PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lotus Flower (ranked 4731 p4p, 226 weight class) and Marcelo Barbosa (ranked 3135 p4p, 151 weight class). Marcelo Barbosa is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Flower
vs
Barbosa

175 cm
20
140 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

165 cm
21
137 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Forge Clothing Co.

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lotus Flower!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, John Mangel and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbosa throws a body punch but Flower moves out of range.
Barbosa misses with a wild body shot.
Flower looks for the body kick but Barbosa saw that one coming.
A solid body kick from Flower.
Barbosa avoids the body shot from Flower.
Barbosa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Flower moves away.
And Flower counters with a quick kick to the body but Barbosa blocks it.
Flower keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Flower, right into the meat.
Flower getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Barbosa takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Flower uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barbosa.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses.
A quick step to the side and Flower tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lotus Flower seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Flower finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Barbosa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Flower manages to avoid it.
Barbosa swinging wildly here.
Flower ducks under a wild hook from Barbosa.
Barbosa misses with a looping right.
A quick step to the side and Flower tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Flower scores with a kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Flower throws a hook but Barbosa blocks it.
Barbosa is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Flower rather than just go for the knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa jabs Flower to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Barbosa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Flower throws a nice outside leg kick.
Barbosa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barbosa misses with a wild body shot.
Barbosa with a nice cross.
Flower definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Barbosa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Barbosa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Flower.
Flower missing with a left hand there. Barbosa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barbosa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Flower.
Flower connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barbosa. Barbosa circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Flower tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbosa was well out of range. Poor timing from Flower.
Barbosa throws a big counter head kick but Flower avoids it with no problem.
Barbosa stuns Flower with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Flower moves away from the strike by Barbosa.
Flower connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Flower scores with a kick to the body.
Barbosa throws a hook but Flower avoids it easily.
Flower attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Flower swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Barbosa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flower takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Flower feints and then cracks Barbosa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Barbosa down.
Flower moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Flower finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Barbosa takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Flower connects with a solid leg kick.
Barbosa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Flower wants to land a leg kick but Barbosa is out of range.
Flower feints and then cracks Barbosa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Barbosa down.
Barbosa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barbosa misses with a wild body shot.
Flower delivers a nice body kick.
Barbosa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A good leg kick by Flower.
Flower fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Barbosa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A combination from Barbosa does no damage.
Flower dodges the punch combination from Barbosa.
A little feinted left hand from Flower on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flower cracks the inside of Barbosa's front leg.
Flower moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Barbosa tries a head kick but it misses.
Barbosa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Flower blocks a head kick by Barbosa.
Flower connects with an inside leg kick.
Barbosa missing with a left hand there. Flower was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barbosa throws a body punch but Flower moves out of range.
Flower misses with an uppercut.
Barbosa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Flower lands with an overhand left.
Barbosa is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Flower is looking to slow Barbosa down with leg kicks.
A jab from Barbosa misses.
Barbosa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Flower's calf.
Barbosa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barbosa throws the left hand but Flower avoids the punch easily.
Flower slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbosa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Flower.
Flower cracks Barbosa with a right hand to the side of the head.
Flower throws a big shot that misses.
Barbosa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Flower was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Flower misses with a body shot.
Barbosa is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Flower with a body shot.
Flower connects with a right hand. Barbosa shakes it off.
Barbosa bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Flower's head backwards.
Flower tries to score with a low kick but Barbosa moves his leg out of the way.
Flower lands with a thumping leg kick.
Barbosa slips under a jab.
Barbosa lands a jab to Flower's midsection.
Flower misses with a body shot.
Flower tries to score with a low kick but Barbosa moves his leg out of the way.
Barbosa throws a big counter head kick but Flower avoids it with no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice leg kick lands there from Flower.
Barbosa looks to throw the jab but Flower is out of range.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses.
Flower connects with a leg kick. Barbosa looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Barbosa takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lotus Flower dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Flower blocks a head kick by Barbosa.
Flower turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Flower scores with a kick to the body.
Flower throws a body punch but Barbosa moves out of range.
Flower misses with a low kick.
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.
A decent looking cross lands there for Flower.
Barbosa takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Flower throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Barbosa shapes to counter with a head kick.
Flower turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Barbosa. Beautiful body shot.
Flower is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses.
Barbosa moves out of range of the leg kick from Flower.
Flower scores with a jab to the body.
Flower cracks the inside of Barbosa's front leg.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barbosa slips a straight right by Flower.
Barbosa throws a right and a left that Flower avoids nicely.
Flower scores with a kick to the midsection.
Flower throws a looping overhand right but Barbosa ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa swings for the body but Flower moves out of range.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Barbosa might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Flower has got the better of the exchanges.
Barbosa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Flower. Flower obviously looking to wear him down.
A nice leg kick lands there from Flower.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barbosa.
Flower connects with an inside leg kick.
Flower digs a good body shot into Barbosa's ribs.
Barbosa has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Barbosa there as he acknowledges the shot.
Flower misses with a low kick.
Lotus Flower is winning the standup battle so far.
Flower fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Barbosa checks it well.
Flower uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barbosa.
Flower throws the kick towards the body but Barbosa avoids it.
Barbosa's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Flower connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barbosa scrambles back to his feet.
Flower fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Flower.
Flower throws a nice outside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Flower misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barbosa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flower lands a leg kick that knocks Barbosa off balance momentarily.
