Kersikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barboza lands a body shot.
Kersikov throws a leg kick which misses Barboza's front leg but catches the back leg as Barboza tries to avoid it.
Barboza tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kersikov was well out of range. Poor timing from Barboza.
Barboza getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kersikov 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.
Kersikov swings for the body but Barboza moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov moves out of range of the body kick.
A slow jab from Barboza misses its intended target.
Barboza on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Barboza explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kersikov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Barboza lands a high kick!
Barboza attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov misses the shot to the body.
Barboza throwing a counter right hand but Kersikov manages to avoid it.
Kersikov throws a right hand that misses
enabling Barboza to counter with a crisp jab.

That has opened up Andrei Kersikov's cut even more.
Kersikov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Barbozas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kersikov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barboza.
Kersikov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barboza lands with a shot to the body.
Barboza throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kersikov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kersikov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov throws a lazy right hand but Barboza sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Barboza closes the distance and pushes Kersikov back into the cage.
Barboza working aggressively here.
Kersikov throws a punch but it's blocked by Barboza.
A shot in the inside from Barboza.
Kersikov lands a hook that snaps the head of Barboza backwards.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kersikov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barboza backwards.
Barboza presses Kersikov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kersikov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barboza misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kersikov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A hook to the body from Barboza.
Kersikov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Kersikov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barboza lands a body punch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Barboza fails to land.
Kersikov misses with some punches.
Barboza works on Kersikov's body with a couple of short punches.
Kersikov takes an elbow to the forehead.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kersikov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nice body punch from Barboza.
Kersikov prevents a body shot from Barboza.
Barboza lands a damaging elbow.
Barboza lands with a right to the head.
Barboza lands an elbow just above Kersikov 's eye.
Barboza lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

The cut above Andrei Kersikov's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Barboza is leaning against Kersikov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Bento Barboza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barboza tries to work over Kersikov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Good body shot from Barboza.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bento Barboza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Barboza has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:28

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