PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Better Dead (ranked 1810 p4p, 2833 weight class) and Joey Barboza (ranked 224 p4p, 317 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Dead
vs
Barboza

190 cm
33
162
16 - 18 - 1

180 cm
26
169
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Fantasy Threads

Seventh Circle Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Better Dead!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joey Barboza!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dead takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Barboza dives in and scores a takedown into Dead's guard.
Dead really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

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

Dead wants to stand and escape but instead Barboza has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

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

Barboza drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dead looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dead looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dead!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dead tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dead stands up and beckons Barboza to his feet.
Barboza takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Dead throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barboza sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Dead throws a big shot that misses.
Barboza shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dead defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barboza drops his hands momentarily and Dead takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Barboza clinches.
Barboza goes for a takedown attempt but Dead pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Dead throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barboza wants to counter with a clinch but Dead pushes him away.
Barboza uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dead.
Barboza uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dead.
Dead throws a hook but Barboza blocks it.
Barboza moves out of range as Dead strikes.
Barboza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dead sprawls well. Dead wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barboza gets slowly back to his feet.
Dead was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Better Dead has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Barboza.
Dead fails to land with a series of punches.

Barboza shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dead is trying to defend but Barboza finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barboza is working for a kimura but Dead is defending it quite comfortably.

Barboza is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dead has managed to free his arm - good work.

Dead is defending against the submission attempts here by Barboza.

Barboza is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Barboza looking for a submission but Dead manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Barboza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dead is keeping the position for now.

Barboza has gone for a leg lock! Dead slips out almost immediately though and dives into Barboza's guard.

Dead has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Barboza is proving hard to escape from.
Dead is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Better Dead dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dead leaves Barboza with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Better Dead seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barboza darts in looking for a takedown but Dead gets double underhooks and turns Barboza into the cage.
Barboza fails with a takedown attempt.
Better Dead has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Barboza.
Dead misses with an uppercut.
Barboza tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Barboza staying out of range there.
Barboza fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barboza shoots for a takedown but Dead saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dead is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Jab, jab by Dead - just one landing.
Barboza takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Dead looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A telegraphed right hand from Dead misses the target.
Better Dead is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dead thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dead missing with a left hand there. Barboza was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barboza slips under a jab.

Barboza shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dead is trying to defend but Barboza finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Dead is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barboza can do to turn this around?

Barboza is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Barboza is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dead is just riding it out for now. Barboza eventually gives up the hold.
Dead is trying to maintain the position but Barboza is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dead is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barboza's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barboza's back!
Dead biding his time, controlling Barboza.
Dead tries to keep control of the position but Barboza is staying busy.
Dead is riding his opponent, not letting Barboza buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barboza trying to get back to his feet but Dead is in full control for now.
Dead is controlling the position but Barboza somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Dead tries to stand but can't do so whilst Barboza controls his leg.
Dead trying to pass the guard but Barboza defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dead working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Barboza's thigh. Barboza counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Dead gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Better Dead is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dead jabs Barboza to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Dead misses with a right hand

and Barboza counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Better Dead overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Barboza is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Barboza looking for a submission but Dead manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Barboza has gone for a leg lock! Dead slips out almost immediately though and dives into Barboza's guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Better Dead dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Dead misses with a straight right.
Dead throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barboza connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Dead's hands.
Barboza takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Barboza moves out of range as Dead strikes.
Barboza connects with a nice looking jab.

Barboza shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dead is trying to defend but Barboza finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Barboza is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dead defends it well.

Barboza seems to be looking for submissions.

Barboza is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dead doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Barboza.
Dead is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Rabid Dog , so we'll see if he gets out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dead is defending against the submission attempts here by Barboza.
Dead looks like he's trying to stand up.
Barboza is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Barboza goes for an armbar but Dead turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Dead.

Dead stands up from Barboza's guard - Dead perhaps looking for a knockout.
Joey Barboza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dead pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barboza wants to counter the offense by Dead and move into the clinch position.
Dead scores with a jab.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Dead, as that shot connected.

It looks like Joey Barboza has been cut.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Dead enables Barboza to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Dead manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Barboza drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Dead dives on top into guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dead pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barboza is keeping the position for now.
Dead trying to move into half guard but instead Barboza has managed to sweep!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dead is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Dead trying to control but Barboza is working from the bottom.
Barboza has a closed guard, preventing Dead from standing up.

Barboza working for a triangle but Dead defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dead is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Barboza has a closed guard, preventing Dead from standing up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dead seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Better Dead showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dead, 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Better Dead!
Better Dead really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Fantasy Threads logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.