PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Fire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Barbossa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fire
vs
Barbossa

167 cm
27
162 lbs
14 - 22 - 1

182 cm
31
162 lbs
8 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Tommy Fire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jake Barbossa!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fire fails to land the takedown.
Barbossa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barbossa darts in looking for a takedown but Fire gets double underhooks and turns Barbossa into the cage.

Barbossa works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Barbossa trying to control the position from guard on top but Fire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barbossa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fire has a closed guard, preventing Barbossa from standing up.
Fire might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Barbossa trying to control the position from guard on top but Fire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barbossa distracts Fire with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Barbossa seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fire keeping moving, preventing Barbossa from controlling successfully.

Barbossa stands up and waves to Fire to follow him.
Barbossa misses with a takedown attempt

and Fire counters with a single leg into guard. Barbossa didn't expect that.
Barbossa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Barbossa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Barbossa is working for a submission of some sort.
Barbossa with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barbossa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barbossa is looking to take a break and control but Fire is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barbossa might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Fire haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Fire is in trouble now - Barbossa has advanced to mount!
Fire wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fire tries to reverse the position but Barbossa maintains control.
Barbossa cracks Fire with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Barbossa fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Barbossa raining down hammerfists from mount.
Barbossa working the ground and pound effectively.
Fire is squirming around, avoiding Barbossa's attempts to control the action.
Barbossa works his way to his opponent's back.

Fire preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Barbossa.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Fire defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa trying to control.

Fire fending off the submission attempt from Barbossa.

Barbossa has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Fire has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Fire fending off the submission attempt from Barbossa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Barbossa dominated that round.
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.

Fire throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barbossa's waist but Barbossa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fire off to one side.

Barbossa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fire napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Barbossa trying to control the action but Fire is working from the bottom.
Barbossa works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Barbossa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fire keeps working.
Fire is looking to reverse the 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbossa is looking to take a break and control but Fire is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barbossa working the ground and pound from side control.

Barbossa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Barbossa working the ground and pound but Fire is defending the strikes.
Barbossa tries to move into full mount but can't pass Fire's legs.
Fire is trying to get back to half guard.
Jake Barbossa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barbossa controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa working away.

Barbossa stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Fire has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barbossa wants to clinch up but Fire keeps it at a distance.
Fire on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Fire fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Fire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Barbossa shoots in and gets a takedown into Fire's guard.
Fire keeping moving, preventing Barbossa from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barbossa scoring with some ground and pound.
Fire keeping moving, preventing Barbossa from controlling successfully.
Barbossa controlling from the top position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jake Barbossa hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Barbossa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barbossa tries to clinch up but Fire circles away and keeps his distance.
Barbossa shoots in looking for a takedown. Fire tries to sprawl out of it but Barbossa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fire manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fire stuffs the takedown.
Barbossa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fire circles away.
Fire swats away the attempt to clinch by Barbossa.
Barbossa shoots in but no luck this time.
Fire fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tommy Fire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barbossa doesn't manage to clinch there - Fire circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barbossa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fire shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barbossa sprawls well. Barbossa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fire gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Barbossa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Barbossa stuffs the takedown.
Fire misses with a takedown
and Barbossa counters with a left and a right that stings Fire.
Fire blocks a head kick by Barbossa.
Barbossa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fire sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barbossa somewhat.

Barbossa scores with a takedown into Fire's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barbossa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barbossa wants to control from the top but Fire keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbossa controls from within his opponent's guard.
Barbossa postures up in Fire's guard and throws a big left but Fire blocks it.
Barbossa trying to control the position from guard on top but Fire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jake Barbossa was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Barbossa moves in looking to clinch but Fire pushes him off.
Barbossa goes for a double leg but Fire avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Fire continues to drive forward.

Barbossa turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Barbossa manages to end up in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Fire down.
Barbossa trying to control the action but Fire is working from the bottom.
Barbossa working the strikes but Fire uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Fire actively working from the bottom here.

Barbossa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Fire sees it coming and defends easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barbossa passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Fire!
Fire is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa raining down hammerfists from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barbossa scoring with strikes but Fire is staying in there.
Barbossa wants to control the pace but Fire is squirming around nicely.
Fire can't escape the position.
Fire is squirming around, avoiding Barbossa's attempts to control the action.
Barbossa is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Fire is in real trouble.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbossa landing with strikes.

Barbossa has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Fire! Can he survive? No! He's out! Barbossa gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jake Barbossa!