PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Tarver (ranked 77 p4p, 560 weight class) and Lucas Barbosa (ranked 4 p4p, 32 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Tarver
vs
Barbosa

169 cm
32
188
21 - 5 - 0

178 cm
35
205
23 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antonio Tarver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lucas Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Tarver, as that shot connected.
Barbosa lands with a right hand.
Barbosa misses the jab.
Barbosa misses with a double jab.
Barbosa takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Tarver throws a good cross that connects.
Barbosa misses with an uppercut.
Barbosa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tarver tries to counter by clinching up but Barbosa breaks away and moves out of range.
Barbosa throws a lazy uppercut
and Tarver counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tarver throws a looping overhand right but Barbosa ducks down to avoid it.
Barbosa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lucas Barbosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tarver looks to land a left hand but Barbosa moved out of range nicely.
The fighters circling - Tarver throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
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!
Tarver tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbosa was well out of range. Poor timing from Tarver.
Barbosa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Barbosa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tarver looks to land a right hand but Barbosa moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarver slips a jab and a cross from Barbosa.
Tarver tries to counter by clinching up but Barbosa breaks away and moves out of range.
Tarver misses with a hook.
A jab from Tarver misses.
Barbosa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Good shot there by Barbosa.
Barbosa misses with a two punch combination.
Barbosa throws a lazy right hand but Tarver sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
As Barbosa tries to get set, Tarver tries to push him back and clinch up but Barbosa manages to avoid the attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Barbosa. Those never looked like landing.
Tarver seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Tarver throws a shot from downtown. Barbosa moves away and avoids it.
A combination from Barbosa does no damage.
Barbosa tests Tarver's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tarver doesn't manage to clinch there - Barbosa circles away.
A punch combination from Barbosa misses.
Barbosa falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tarver counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarver uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barbosa.
A little feinted left hand from Tarver on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Barbosa!
Barbosa missing with a left hand there. Tarver was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barbosa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tarver defending well as Barbosa loads up on a big left hand.
Tarver tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barbosa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barbosa misses with the combination.
Tarver seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Barbosa misses with a looping left.
A swing and a miss from Barbosa.
Barbosa throws a shot from downtown. Tarver moves away and avoids it.
A swing and a miss from Barbosa.
Tarver is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Barbosa cracks Tarver with a right hand to the side of the head.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Barbosa!
Barbosa misses with a few strikes there.
As Barbosa tries to get set, Tarver tries to push him back and clinch up but Barbosa manages to avoid the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarver ducks under a wild hook from Barbosa.
Tarver tries to clinch but Barbosa is having none of it.
Tarver defending well as Barbosa loads up on a big left hand.
The fighters circling - Barbosa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Tarver closes the distance and clinches.
Tarver lands a body punch.
Tarver tries to work over Barbosa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barbosa swings wildly with an uppercut but Tarver uses good head movement to avoid it.

Barbosa decides to pull guard.
Barbosa controls Tarver momentarily but Tarver frees himself.
Tarver trying to control the position from guard on top but Barbosa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Barbosa looking for a guillotine here but Tarver defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tarver slips nicely into half guard.
Barbosa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tarver is working away from the top position though.
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.
Tarver with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Barbosa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Barbosa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barbosa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No joy there for Barbosa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barbosa throws a nice looking combination but Tarver bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tarver keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tarver wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
No joy there for Barbosa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tarver tries to counter by clinching up but Barbosa breaks away and moves out of range.
Tarver throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barbosa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barbosa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barbosa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Tarver clinches up against the cage.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tarver tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Barbosa breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Barbosa.
Barbosa tries to bum rush Tarver with a series of wild strikes but Tarver uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As Barbosa tries to get set, Tarver tries to push him back and clinch up but Barbosa manages to avoid the attempt.
Lucas Barbosa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Barbosa does no damage.
Barbosa misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa throws a shot from downtown. Tarver moves away and avoids it.
Tarver uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barbosa.
Tarver tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Barbosa manages to circle out of the way.
Barbosa lands a jab to the nose.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tarver looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barbosa throws a hook but Tarver blocks it.
Barbosa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tarver tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tarver tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barbosa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barbosa tries to bum rush Tarver with a series of wild strikes but Tarver uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barbosa pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Tarver back to the cage. Barbosa follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Tarver slips under a jab.
Tarver slips a jab and a cross from Barbosa.
Tarver throwing a counter right hand but Barbosa manages to avoid it.
Barbosa takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Barbosa does no damage.
Barbosa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barbosa falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tarver counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A combination from Barbosa does no damage.
Barbosa tries to bum rush Tarver with a series of wild strikes but Tarver uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tarver is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Barbosa.
Tarver fails with an attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tarver working aggressively here.