Barbosa misses with a looping right.
Barbosa takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Barbosa jabs Flower to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Barbosa defending well as Flower loads up on a big left hand.
Flower throws a left and a right that both miss
and Barbosa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Barbosa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Flower can pounce on him.
Barbosa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Flower can pounce on him.
Barbosa misses with a series of wild punches.
Flower connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barbosa. Barbosa circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Barbosa with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Flower lands with a thumping leg kick.
Flower scores with a jab to the head.
Flower thuds a left hand into Barbosa's body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Flower.
Barbosa looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Flower slips a straight right by Barbosa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Flower steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barbosa.
A little feinted left hand from Flower on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Flower misses with a straight left.
Barbosa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Flower blocks a jab.
A quick step to the side and Flower tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barbosa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Flower lets loose with a powerful body kick. Barbosa will feel that in the morning.
Flower throws a body shot but no joy.
Barbosa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Decent striking displayed by Flower there.
Barbosa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Flower. Flower obviously looking to wear him down.
Flower tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbosa was well out of range. Poor timing from Flower.
Flower avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Flower connects with a looping right hand.
Flower blocks a head kick by Barbosa.
Flower scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A telegraphed right hand from Barbosa misses the target.
Barbosa has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Flower.
Flower throws a looping overhand right but Barbosa ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flower ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flower looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Flower.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Flower.
Barbosa misses with a straight right.
Flower is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barbosa can do to turn this around?
Flower connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Flower misses with a hook. Barbosa ducked under it nicely.
Flower scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Barbosa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Flower throws out the jab.
Flower throws a chopping leg kick but Barbosa manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A slapping leg kick lands for Flower.
Barbosa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Good shot there by Flower.
Barbosa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Flower was well out of range. Poor timing from Barbosa.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Flower scores with a jab to the jaw.
Flower finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Barbosa let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Flower fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Barbosa is out of range.
Barbosa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Flower throws a leg kick
and Barbosa counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lotus Flower dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Barbosa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Flower.
Jab, jab by Barbosa - just one landing.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Flower, right into the meat.
Barbosa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barbosa lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Barbosa.
A big left from Barbosa misses.
A punch combination from Barbosa misses.
Flower swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Flower avoids the body shot from Barbosa.
Barbosa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Flower throws a poor cross that misses
and Barbosa counters with a stiff right hand.
Flower scores with a push kick.
Flower connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barbosa. Barbosa circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barbosa blocks the body kick.
Barbosa misses the jab.
Barbosa just misses with a punch to the body.
Barbosa staying out of range there.
Barbosa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Flower.
A quick step to the side and Flower tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Flower is looking to score with low kicks.
Barbosa is looking for the big counter here.
Flower throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Barbosa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Flower showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barbosa.
Flower misses with a body shot.
Flower bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Barbosa's head.
Barbosa swings for the body but Flower moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Flower.
A head kick misses from Barbosa.
Flower moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Barbosa throws a jab but it's blocked by Flower.
Flower throws a lazy right hand but Barbosa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Flower connects with a looping right hand.
Barbosa swinging wildly here.
Lotus Flower is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barbosa has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Flower takes a swing at Barbosa's ribcage but misses.
Barbosa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Flower takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Flower takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A big right from Flower misses.
Barbosa tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Flower blocks a head kick by Barbosa.
Decent striking displayed by Flower there.
Flower slips a jab from Barbosa.
Barbosa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Flower avoids the body shot from Barbosa.
Barbosa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice body kick there by Flower.
Flower staying out of range there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Flower. Barbosa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Flower chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barbosa can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses.
Barbosa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Flower.
Flower lands a nice looking body kick.
Barbosa throws a hook to the side of Flower's head but Flower sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Flower throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barbosa moves forwards but Flower connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Flower moves out of range as Barbosa strikes.
Flower feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Flower connects with a body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Barbosa!
Flower pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Flower dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Barbosa throws a body shot but no joy.
The fighters circling - Flower throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Barbosa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Flower bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Flower throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barbosa steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Flower. That one must have hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flower misses with a body shot.
Barbosa lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Flower avoids a punch combination nicely.
Barbosa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Flower scores with a nice strike.
Marcelo Barbosa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barbosa misses with a body shot.
Flower looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Barbosa misses with a low kick.
Flower throwing a counter right hand but Barbosa manages to avoid it.
Flower lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barbosa's sensitive parts.
Barbosa takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Flower throws a leg kick which misses Barbosa's front leg but catches the back leg as Barbosa tries to avoid it.
Flower walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barbosa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A little feinted left hand from Flower on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Flower lands a really nice looking cross but Barbosa seems unphased.
Barbosa has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Flower.
Flower ducks under a wild hook from Barbosa.
Flower scoring well with a low kick there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Lotus Flower.
Well Flower has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lotus Flower!