PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nicko Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harry Jakes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Barbosa
vs
Jakes

172 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nicko Barbosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Harry Jakes!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jakes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Barbosa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jakes as he jumps to the side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barbosa.
Nicko Barbosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Barbosa.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicko Barbosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barbosa pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Jakes back to the cage. Barbosa follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Barbosa fails with a takedown attempt.
Jakes ducks under a wild hook from Barbosa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa goes for a double leg but Jakes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jakes continues to drive forward.
Barbosa is trying to push Jakes away but Jakes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Jakes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Barbosa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Jakes fails to pull guard.
Barbosa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Barbosa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barbosa pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barbosa jumps into guard, dragging Jakes to the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Jakes wants to pass the guard but Barbosa is keeping the position.
Jakes preventing the sweep.
Jakes trying to control but Barbosa is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jakes tries to free his leg and advance position but Barbosa is retaining full guard.
Jakes should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Barbosa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Jakes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jakes is controlling him.

Jakes drops back looking for a leg! Barbosa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Barbosa manages to kick Jakes off! Jakes jumps back into Barbosa's guard.
Barbosa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barbosa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Jakes has gone for a leg lock! Barbosa slips out almost immediately though and dives into Jakes's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Jakes has his foot on Barbosa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barbosa works his way back into a safe position though.
Barbosa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Barbosa won't allow Jakes to sweep him here.
Barbosa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barbosa is looking to stand up but Jakes won't let him.
Barbosa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicko Barbosa dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barbosa just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Jakes as Barbosa shoots in.
Horrible takedown by Barbosa or perhaps it was just good defense by Jakes which made him look bad.
Barbosa fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicko Barbosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barbosa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jakes as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barbosa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jakes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Barbosa gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Jakes is pressed up against the cage. Barbosa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jakes down to the mat. Jakes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Barbosa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Jakes as Barbosa shoots in.
Jakes tries to bum rush Barbosa with a series of wild strikes but Barbosa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barbosa dives in and grabs Jakes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jakes pushes down on Barbosa's head and hops out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jakes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jakes wants it to stay on the feet.
Jakes is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Barbosa.
Barbosa has a takedown stuffed.
Barbosa checks the leg kick nicely there.
Barbosa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barbosa on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Jakes throws a sloppy head kick and Barbosa moves out of range easily.
Barbosa with a poor takedown
and Jakes counters with a nice low kick that buckles Barbosa's knee momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa tries to close the distance and clinch but Jakes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barbosa looks to land a body kick but Jakes moved away.
Barbosa shoots in for a double leg but Jakes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Barbosa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jakes avoids it really well and circles away.
Jakes throws a leg kick but Barbosa moved away.
Jakes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barbosa.
Barbosa tries to clinch but Jakes is having none of it.
Nicko Barbosa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barbosa with a poor takedown

and Jakes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barbosa won't be happy with that.
Barbosa avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Jakes.

Jakes wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Barbosa, who protects the arm well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jakes passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Barbosa!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Barbosa defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Jakes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Jakes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Jakes misses with the combination.

Barbosa closes the distance and pushes Jakes back into the cage.
Barbosa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jakes tries to stall but Barbosa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Barbosa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Barbosa tries to pull guard but Jakes forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa misses with a knee strike.
Jakes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Barbosa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Barbosa is trying to push Jakes away but Jakes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Barbosa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jakes just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicko Barbosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barbosa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jakes avoids it.
Jakes is trying to pull guard but Barbosa turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Jakes tries to pull guard but Barbosa won't allow it.
Jakes looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jakes taking a breather.
Barbosa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jakes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barbosa wants a takedown.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Jakes is trying to force a seperation but Barbosa has the dominant position.
Barbosa has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Jakes after a bit of a struggle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barbosa tries a body shot but Jakes blocks it.
Barbosa is trying to force a seperation but Jakes has the dominant position.
Barbosa is working for takedown but Jakes is calmly controlling the position for now.
Barbosa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jakes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Barbosa lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Jakes.
Barbosa is trying to break free.
Jakes tries to break free but Barbosa pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jakes is trying to break the clinch but Barbosa is controlling him.
Barbosa is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Jakes is defending well.
Barbosa tries to break the clinch but Jakes is controlling the position.
Jakes misses with a knee strike.
Barbosa taking a breather.
Jakes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Barbosa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Jakes landing knees to the body.
Barbosa tries to pull guard but Jakes holds him up against the cage and eventually Barbosa drops back down to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicko Barbosa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Barbosa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicko Barbosa!