PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Doug Barbee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven betancourt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). betancourt is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Headstrong. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Barbee
vs
betancourt

180 cm
22
225 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

176 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Doug Barbee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven betancourt!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbee shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has betancourt pinned against the cage. betancourt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Barbee tries for a takedown but betancourt sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Barbee looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? betancourt is fending him off so far but Barbee persists. Nope, betancourt circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Doug Barbee. That's going to take a lot out of him.

betancourt scores with a takedown into Barbee's guard.

Barbee has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but betancourt can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Barbee working for a triangle but betancourt defends it easily.
betancourt tries to stand but Barbee is controlling from the bottom.
betancourt thows a big elbow that misses.

Barbee throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! betancourt escapes and throws Barbee's legs to the side, diving into side control!

betancourt has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barbee drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Barbee is breathing heavily.
betancourt wants to sweep here but Barbee controlling him for the moment.

Barbee is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! betancourt is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! betancourt has escaped and now he's on top!
betancourt slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
betancourt wants to pass the guard but Barbee is keeping the position.
betancourt scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
betancourt controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
betancourt trying to control the position from guard on top but Barbee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barbee keeping full guard, as betancourt tries to pass.
Barbee trying to keep a closed guard but betancourt is proving a slippery customer.
Barbee keeping full guard, as betancourt tries to pass.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
betancourt wants to stand but Barbee has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
betancourt sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
betancourt throws a nice looking combination but Barbee bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Excellent takedown into side control there by betancourt.
Barbee is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Barbee struggling a bit here.
betancourt wants to stand but Barbee is controlling his arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barbee struggling a bit here.
Barbee tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbee has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Barbee staying busy and making it hard for betancourt to control.
Oooh a big shot gets through from betancourt. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Barbee rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
betancourt is looking to take a break and control but Barbee is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Barbee looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Barbee is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but betancourt pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven betancourt dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Barbee has his takedown stuffed

and betancourt counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Barbee is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
betancourt slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

betancourt gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

betancourt darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
betancourt trying to control the action but Barbee is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barbee is trying to maintain the position but betancourt is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbee keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
betancourt performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Barbee trying to control here.
It looks like betancourt is going to stand back up.
betancourt wants to control but Barbee is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
betancourt misses with a head kick.
betancourt throws a head kick that misses.
betancourt will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by betancourt!

Barbee bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
betancourt is not content to let Barbee control the position.
betancourt holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

Barbee goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, betancourt rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Barbee's guard! Nice work there by betancourt!
betancourt trying to control the position from guard on top but Barbee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbee trying to control the position.

Barbee escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. betancourt gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Barbee escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. betancourt gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Barbee working a defensive guard here.

That's four 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.

Barbee had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. betancourt is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Barbee Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take betancourt's back instead.
betancourt rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Barbee is controlling the pace.

Barbee is working for a submission of some sort.
Barbee is looking to take a break and control but betancourt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven betancourt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

betancourt fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Barbee sprawls well initially but betancourt persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Barbee is refusing to be controlled, as betancourt sits in half guard.
Barbee desperately trying to maintain half guard.
betancourt wants to control but Barbee is keeping him busy.
Barbee is trying to maintain the position but betancourt is very close to passing his half guard.
betancourt is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Barbee looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
betancourt slips a nice elbow through Barbee's hands, connecting with Barbee's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
betancourt wants to stand but Barbee has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Barbee shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and betancourt counters with a single leg into guard. Barbee didn't expect that.

Barbee looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
betancourt passes into half guard.
Barbee wants to control but betancourt is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Barbee wants to control the action here but instead betancourt manages to pass to full mount!
betancourt avoids the attempt from Barbee to control.
Barbee tries to reverse the position but betancourt maintains control.
Barbee is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbee regains half guard.
Barbee trying to hold on to betancourt's head to control him but betancourt postures up.

Barbee looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
betancourt is thwarting Barbee's attempts to control the position.

Barbee looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Barbee trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbee gets back to full guard.
betancourt trying to control but Barbee is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

betancourt moves into the clinch.
Barbee tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. betancourt smiles and moves away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Barbee.

Barbee goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, betancourt has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Barbee but great work by betancourt.
You can see the frustration on Barbee's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
betancourt wants to control but Barbee is keeping him busy.
Barbee can't do much from the bottom here.
Barbee is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because betancourt is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
betancourt trying to control the action but Barbee is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

betancourt drives through with a takedown into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven betancourt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well betancourt has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven betancourt!