PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva comes to the cage accompanied by Old Ways. Barbosa has chosen Eye of the tiger as his entrance music. Igor Barbosa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Silva
vs
Barbosa

196 cm
23
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
24
203 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Igor Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Mauricio Rocha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Silva misses.
Silva misses with the combination.
Antonio Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Silva enables Barbosa to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Silva manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barbosa looking to pass the guard.
Barbosa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Silva working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Barbosa has passed into half guard!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa stalling.
Silva is looking to improve his position.
Silva wants to stand back up but Barbosa manages to pass into side control.
Silva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barbosa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Barbosa stalls from top position.
Barbosa working away.
Barbosa controlling the position from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Barbosa might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Silva is looking to regain half guard here but Barbosa keeps moving and retains side control.
Barbosa content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
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 four minutes gone in the round.

Igor Barbosa has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Silva. Those never looked like landing.

Barbosa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Barbosa is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Barbosa moves nicely into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Barbosa dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Silva jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barbosa.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Silva misses with a hook. Barbosa ducked under it nicely.
Silva misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Barbosa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Barbosa drives through with a takedown into Silva's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva 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 Silva.
Silva tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Silva tries to buck Barbosa off but Barbosa is having none of it.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Barbosa is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Silva manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Igor Barbosa.
Silva misses with a jab, cross combination.
Silva misses with a few strikes there.

Barbosa gets a takedown into half guard.
Silva is looking to control Barbosa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Silva avoid being mounted?
Barbosa is taking a breather. Silva says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Silva with the active half guard here but Barbosa passes nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Silva is being controlled here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Barbosa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Silva throws a combination that misses

and Barbosa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Silva tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Barbosa has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Barbosa controlling his opponent.
Silva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Silva is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Silva tries to lock up and control but Barbosa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Barbosa looking to control and managing it successfully.
Barbosa moves to the back.

Silva showing good submission defense here.
Silva can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good control from Barbosa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Igor Barbosa was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Barbosa shoots in and drives through. Silva sprawls well.

Barbosa shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Silva manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Barbosa not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.

Barbosa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Barbosa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Igor Barbosa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Barbosa stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Barbosa controls from within his opponent's guard.
Antonio Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Silva looking for subs off his back but Barbosa has passed one foot through into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Barbosa!
After the fight, Igor Barbosa was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.