PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lizandro Ibarra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Geoffrey Powell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Geoffrey Powell told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Ibarra
vs
Powell

190 cm
23
220 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

192 cm
23
218 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Dragon

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lizandro Ibarra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Geoffrey Powell!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ibarra stuffs the takedown attempt from Powell. Powell gets slowly back to his feet.
Powell misses with a left hand

and Ibarra counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Powell!
You can see the frustration on Powell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ibarra tries to stand but Powell is controlling his head.

Ibarra decides to stand up, so the ref orders Powell to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powell shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ibarra as he jumps to the side.
Ibarra takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A big right from Powell misses.
Powell connects with a nice looking jab.

Powell scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ibarra regains half guard, as Powell was trying to land strikes.
Powell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ibarra's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell thows a huge punch but Ibarra dodges it nicely.
Ibarra blocking the ground and pound attempt from Powell.

Ibarra has one foot on Powell's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Ibarra tries to move into range but Powell moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big right from Powell misses.
Ibarra keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lizandro Ibarra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Geoffrey Powell.
Powell fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ibarra on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibarra defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Powell.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Powell is defended easily by Ibarra.
Powell missing with a left hand there. Ibarra was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Powell misses with a looping right.

Powell bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Powell working the head and body with strikes.
Powell looks up at the clock and then as Ibarra takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Powell smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powell tries to score with some ground and pound. Ibarra controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Powell throws an elbow but Ibarra slips to the side and avoids it well.
Powell throwing strikes but Ibarra manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Powell trying his best to control but Ibarra has mounted him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Powell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ibarra avoids the attempt from Powell to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geoffrey Powell dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ibarra slips under a jab from Powell.
Geoffrey Powell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Powell misses with the combination.
Ibarra stuffs the takedown attempt from Powell. Powell gets slowly back to his feet.
Ibarra slips a jab from Powell.
Powell shoots in for a takedown but Ibarra shows good takedown defense.
Powell throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ibarra's waist but Ibarra gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Powell off to one side.
Lizandro Ibarra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Geoffrey Powell.
Ibarra uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Powell.
Powell throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ibarra's waist but Ibarra gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Powell off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powell tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ibarra swivels and escapes.
Powell swings widly with a right hand

and Ibarra counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Powell looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ibarra tries to stand but Powell is controlling from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lizandro Ibarra.
Powell misses with a hook. Ibarra ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibarra ducks under a wild hook from Powell.
Powell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Powell closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Powell throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Powell trying to control the action but Ibarra is working from the bottom.
Ibarra regains half guard, as Powell was trying to land strikes.
Powell throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell wants to control but Ibarra is keeping him busy.
Ibarra looks like he's trying to stand up.
Powell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ibarra defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powell is taking a breather. Ibarra 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.
Powell is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Ibarra reverses the position - he's now on top in Powell's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibarra is fighting to break Powell's control of his arms but Powell is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lizandro Ibarra just wasn't active enough.
Powell misses with a few strikes there.
Ibarra slips under a jab from Powell.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Powell misses the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geoffrey Powell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Powell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ibarra uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Powell.

Powell bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Powell working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ibarra wants to get back to his feet.
Powell in side control, throwing shots but Ibarra defends.
Powell is trying to ground and pound but Ibarra uses the momentary lack of control by Powell to regain half guard.
Ibarra looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibarra blocking the ground and pound attempt from Powell.
Nice strikes from Powell there.
Powell not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Powell prevents Ibarra from standing back up.
Powell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Powell not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Powell throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell misses with a head shot. Ibarra uses the momentum to regain guard.
Ibarra keeping moving, preventing Powell from controlling successfully.
Powell postures up and lands a big shot to Ibarra's brow.
Powell trying to control but Ibarra is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibarra wants to stand up but Powell is controlling him.
Ibarra working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Powell.
Ibarra keeping moving, preventing Powell from controlling successfully.
Powell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Powell trying to control but Ibarra is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Geoffrey Powell was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Powell throws a shot from downtown. Ibarra moves away and avoids it.

Powell closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Powell looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Powell is stalling here. Ibarra is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Powell seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ibarra has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Powell tries to bench press Ibarra off him but Ibarra keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Geoffrey Powell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Powell 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 James Atkins scores the fight for Geoffrey Powell!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Geoffrey Powell!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Geoffrey Powell!

Geoffrey Powell wins by unanimous decision!
Geoffrey Powell took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Thanks to my opponent for giving me a rematch. Now it's time to defend the belt!'.