PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luciano King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royler Barbosa (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.

King
vs
Barbosa

183 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luciano King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royler Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbosa closes this distance looking for a takedown but King circles away.

King tries to keep at a distance but Barbosa has taken the fight into the clinch.
King leaning against his opponent.
Barbosa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
King gets underhooks to prevent Barbosa's takedown attempt.

Barbosa is fighting off a takedown attempt but King is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Barbosa to the mat. Barbosa regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Barbosa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and King defends well.
King loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Barbosa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. King gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
King stays in close to Barbosa's body and controls the position.
King postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barbosa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from King.

King drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and King jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King wants to control from the top but Barbosa keeps moving.
King postures up in Barbosa's guard and throws a big left but Barbosa blocks it.
King looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
King throws a big elbow that misses.

King got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barbosa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, King has managed to get both his arms back between Barbosa's legs - danger averted.
King wanted to stand there but Barbosa had control of the position.
King lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Barbosa trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

King 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa is adopting a defensive guard.
King makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Barbosa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. King is aware though and is defending well.
Barbosa has momentary wrist control but King slips an elbow through the middle.
King is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
King scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
King loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

King drops back looking for a leg! Barbosa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Barbosa manages to kick King off! King jumps back into Barbosa's guard.
King scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

King stands and steps away. Barbosa gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Nice takedown defense from King. No joy for Barbosa on that attempt.
Luciano King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royler Barbosa.
Barbosa looks winded!
No luck for Barbosa with that takedown attempt.
Barbosa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
King circles away from the clinch attempt

and King decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barbosa's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King sitting in guard here, content to control.

King drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Barbosa manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now King has Barbosa in his guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Barbosa!
Barbosa tries to hold on but King pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
King controlling the pace for now.

King jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Barbosa is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Barbosa and King has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luciano King dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Barbosa doesn't succeed with the takedown

and King counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barbosa won't be happy with that.
Barbosa is trying to buck King off.

King is trying to get an arm triangle but Barbosa is defending well.
Luciano King overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

King working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Barbosa takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
King taking a breather here.
King has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

King is trying to get an arm triangle but Barbosa is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

King stands up.
Barbosa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barbosa wants it to stay on the feet.
Barbosa goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Barbosa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Barbosa tries to score a power double leg takedown but King sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barbosa somewhat.
Luciano King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royler Barbosa.
Barbosa is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts King as he jumps to the side.
Barbosa misses with a two punch combination.

King bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
King lands a few punches from side control.

King is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Barbosa has escaped the position, nice work there.

King decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
King dives in and grabs Barbosa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Barbosa pushes down on King's head and hops out.
Barbosa dives in for a single leg takedown but King sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
King wants a takedown.

Barbosa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barbosa closes the distance and clinches up with King, looking for a takedown. Barbosa pushes King against the cage but King circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
King changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barbosa tries to avoid it but King manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barbosa to the ground. Barbosa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Barbosa misses with a kick to the body.
King is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barbosa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa closes this distance looking for a takedown but King circles away.
King shoots in for a double leg but Barbosa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Barbosa avoids the head kick by King.
King throws a sloppy head kick and Barbosa moves out of range easily.
Barbosa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but King paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barbosa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but King was well out of range. Poor timing from Barbosa.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barbosa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and King counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Barbosa thinking.
Barbosa has his takedown stuffed

and King counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barbosa won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luciano King dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

King shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Barbosa keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.

King drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and King jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
King working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Barbosa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
King wanted to stand there but Barbosa had control of the position.
King slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
King seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Barbosa for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barbosa keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Luciano King wasn't doing enough on the ground.
King shoots in for a takedown but Barbosa shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Barbosa clinches up with King and pushes him back against the cage.
King prevents a takedown attempt there.
King is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Barbosa uses from the top position.

Barbosa decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Barbosa misses with a takedown attempt

and King decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barbosa's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Barbosa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Barbosa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
King working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
King in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barbosa looking to control.

Barbosa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. King doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. King manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
King trying to stand up but can't free himself from Barbosa's guard.
Barbosa tries to land a sweep but no joy.

We're going to have a standup here because Luciano King wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
King misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
King tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barbosa defends well and King ends up having to push Barbosa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Barbosa managing to block the knees to the body from King.
King jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Barbosa walks away with a smile on his face. King gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luciano King. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barbosa is looking to clinch but King is avoiding it.
Barbosa fails with the takedown

and King decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barbosa's guard.
King chips away with some ground and pound.
King looking to sit in guard and control but Barbosa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barbosa passes King's left leg - he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luciano King showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for King, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luciano King!