PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zbyszek Religa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jose Barbosa 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!

Religa
vs
Barbosa

185 cm
25
198 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

211 cm
21
187 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zbyszek Religa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Religa closes the distance and pushes Barbosa back into the cage.

Religa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Religa swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
Barbosa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Religa.
Religa doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.
Religa thows a leg kick but Barbosa checks it
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Religa backing up. Religa nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
Religa misses with a lunging right hand
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
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!
Barbosa slips a straight right by Religa.
Barbosa unleashes a big counter combination but Religa bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A low kick from Religa misses
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
Religa moves to clinch but Barbosa breaks away
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.
Religa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Despite the aggression on Barbosa's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Religa misses with an uppercut
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Religa misses.
Barbosa is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Religa has closed the distance and engaged Barbosa in a clinch.
Religa tries to break free but Barbosa pushes him back against the cage.
Religa scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Religa breaks from the clinch.
Religa falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Religa backing up. Religa nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
Religa falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.
Religa tries to bum rush Barbosa with a series of wild strikes but Barbosa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Religa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. Religa will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Religa throws a leg kick that is checked
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
Religa throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Barbosa on the side of the head.
Barbosa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Religa throws a sloppy body shot
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.
Religa is breathing heavily.
Religa swings widly with a right hand
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
Religa misses with a leg kick
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Religa misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
Religa throws a combination that misses
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
Religa throws a lazy uppercut
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
Religa throws a lazy uppercut
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
A low kick from Religa misses
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
Religa misses with a takedown
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. Religa will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zbyszek Religa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Religa misses with a hook
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Religa backing up. Religa nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
Religa darts in trying to clinch
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Religa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Religa with a poor takedown
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
Religa throws a lazy uppercut
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Religa throws a left and a right that both miss
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
Religa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.
Religa looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Religa misses with a leg kick
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Religa backing up. Religa nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
Religa misses with a jab to the body
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.
Religa throws an off balance right hand
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
Religa is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Barbosa's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Religa misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Religa misses with a hook
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
A head kick by Religa misses
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Religa backing up. Religa nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.

Religa is rocked!
Religa misses with a lunging right hand
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
Oh Religa is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Religa throws a sloppy body shot
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.
Religa throws a poor cross that misses
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Religa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zbyszek Religa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Religa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Religa misses with a hook
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
Religa definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Religa swings away with a body shot that misses
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
Religa misses with a body punch
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Religa backing up. Religa nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Barbosa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A low kick from Religa is predictable there
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
Religa seems to have got his legs back now.
Religa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Barbosa lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Jose Barbosa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barbosa ducks under a wild hook from Religa.
Religa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. Religa will be more careful next time no doubt.
Religa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Religa backing up. Religa nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
Religa misses with a body shot
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.
Religa misses with a left hand
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.
Barbosa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Religa throws a combination that misses
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Religa backing up. Religa nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
Religa throws an off balance right hand
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
Religa has his takedown stuffed
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Religa misses with a hook
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.
Religa tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. Religa will be more careful next time no doubt.
Religa misses with a lunging right hand
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Religa falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Religa backing up. Religa nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
Religa misses with a leg kick
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Religa connects with a looping right hand.
Barbosa is working the combinations to good effect here.
Religa misses with a left hand
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. Religa will be more careful next time no doubt.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Religa. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Religa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Religa backing up. Religa nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
Religa misses with a double jab
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
Religa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Religa backing up. Religa nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
Religa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zbyszek Religa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Religa swings widly with a right hand
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.
Religa throws an off balance right hand
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Religa misses with a shot to the body
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Religa backing up. Religa nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
Religa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
Religa misses with a lunging right hand
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Religa swings widly with a right hand
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Religa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barbosa counters with a series of strikes. Religa will be more careful next time no doubt.
Religa moves to clinch but Barbosa breaks away
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
Religa throws a right hand that misses
and Barbosa counters with a two punch combo.
Religa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barbosa counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Religa misses with a hook
and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Religa backing up. Religa nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes.
Religa throws a poor cross that misses
and Barbosa counters with a left and a right that stings Religa.
Religa misses with a right hand
and Barbosa comes in over the top with a devastating right hand! Religa stumbles back against the cage, looking to regain his senses but Barbosa is on him like rabid pit bull! Religa slumps to the ground under a storm of punches and this fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jose Barbosa!