PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Barbosa (ranked 809 p4p, 895 weight class) and Kodiyak Redd (ranked 34 p4p, 38 weight class). Lucas Barbosa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barbosa
vs
Redd

178 cm
36
205
23 - 10 - 0

165 cm
32
141
17 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Fast

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Shadow Realm Apparel
NARCOS

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 23 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lucas Barbosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kodiyak Redd!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbosa looks to land a combination. Redd sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Barbosa throws a shot from downtown. Redd moves away and avoids it.
Barbosa throws a right and a left that Redd avoids nicely.
Barbosa throws a left and a right that both miss

and Redd counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Redd is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Barbosa wants to sweep here but Redd controlling him for the moment.
Barbosa will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Redd's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Redd stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barbosa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barbosa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Redd is one step ahead there.
We've been hearing good reports from Barbosa'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.
Redd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redd working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Barbosa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Redd manages to get to full guard.
Redd trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Redd is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Redd working a defensive guard here.
Barbosa trying to control but Redd is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Redd wants to sweep here but Barbosa controlling him for the moment.
Redd keeping moving, preventing Barbosa from controlling successfully.
Barbosa tries to free his leg and advance position but Redd is retaining full guard.

Redd looking for a guillotine here but Barbosa defends easily.

Redd is looking for a triangle but Barbosa pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redd is looking to sweep but instead, Barbosa has passed into half guard.

Redd looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barbosa has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Barbosa looking to control and managing it successfully.
Barbosa prevents Redd from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa tries to control but Redd wriggling away.
Redd sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Redd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barbosa wants to control but Redd is keeping him busy.
Redd is controlling Barbosa's trapped leg to prevent Barbosa from advancing to side control.
Redd gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barbosa trying to control but Redd is working from the bottom.

Redd is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barbosa defends well.
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 Lucas Barbosa will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barbosa tries to bum rush Redd with a series of wild strikes but Redd uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Redd looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barbosa throws a lazy uppercut
and Redd counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Barbosa throws a series of punches but Redd moves out of range.
Barbosa throws a series of punches but Redd avoids them all with ease.
Nice shot lands for Barbosa.
A slow jab from Barbosa misses its intended target.
A solid leg kick lands there for Redd.
Barbosa lands an overhand right.
Barbosa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Redd throws out a counter right but Barbosa avoids it with no problem.
Barbosa misses with a left hand
and Redd counters with a nice uppercut.
Barbosa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Redd moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Redd uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barbosa.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Crunch! Redd slams his shin into Barbosa's torso.
Redd dodges the punch combination from Barbosa.
Redd changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa misses with a series of wild punches.
Redd dodges the punch combination from Barbosa.
Barbosa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Redd ducks under a wild hook from Barbosa.
Lucas Barbosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Redd shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Redd was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Redd is looking to take a break and control but Barbosa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Redd cracks Barbosa with a big right hand but Barbosa just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Barbosa manages to work his way to half guard, despite Redd's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Redd trying to mount his opponent but Barbosa defends it.
Barbosa tries to get to full guard but Redd has control of the leg.

Barbosa looking for submissions off his back.
Barbosa tries to get to full guard but Redd has control of the leg.
Redd is trying to control the action in half guard but Barbosa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Redd looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Barbosa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Redd trying to control the action but Barbosa is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa is trying to control but can't.

Redd seems to be looking for submissions.
Barbosa is not content to let Redd control the position.
Barbosa wants to control but Redd is keeping busy.
Kodiyak Redd has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barbosa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Barbosa has his foot on Redd's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Redd works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Barbosa is trying to keep Redd in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A cross from Barbosa lands.
Barbosa swinging wildly here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barbosa. Redd does a little dance to reset his feet.
And Redd tries to counter it with a takedown but Barbosa pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Redd looks to clinch

and Barbosa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barbosa.
Redd looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barbosa is one step ahead there.
Redd keeping full guard, as Barbosa tries to pass.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Barbosa dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Barbosa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Redd counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barbosa throws a series of punches but Redd moves out of range.
Barbosa throws a right and a left that Redd avoids nicely.
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.
Redd fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barbosa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barbosa lands a jab to the head.
Barbosa throws a series of punches but Redd avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Redd looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Redd dodges the punch combination from Barbosa.
The crowd cheers as Barbosa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Redd doesn't seem phased though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Barbosa as Redd shoots in.
Barbosa half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Barbosa looks to land a combination but Redd avoids it well.
Redd moves in looking to clinch but Barbosa pushes him off.

Redd has taken the fight to the clinch.
Barbosa lands a nice uppercut.
Barbosa prevents the takedown attempt.

Barbosa has clasped his hands together around Redd's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

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

Barbosa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Redd is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Redd felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Redd manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Redd passes the guard and advances to mount!
Barbosa tries to reverse the position but Redd maintains control.
Redd lands a big shot there that rocks Barbosa but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Barbosa gets back to half guard.
Redd wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barbosa keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa trying to control from the bottom.
Barbosa gets back to full guard.

Barbosa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Barbosa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Redd scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Redd trying to control the position from guard on top but Barbosa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Barbosa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Barbosa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Redd lands a couple of digs.
Redd won't allow Barbosa to sweep him here.

Barbosa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Redd wants to control from the top but Barbosa keeps moving.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucas Barbosa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barbosa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucas Barbosa!
Lucas Barbosa took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Furnace Performance 🔥 for their support in the buildup to the fight.