PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Timur Umarov (ranked 2099 p4p, 242 weight class) and Rafe Barrientos (ranked 3015 p4p, 309 weight class). Umarov's entrance music is Klergy with Valerie Broussard - Start a War. A fine choice. On his way into the cage it seems that Timur Umarov has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Timur Umarov seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Umarov
vs
Barrientos

178 cm
32
185 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

180 cm
27
178 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Organic Nutrition

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Timur Umarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rafe Barrientos!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barrientos closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Umarov quickly recovers to half guard.
Barrientos lands strikes from half guard.
Barrientos seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Barrientos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barrientos scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Umarov desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Barrientos throwing shots but Umarov is blocking nicely.

Barrientos is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Umarov is just riding it out for now. Barrientos eventually gives up the hold.
Barrientos prevents Umarov from standing back up.
Barrientos is keen to just control but Umarov is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrientos sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Umarov defending well though.
Umarov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barrientos thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Barrientos is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Barrientos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Barrientos trying to control from half guard but Umarov is working away.
Barrientos throwing shots but Umarov is blocking nicely.
Barrientos working the head and body with strikes.
Barrientos tries to pass the half guard into mount. Umarov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrientos throwing shots but Umarov is blocking nicely.
Barrientos thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Barrientos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Umarov wants to control but Barrientos is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Umarov pushes Barrientos off and gets back to his feet.
A punch combination from Barrientos misses.
Barrientos scores with a nice right hand.

Barrientos gets a clinch.

Barrientos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rafe Barrientos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Umarov ducks under a wild hook from Barrientos.
Barrientos fails with a takedown attempt.
Barrientos tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Umarov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Barrientos thinking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umarov throws a jab when Barrientos was well out of range.
Barrientos shoots in looking for a takedown but Umarov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Barrientos's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Barrientos looks for a takedown but Umarov sprawls well.
Timur Umarov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafe Barrientos.
Umarov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Barrientos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Umarov sprawls well. Umarov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barrientos gets slowly back to his feet.
Barrientos is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Umarov.
Umarov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barrientos.
Umarov blocks the body kick.
Umarov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Barrientos defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrientos tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Umarov defends well and Barrientos ends up having to push Umarov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Umarov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A swing and a miss from Umarov.
Barrientos scores with a hook.
Barrientos slips a straight right by Umarov.
Barrientos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Umarov moves away.
Barrientos tries to clinch there but Umarov circles away.

Umarov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Barrientos looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barrientos is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barrientos gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Barrientos told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Barrientos is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafe Barrientos dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barrientos tries to clinch but Umarov is having none of it.
Umarov slaps away a takedown attempt from Barrientos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Umarov half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Barrientos is looking to clinch but Umarov is avoiding it.
Barrientos scores with a nice strike.
Barrientos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Umarov as he jumps to the side.
Umarov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Barrientos fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Umarov, pushing him back against the cage.

Barrientos's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barrientos shoots in but no luck this time.
Timur Umarov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafe Barrientos.
Umarov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barrientos manages to avoid it.
Umarov shoots in looking for a takedown but Barrientos manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Umarov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Barrientos takes a swing at Umarov's ribcage but misses.
Umarov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Barrientos paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umarov digs a good body shot into Barrientos's ribs.
Nice uppercut lands for Barrientos. That snapped Umarov's head back.

Barrientos forces Umarov back against the cage and clinches.
Umarov managing to block the knees to the body from Barrientos.
Umarov has Barrientos pressed against the cage, preventing Barrientos from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Barrientos lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Umarov tries to score a body lock takedown but Barrientos shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Barrientos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barrientos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jab from Barrientos.
Barrientos shoots in and drives through. Umarov sprawls well.
Umarov half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Barrientos defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Umarov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrientos misses with a looping right.
Barrientos lands a right hook to the body.
Barrientos will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rafe Barrientos seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barrientos scores with a nice head shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barrientos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Umarov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barrientos somewhat.
A cross from Barrientos lands.
Umarov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umarov dodges the punch combination from Barrientos.
Barrientos will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Barrientos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Umarov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barrientos somewhat.
A decent looking cross lands there for Barrientos.
Barrientos tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Umarov defends well and Barrientos ends up having to push Umarov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Umarov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Barrientos fails with the takedown
and Umarov counters with a stiff right hand.
Barrientos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Umarov sprawls well. Umarov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barrientos gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrientos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Umarov tries to avoid it but Barrientos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Umarov to the ground. Umarov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Umarov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Umarov keeps the fight on the outside.
A quick step to the side and Umarov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Umarov needs to keep his hands up - Barrientos had a free shot at his head there.
Umarov shoots in looking for a takedown. Barrientos tries to sprawl out of it but Umarov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barrientos manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Barrientos might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Barrientos moves in looking to clinch but Umarov pushes him off.
Umarov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Umarov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Barrientos to score with a decent uppercut.

Barrientos moves into the clinch successfully.

Barrientos breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barrientos lands a lovely overhand right.
Barrientos scores with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafe Barrientos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Umarov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Barrientos scores with a decent looking hook.

Barrientos rushes Umarov and presses him up against the cage.
Barrientos trying to control the position but instead, Umarov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Barrientos into the cage.
Barrientos prevents the takedown attempt.
Umarov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Barrientos fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Barrientos throws an off balance right hand

and Umarov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Barrientos!
Barrientos manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Umarov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barrientos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Barrientos is trying to get back to full guard.
We've been hearing that Umarov has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Barrientos regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barrientos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Barrientos lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Barrientos with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barrientos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Umarov is looking to stand up but Barrientos isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barrientos wants to control from the top but Umarov keeps moving.
Barrientos working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Umarov's head.
Barrientos trying to control but Umarov is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barrientos postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Umarov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Barrientos, into his guard.

Umarov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Barrientos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Barrientos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barrientos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umarov wants to control but Barrientos is keeping him busy.
Barrientos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barrientos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Umarov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Umarov's back!
Barrientos scores with punches to the body.
Barrientos punches the canvas rather than the man.
Barrientos lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Barrientos misses with punches from the back.
Barrientos somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Umarov just trying to survive but Barrientos is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Barrientos has managed to slip his arm under Umarov's chin. This could be all over... yep, Umarov is tapping out! Submission win for Barrientos.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rafe Barrientos!
Rafe Barrientos made sure to mention his sponsor, Organic Nutrition in his post fight interview.