PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Van DaRoss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zenon Barriga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zenon Barriga has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

DaRoss
vs
Barriga

195 cm
23
297 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

193 cm
23
295 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Van DaRoss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zenon Barriga!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Daniel Cesar and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barriga misses with a wild combination.
Barriga fails to land with a series of punches.

DaRoss is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Barriga's half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

DaRoss escapes and gets back to his feet.
Barriga throws a head kick that misses.
DaRoss looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
DaRoss misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Barriga stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Van DaRoss. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Barriga closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. DaRoss did well to prevent Barriga getting side control.
Barriga with the ground and pound but DaRoss uses the opportunity to regain guard.
DaRoss is adopting a defensive guard.
DaRoss tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DaRoss seems keen to control Barriga's posture.
Barriga thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Barriga working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Barriga tries to stand but DaRoss is controlling from the bottom.
Barriga throws and elbow that misses. DaRoss uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barriga's guard. Nice move by DaRoss!
Barriga keeping moving, preventing DaRoss from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barriga seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

DaRoss drops back looking for a leg! Barriga is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Barriga manages to kick DaRoss off! DaRoss jumps back into Barriga's guard.
DaRoss pushes down on Barriga's leg and manages to get into half guard.
DaRoss is keen to just control but Barriga is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DaRoss thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barriga's head.

DaRoss seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
DaRoss trying to control from half guard but Barriga is working away.

DaRoss is working for a kimura but Barriga is defending it quite comfortably.

DaRoss wants to work for an arm triangle but Barriga is really keeping half guard well and defending the 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.

DaRoss is working for a kimura but Barriga is defending it quite comfortably.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barriga keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No luck for Barriga with that takedown attempt.

Barriga moves into the clinch successfully.
Barriga prevents a takedown attempt there.
DaRoss is pushing Barriga up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
DaRoss drops down looking for an ankle pick but Barriga pulls his leg out and moves away.
DaRoss closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barriga circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zenon Barriga will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Barriga cracks DaRoss with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
DaRoss with a lazy takedown attempt

and Barriga counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
DaRoss tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barriga smiles and moves away.

DaRoss shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
DaRoss looking to control but Barriga is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
DaRoss avoids the attempt from Barriga to control.
Barriga is trying to escape the mount.
Barriga is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DaRoss unloads with some shots from mount but Barriga bucks and avoids them well.
DaRoss looking to finish with strikes here!
Barriga is squirming around, avoiding DaRoss's attempts to control the action.
DaRoss controlling his opponent.
DaRoss trying to control but he's not successful this time.

DaRoss working for a submission but Barriga is keeping him at bay.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
DaRoss can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Barriga is looking to escape.
Barriga is trying to escape the mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barriga can do anything to dispel that myth.
DaRoss punishing his opponent with strikes.

DaRoss looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Barriga is looking to improve his position but DaRoss isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DaRoss looking to control but Barriga is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
DaRoss unloads with some shots from mount but Barriga bucks and avoids them well.
Barriga is squirming around, avoiding DaRoss's attempts to control the action.
Barriga is looking to improve his position but DaRoss isn't that keen on the idea.
DaRoss throwing strikes here but Barriga is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
DaRoss can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Barriga is looking to escape.

DaRoss looking to secure an arm triangle but Barriga defends it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

DaRoss stands up from mount. Strange move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van DaRoss dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Barriga fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

DaRoss closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Barriga to the mat! Barriga manages to get full guard.
Barriga is looking to stand up but DaRoss isn't so interested in that idea.
DaRoss looking to sit in guard and control but Barriga gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
DaRoss keeping moving, preventing Barriga from controlling successfully.

Barriga postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! DaRoss is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Barriga, into his guard.
DaRoss working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DaRoss trying to control the position from guard on top but Barriga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

DaRoss is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
DaRoss wants to control from the top but Barriga keeps moving.
DaRoss won't allow Barriga to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

DaRoss is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
DaRoss throwing strikes from guard but Barriga blocks nicely.

Barriga is working an open guard so DaRoss takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Van DaRoss is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
DaRoss misses with a takedown attempt

and Barriga counters by moving into the clinch.
DaRoss tries to score a body lock takedown but Barriga shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
DaRoss has had enough of the clinch but Barriga keeps him there for the moment.
DaRoss keeps control of Barriga as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

DaRoss pulls guard successfully.
Barriga wants to pass the guard but DaRoss is keeping the position.
DaRoss is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barriga is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barriga wants to control from the top but DaRoss keeps moving.
Barriga throws a big right hand that misses.
Barriga tries to free his leg and advance position but DaRoss is retaining full guard.
Barriga looking to sit in guard and control but DaRoss gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

DaRoss drops back looking for a leg! Barriga is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Barriga manages to kick DaRoss off! DaRoss jumps back into Barriga's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Barriga keeping moving, preventing DaRoss from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
DaRoss fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Van DaRoss. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barriga looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
DaRoss doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Barriga counters by clinching up.
Barriga gets underhooks to prevent DaRoss's takedown attempt.
DaRoss goes for a takedown attempt but Barriga pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
DaRoss shoots in for a takedown but Barriga shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Barriga bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps DaRoss's head backwards.

Barriga shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. DaRoss manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zenon Barriga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barriga 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!