PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jordan Statham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barbosa has chosen Eye of the tiger as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Statham
vs
Barbosa

196 cm
31
196 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

193 cm
27
201 lbs
7 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Syndicate Nutrition
Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jordan Statham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Igor Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barbosa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Statham napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Barbosa controls the position.

Barbosa tries for a kimura but Statham is defending well.
Statham manages to get back to half guard.
Barbosa has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barbosa looking to control and managing it successfully.
Barbosa wants to take his opponent's back but Statham doesn't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barbosa content just to control the position here.
Statham is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Statham tries to buck Barbosa off but he can't manage it.
Barbosa sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Statham really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Statham is trying to stand up.
Barbosa looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa takes Statham's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Statham is in trouble.
Barbosa is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Statham holding both Barbosa 's hands and preventing any damage.
Barbosa controlling well, preventing Statham from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Statham is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Barbosa.
Barbosa trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Statham looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Statham is in bad spot here.
Barbosa slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Statham right now.
Statham is trying to get back to his feet but Barbosa has full control of the position and if anything, Statham has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Barbosa trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Statham rolls, trying to escape but Barbosa keeps control of the position.
Statham is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Barbosa trying to control momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Statham trying to get back to his feet but Barbosa is in full control for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Statham stuffs the takedown attempt from Barbosa. Barbosa gets slowly back to his feet.
Statham tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barbosa swivels and escapes.

Barbosa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Statham is trying to stand.
Barbosa trying to mount his opponent but Statham defends it.
Statham is staying active underneath Barbosa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Statham pushes Barbosa off looking to stand but Barbosa dives back in and keeps control.
Barbosa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Statham is trying to stand up here but Barbosa is controlling him well.
Igor Barbosa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barbosa trying to control the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Igor Barbosa was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Barbosa looking to score a takedown here. Statham is defending well but Barbosa drives through and ends up in Statham's guard.
Barbosa won't allow Statham to get back to his feet.
Statham is looking to stand back up but Barbosa counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Statham.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Statham scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Barbosa manages to mount him!
Barbosa trying to control but Statham is having none of it.
Statham is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Statham tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Statham gets back to half 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!
Barbosa not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Statham wants to get back to his feet.
Barbosa is looking to take a break and control but Statham is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Igor Barbosa wasn't active enough on the ground.
Statham tries for a takedown but Barbosa circles away easily

and Barbosa counters with a single leg into guard. Statham didn't expect that.
Barbosa wants to control from the top but Statham keeps moving.
Statham is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barbosa is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa passes into half guard.
Statham looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ground and pound from Barbosa.
Statham looks like he's trying to stand up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barbosa frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Statham has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Barbosa gets a takedown into half guard.
Statham is trying to stand back up but Barbosa is controlling him
Barbosa trying to control from half guard but Statham is working away.
Barbosa controlling the pace.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Statham moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Statham pushes Barbosa off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Statham with a poor takedown

and Barbosa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barbosa.
Statham is looking to stand up but Barbosa isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barbosa advances position into side control!

Barbosa is working to tighten is grip on Statham's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Statham has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Barbosa is really squeezing tight and eventually Statham passes out! Barbosa breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Igor Barbosa!
After winning the bout, Igor Barbosa thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.