PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Giuseppe Amodei (ranked 1364 p4p, 153 weight class) and Edson Bidon Barbosa (ranked 1702 p4p, 185 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Amodei
vs
Bidon Barbosa

165 cm
31
140 lbs
13 - 9 - 1

178 cm
26
155 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Giuseppe Amodei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edson Bidon Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Amodei looks to land a left hand but Barbosa moved out of range nicely.
Amodei walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

It looks like Giuseppe Amodei has been cut.
Barbosa lands a glancing blow to the side of Amodei's head.
Amodei tries to clinch up but Barbosa circles away and keeps his distance.
Barbosa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Amodei checks the leg kick.
Amodei looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Barbosa misses with a low kick.
Barbosa swings widly with a right hand

and Amodei counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Amodei has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Amodei wants to control the pace but Barbosa is squirming around nicely.
Amodei prevents Barbosa from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amodei tries to control but Barbosa wriggling away.
Amodei controlling the pace for now.
Amodei prevents Barbosa from getting the reversal.
Amodei trying to control but Barbosa is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Amodei goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Barbosa is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Amodei working for a triangle but Barbosa defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barbosa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Amodei swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Amodei has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barbosa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Amodei is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Barbosa's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Amodei looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Amodei looking to control.

Amodei has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barbosa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barbosa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barbosa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Amodei swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Amodei lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Amodei 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 Amodei has Barbosa in his guard.

Amodei is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Amodei not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Giuseppe Amodei will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Giuseppe Amodei's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Amodei swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Amodei connects with a nice looking jab.
Barbosa with a hook.
Barbosa lands with a thumping leg kick.
Barbosa takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Barbosa throws a hook but Amodei avoids it easily.
Amodei tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Barbosa manages to circle out of the way.
Barbosa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Barbosa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Amodei.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amodei throws a lazy uppercut
and Barbosa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Amodei bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Barbosa's head backwards.
Barbosa throws a hook but Amodei blocks it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Amodei walks into a stiff left hand from Barbosa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amodei tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbosa was well out of range. Poor timing from Amodei.

Amodei gets a takedown into half guard.

Amodei is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Barbosa still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Barbosa has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Amodei tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barbosa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Barbosa controlling from side mount.
Barbosa gets to mount! Amodei was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa wants to take his opponent's back but Amodei doesn't allow it.
Amodei slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Amodei looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barbosa is trying to control. Amodei wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Amodei looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa passes to full mount!
Barbosa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Amodei is looking to escape.
Amodei wants to hold on but Barbosa pushes him away.
Barbosa wants to take Amodei's back here but Amodei is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Amodei is trying to reverse the position but instead Barbosa has taken his back - oops!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amodei is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Amodei might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Barbosa gets his hands free as Amodei looks to control.
I really don't envy Amodei right now.
Barbosa is riding his opponent, not letting Amodei buck him off.
Amodei tries to roll but Barbosa sticks to his back.
Giuseppe Amodei overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Amodei looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Amodei tries to escape the position.
Barbosa is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edson Bidon Barbosa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Giuseppe Amodei's cut.
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!

Amodei slips under a jab from Barbosa.
Amodei throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barbosa's waist but Barbosa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Amodei off to one side.
Barbosa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Barbosa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Amodei momentarily.
Amodei lands a lovely overhand right.
Good work by Amodei as he checks the leg kick.
Barbosa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Amodei counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barbosa getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa throws an overhand right that lands on Amodei's shoulder, as Amodei tries to avoid the shot.
Barbosa loads up on a big right hand but Amodei slips the punch.
Amodei avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amodei with a nice cross.
Barbosa throws a leg kick
and Amodei counters with a leg kick.
Amodei misses with a low kick.
Barbosa tries to land a leg kick but Amodei saw it coming and moves away.
Amodei dives in for a single leg takedown but Barbosa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Barbosa misses with a wild body shot.
Barbosa is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Amodei misses with an uppercut. Barbosa saw that one coming.
Amodei keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barbosa.
Amodei looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giuseppe Amodei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Amodei wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa moves out of range of the body kick from Amodei.
Barbosa is looking for the big counter here.
Amodei shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barbosa cracks the inside of Amodei's front leg.
Good shot there by Barbosa.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barbosa. Amodei does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barbosa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Amodei can pounce on him.
Amodei fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa dips to his left and cracks Amodei with an uppercut!
Barbosa dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Amodei. That did some damage!
A jab from Barbosa finds it's way through Amodei's defenses.
Amodei scores with a shot to the body.
Barbosa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Amodei scores with a nice strike.
Edson Bidon Barbosa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Amodei has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Giuseppe Amodei's cut is getting worse.
Amodei cracks Barbosa with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Giuseppe Amodei seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Amodei moves out of range of the body kick from Barbosa.
Amodei closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Barbosa has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Amodei throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amodei throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Amodei swings for the body but Barbosa moves out of range.
Amodei works the jab nicely.
A jab from Barbosa misses.
No joy there for Barbosa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barbosa throws out a loose jab but Amodei uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barbosa misses with a kick to the body

and Amodei counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Amodei seems to be working for a kimura but Barbosa defends the submission attempt.

Amodei is trying to work for a kimura but Barbosa is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edson Bidon Barbosa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barbosa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edson Bidon Barbosa!
During a confident post fight interview, Edson Bidon Barbosa thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.