PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Sokoudjou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Barbossa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sokoudjou
vs
Barbossa

197 cm
22
287 lbs
8 - 2 - 1

191 cm
21
240 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Basic striking
Powerful

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 8 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Rashad Sokoudjou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Anthony Barbossa!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbossa digs a good body shot into Sokoudjou's ribs.
Sokoudjou throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sokoudjou takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A jab from Barbossa does it's job there.
Barbossa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sokoudjou looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbossa is just out of range.
Sokoudjou scores with a hook to the body. Barbossa takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Barbossa swats away the attempt to clinch by Sokoudjou.
Barbossa moves out of range of the strikes.
Sokoudjou slips under a jab.
Barbossa misses with a looping left.
Sokoudjou cracks a nice hook into Barbossa's ribs.
Barbossa looks to land a combination but Sokoudjou avoids it well.
A swing and a miss from Barbossa.
Barbossa missing with a left hand there. Sokoudjou was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barbossa throws out a leg kick but Sokoudjou moves out of range and Barbossa only half commits.

Barbossa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sokoudjou on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Barbossa uses his free foot to push down on Sokoudjou's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sokoudjou.
Barbossa throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbossa content just to control the position here.
Sokoudjou really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Barbossa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sokoudjou keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Barbossa trying to control but Sokoudjou is having none of it.
Barbossa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa is stalling here but it's allowed Sokoudjou to get half guard.
Barbossa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Barbossa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sokoudjou does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Barbossa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Barbossa working the head and body with strikes.
Sokoudjou tries to get to full guard but Barbossa has control of the leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Barbossa connects with a nice short shot to Sokoudjou's temple.
Sokoudjou wants to get back to full guard.
Barbossa passes to side control.
Sokoudjou tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barbossa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokoudjou is working hard here to advance position.
Barbossa misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sokoudjou takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Barbossa is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Sokoudjou's shoulder. That is not cool.
Sokoudjou is trying to improve his position.
Sokoudjou is not content to let Barbossa control the position.
Barbossa content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Barbossa lands a nice forearm strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sokoudjou's legs.
A lull in the action here as Barbossa stalls from top position.
Barbossa wants to control but Sokoudjou is keeping him busy.
Sokoudjou tries to buck Barbossa off but Barbossa is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barbossa controlling the position.
Barbossa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sokoudjou keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sokoudjou ducks right into an uppercut from Barbossa.
Sokoudjou thows a body shot but no joy.
Barbossa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Barbossa feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Barbossa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Barbossa content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Sokoudjou has locked up a guillotine! Sokoudjou's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Barbossa is holding on here and Sokoudjou must be using up a lot of energy. Barbossa has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Sokoudjou gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Rashad Sokoudjou!