Barbosa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tarver feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Barbosas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Barbosa misses with an uppercut

and Tarver counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tarver.
Tarver jumps guard but Barbosa stands there with Tarver around his waist. Tarver gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Barbosa prevents a body shot from Tarver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa is trying to pull guard but Tarver has him pressed against the cage.
Barbosa lands an uppercut.
Barbosa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tarver is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tarver scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tarver lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tarver misses with a punch to the body.
Tarver is trying to pull guard but Barbosa turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Barbosa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tarver misses with the head strike.
Tarver misses with a punch to the body.
Barbosa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Barbosa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tarver moves into range and clinches up with Barbosa.
Tarver tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short left from Barbosa.
Tarver misses with a body punch.

Barbosa pulls guard.
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!

Tarver got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barbosa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tarver has managed to get both his arms back between Barbosa's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tarver trying to control the position from guard on top but Barbosa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tarver drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Barbosa dives on top into guard.

Tarver controls Barbosa momentarily but Barbosa frees himself.

Tarver has an active guard here but Barbosa has managed to pass into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Barbosa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Tarver showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barbosa.
Tarver lands with an uppercut that bounces Barbosa off the cage and back into range.
Barbosa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tarver avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
As Barbosa tries to get set, Tarver tries to push him back and clinch up but Barbosa manages to avoid the attempt.
Barbosa throws a right hand that misses

and Tarver counters by clinching up.
Tarver tries a body shot but Barbosa blocks it.
Tarver tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Barbosa's elbow.
Tarver fails to pull guard.
Barbosa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tarver backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Barbosa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice cross by Barbosa.
Tarver scores with a jab to the jaw.
Barbosa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tarver.
Barbosa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tarver seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Barbosa misses its intended target.
Nice shot by Barbosa.
Tarver staying out of range there.
Tarver is looking to counter the offense by Barbosa and move into the clinch.
Tarver tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barbosa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barbosa missing with a left hand there. Tarver was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barbosa fails to land with a series of punches.
Tarver tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Barbosa manages to circle out of the way.
Tarver takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Tarver gets a clinch.

Barbosa breaks the clinch.

Tarver closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Barbosa breaks the clinch.
Barbosa throws a shot from downtown. Tarver moves away and avoids it.
As Barbosa tries to get set, Tarver tries to push him back and clinch up but Barbosa manages to avoid the attempt.
Barbosa throws a series of punches but Tarver avoids them all with ease.
Tarver takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tarver tries to clinch there but Barbosa circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarver avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tarver is looking to clinch but Barbosa is avoiding it.
Barbosa looks to score with a jab to the body but Tarver is just out of range.
Tarver takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Tarver tries to clinch up.
And Barbosa tries to counter it with a takedown but Tarver pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Barbosa scores with a three punch combo!
Tarver throws a lazy right hand but Barbosa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tarver moves in looking to clinch but Barbosa pushes him off.
Barbosa misses with a looping left.
Barbosa throws an overhand right that lands on Tarver's shoulder, as Tarver tries to avoid the shot.
Tarver swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tarver moves in looking to clinch but Barbosa pushes him off.
Barbosa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tarver seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Barbosa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tarver tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barbosa swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tarver circles away quickly and effectively.
Barbosa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sloppy strikes from Barbosa. Those never looked like landing.
Tarver darts in trying to clinch

and Barbosa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Tarver 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. Oh but Tarver is tightening it up a little... Barbosa has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Barbosa reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Barbosa taps out! Nice BJJ there by Tarver!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Antonio Tarver!
Antonio Tarver thanked the fans post fight for their support.