PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jiga Ji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romulo Barral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romulo Barral will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ji
vs
Barral

179 cm
29
212 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

190 cm
29
216 lbs
18 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jiga Ji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Romulo Barral!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Radbod Blank and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barral misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ji shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barral but Barral pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ji shoots for a takedown but Barral saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ji blocks the body kick.
Ji lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Barral lands a jab to Ji's midsection.
Barral throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ji misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jiga Ji. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ji swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barral attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Barral throws a shot from downtown. Ji moves away and avoids it.
Ji thows a body shot but no joy.
Ji misses with a takedown attempt

and Barral counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Ji actively working from the bottom here.
Ji is pressing down on Barral's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ji preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barral pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ji is keeping the position for now.
Barral in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barral stands and throws Ji's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ji might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Barral is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ji is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ji tries to buck Barral off but Barral is having none of it.
Ji manages to get back to half guard.
Ji is trying to stand.
Ji preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Ji has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Barral escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Barral!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ji regains half guard.
Ji gets full guard.

Ji isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Barral stacks Ji on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Barral!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ji is looking for a sweep.
Ji prevents Barral from improving position.
Ji taking a bit of punishment here - Barral scoring with strikes.

Barral working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Barral has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barral misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ji tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barral sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ji somewhat.
Ji scores with a jab. Barral acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ji throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barral connects with a nice looking jab.
Ji is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barral sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Barral scores with a jab to the head.
Ji blocks a leg kick.
Ji fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barral avoids it really well and circles away.
Horrible takedown by Ji or perhaps it was just good defense by Barral which made him look bad.
Jiga Ji seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barral throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ji.
Ji moves out of range of the body kick.
Barral swings away with a body shot that misses

and Ji counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barral won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ji wants to control but Barral is keeping him busy.
Barral manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Barral seems to be working for a kimura but Ji defends the submission attempt.
Ji wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Romulo Barral will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ji moves out of range of the body kick.
Barral throws a hook but Ji blocks it.
Ji fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nice defenses there by Barral.
Barral is looking to score with low kicks.
Ji shoots in but no luck this time.
Ji with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Barral counter with a right hand.
Ji fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Barral looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Ji shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Barral is not content to let Ji control the position.
Barral is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ji is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ji content to control rather than advance.
Barral is staying active underneath Ji, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Ji is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ji is trying to control the action in half guard but Barral is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Ji is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barral is just riding it out for now. Ji eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barral is defending against the submission attempts here by Ji.
Barral is looking to improve his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ji connects with a nice short shot to Barral's temple.
Barral moves into full guard.
Barral is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Ji drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ji jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barral utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barral looking for a sweep. Not yet Barral, not yet.
Ji is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Barral looking for a sweep. Not yet Barral, not yet.
Ji postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barral trying to control the position.
Barral looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barral trying to keep a closed guard but Ji is proving a slippery customer.
Barral is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barral trying to control from half guard but Ji is working away.

Ji looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jiga Ji overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ji is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barral pulls his head out easily.

Barral seems to be working for a kimura but Ji defends the submission attempt.
Ji pushes Barral off looking to stand but Barral dives back in and keeps control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barral trying to control from half guard but Ji is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jiga Ji 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!

A big right from Barral misses.

Barral gets a double leg takedown into Ji's guard.

Ji working for a triangle but Barral defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barral accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barral pushing down on Ji's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Barral trying to control from half guard but Ji is working away.
Ji is looking for a sweep. Barral is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barral perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ji tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ji keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Barral is thwarting Ji's attempts to control the position.

Ji looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Barral trying to control from half guard but Ji is working away.

Barral is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ji sees it coming and defends easily.

Ji looking for submissions off his back.
Barral wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ji keeps working.

Ji is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barral pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barral is looking to advance position but Ji won't allow it.
Barral throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ji tries to roll over but Barral keeps him under control.
Barral throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Barral prevents Ji from standing back up.
Barral throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Barral sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ji defending well though.
Barral lands strikes from half guard.
Barral thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ji's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ji makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ji.
Barral must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barral slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ji is not content to let Barral control the position.

Barral wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ji, who protects the arm well.
Ji is trying to control Barral's posture but Barral avoids it.
Ji is trying to get back to half guard.
Barral working away.
Ji is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Barral off and has taken his back!
A lull in the action here.

Ji has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Barral has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ji not allowing Barral to control his hands.
Barral manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ji's guard. Nice work there by Barral.
Barral postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ji has momentary wrist control but Barral slips an elbow through the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barral passes Ji's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barral tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ji knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ji is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Romulo Barral comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barral has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Romulo Barral!
A relieved looking Romulo Barral thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.