PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lars Kay (ranked 559 p4p, 213 weight class) and Edson Bidon Barbosa (ranked 57 p4p, 28 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kay
vs
Barbosa

177 cm
25
150
10 - 3 - 0

178 cm
38
155
43 - 24 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

NARCOS

Brooklyn Threads
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lars Kay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 43 - 24 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edson Bidon Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Darius Henderson and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbosa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kay.
A countering left hand to the body from Barbosa misses.
A shot to the body from Kay misses
and Barbosa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kay misses with a hook.
Barbosa takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Barbosa avoids the body shot from Kay.
Kay moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kay misses with a looping left.
Kay misses with a right hand
and Barbosa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Lars Kay has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kay throws a poor cross that misses
and Barbosa counters with a nice body kick.
Kay scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Barbosa doesn't seem bothered though.
Barbosa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kays jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Barbosa lands with a nice body punch.
Kay throws an off balance right hand
and Barbosa counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kay's knee momentarily.
Edson Bidon Barbosa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kay scores with a punch to the head.

Barbosa drops Kay with a beautiful combination! Kay stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Barbosa is looking for the KO!

Kay is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kay lands a slapping body shot.
Kay shoots in for a double leg but Barbosa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Barbosa takes one to the side of the head.
Kay scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Barbosa doesn't seem bothered though.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kay.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kay doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Barbosa counters with a nice leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lars Kay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barbosa blocks a jab.

Kay closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Barbosa quickly recovers to half guard.
Barbosa has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Barbosa tries to kick Kay off but Kay keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Barbosa has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Kay is on him like a limpet, forcing Barbosa back against the cage.
Barbosa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kay working aggressively here.

Barbosa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kay rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Barbosa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kay checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kay fails with the takedown

and Barbosa counters with a crisp one two that drops Kay! Barbosa thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Kay to his feet! Kay is in big trouble!
Oh Kay is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fighters circle momentarily. Kay darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kay seems to have got his legs back now.
Barbosa walks into a left hand.
Barbosa takes a swing at Kay's ribcage but misses.
Kay ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kay lands a body shot.
Kay tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barbosa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kay somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kay throws out a powerful jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kay shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barbosa as he jumps to the side.
Barbosa swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kay shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barbosa as he avoids it easily.
Kay backing away here, and Barbosa unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Barbosa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Edson Bidon Barbosa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lars Kay's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Kay misses with a lunging right hand
and Barbosa counters with a good low kick that Kay was not able to check.
Barbosa lands a nice shot to the body.
Barbosa throws a chopping leg kick but Kay manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Barbosa takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kay swings away with a body shot that misses
and Barbosa counters with a nice uppercut.
A shot to the body from Kay misses
and Barbosa counters with a stiff right hand.
Kay throws an off balance right hand
and Barbosa counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kay lands a nice hook to Barbosa's body. Barbosa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kay rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Barbosa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kay wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Barbosa 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Barbosa slips a jab from Kay.
Kay uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barbosa.
Barbosa looks to land a left hand but Kay moved out of range nicely.
Barbosa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barbosa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kay lands a jab to Barbosa's midsection.
Kay lands a jab to the head.
Kay connects with a nice looking jab.
Lars Kay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kay shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barbosa as he avoids it easily.
Kay keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kay avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kay lands a slapping body shot.
Kay scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kay is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barbosa.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbosa thumps Kay with a low kick.
Kay swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kay throws a body shot but no joy.
Barbosa tries a quick counter leg kick but Kay is wise to it.
Barbosa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kay throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Barbosa to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kay throws an off balance right hand
and Barbosa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kay with a poor takedown
and Barbosa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A telegraphed right hand from Kay misses the target.
Barbosa appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Barbosa avoids the body shot from Kay.
Kay connects with a right hand. Barbosa shakes it off.
Kay fails to land the takedown.
Barbosa replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Kay blocks it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lars Kay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barbosa cracks Kay with a good jab.

Barbosa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kay to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kay postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Barbosa is looking to stand up but Kay isn't so interested in that idea.
Kay stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barbosa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Edson Bidon Barbosa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Lars Kay's cut.
That's time! Kay's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kay swings away with a body shot that misses
and Barbosa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
No luck for Kay with that takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Barbosa! But no joy.
Kay lands a lovely overhand right.

Kay feints and as Barbosa raises his hands in defense, Kay changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kay throws a strike but Barbosa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Barbosa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Let's hope that Barbosa has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kay working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barbosa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barbosa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Barbosa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Kay has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Barbosa is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kay.
Lars Kay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edson Bidon Barbosa 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.
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.
Kay struggling a bit here.
Kay is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kay tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Barbosa presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Kay is desperately trying to improve his position but Barbosa has a good base and remains in mount.
Kay wants to hold on but Barbosa pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kay tries to reverse the position but Barbosa maintains control.
Kay has given up his back here.
Barbosa controlling from the back.
Kay tries to roll but Barbosa sticks to his back.
Edson Bidon Barbosa has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa controls the action.
Kay is in bad spot here.
Barbosa has good solid back control here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Edson Bidon Barbosa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barbosa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edson Bidon Barbosa!
A victorious Edson Bidon Barbosa thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.