PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cristobal Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edson Barboza (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.

Morales
vs
Barboza

150 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cristobal Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Edson Barboza!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Micheangelo Fripello and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barboza fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Morales sprawls well initially but Barboza persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Morales is not content to let Barboza control the position.
Morales wants to get back to his feet.
Morales is staying active underneath Barboza, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Barboza missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morales scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Barboza manages to mount him!
Morales really wants to buck Barboza off and get back to his feet.
Barboza really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Morales. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Morales wants to hold on but Barboza pushes him away.
Morales really wants to buck Barboza off and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barboza is looking to stand but Barboza has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Barboza tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Barboza breaks from Morales's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Morales is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Barboza controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barboza trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Barboza is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Morales has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Morales!
Morales sitting in guard here, content to control.
Barboza wants to stand up but Morales is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales trying to control the position from guard on top but Barboza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Barboza looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Morales is looking to stand up but Barboza isn't so interested in that idea.
Morales throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Barboza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Morales is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barboza is controlling him.
Morales is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales lands a decent punch to the body there.
Barboza wants to pass the guard but Morales is keeping the position.
Morales keeping moving, preventing Barboza from controlling successfully.
Barboza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morales is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Barboza stands up out of Morales's guard for a moment - Morales manages to land a nice upkick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barboza throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Morales was covering up waiting for the punch and Barboza finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Barboza drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Morales dives on top into guard.
Morales could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Barboza trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Morales postures up.
Morales with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barboza is trying to control the position but Morales postures up.
Barboza controlling the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Morales sitting in guard here, content to control.
Morales might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Edson Barboza hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Barboza drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Barboza tries to get to his feet but Morales is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Barboza in his guard.
Barboza trying to control but Morales is working from the bottom.
Barboza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales wants to get back to his feet but Barboza is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Morales scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Barboza gets a double leg takedown into Morales's guard.
Morales is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barboza is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Barboza trying to control but Morales is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barboza throws a big elbow that misses.
Barboza wants to stand but Morales is controlling his posture from full guard.
Barboza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morales is keeping the position for now.
Barboza wants to control from the top but Morales keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Edson Barboza hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Barboza throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Barboza moves into the clinch.

Barboza has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Morales clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Morales staying busy and making it hard for Barboza to control.
Barboza biding his time, controlling Morales.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barboza lands with a hammerfist to the side of Morales's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edson Barboza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Barboza chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Barboza drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barboza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Morales really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Barboza throwing strikes but missing.
Morales keeping moving, preventing Barboza from controlling successfully.
Barboza prevents Morales from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barboza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Morales swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Edson Barboza has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales is looking to stand up but Barboza isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Edson Barboza was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Morales misses with a looping right.
Cristobal Morales is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barboza lands a big head kick that sends Morales to the canvas! Barboza follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Edson Barboza!