PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hector Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Murt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murt has chosen I like to move it as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Barbosa
vs
Murt

165 cm
25
144 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

173 cm
26
144 lbs
11 - 9 - 2

Great wrestler
Good knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hector Barbosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Matthew Murt!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murt's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Murt duly obliges.
A head kick misses from Murt.
Murt misses with the combination.
Murt is looking to clinch.
Murt checks a leg kick.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Barbosa.
Murt takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Barbosa throws a leg kick

and Murt counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Murt looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Murt looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Barbosa trying to land knees to the body.
Murt tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Barbosa tries a knee to the head but Murt blocks it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Barbosa missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murt tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Murt lands a nice elbow.
Barbosa blocks an uppercut.
Barbosa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Murt is keeping busy.

Barbosa breaks from the clinch.
Barbosa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Barbosa scores with a leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Barbosa.
Barbosa throws out a leg kick but Murt moves out of range and Barbosa only half commits.
Barbosa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A solid body kick from Barbosa.
Matthew Murt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barbosa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Murt's calf.
Murt throws a combination that misses
and Barbosa counters with a nice body shot.
Barbosa fakes the leg kick and cracks Murt in the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murt lands a nice looking kick to the body. Barbosa takes a step back to recover.
Barbosa throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murt falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Barbosa to counter with a crisp jab.
That kick from Barbosa tenderised Murt's leg. Murt is trying to keep his angry face on.
Murt keeps Barbosa at a distance using the push kick.
Murt throws a series of punches but Barbosa moves out of range.
Barbosa scores with a head kick.

Barbosa gets tackled into the cage by Murt. Murt maintains the clinch.
Murt is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Barbosa avoiding damage as Murt throws knees to the body.
Murt looking to throw knees to the head but Barbosa is blocking nicely.
Barbosa looking to slow down the pace here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Murt in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Murt misses with a knee to the head.
Murt taking a breather.

Murt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barbosa throws out a leg kick but Murt moves out of range and Barbosa only half commits.
Hector Barbosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murt takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Murt checks a leg kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Barbosa. Murt shrugs it off though.
Murt takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Murt takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Barbosa lands with a nice body kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Barbosa lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Murt has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Murt and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Barbosa takes a swing at Murt's ribcage but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbosa throws a solid leg kick but Murt takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barbosa.
Murt blocks a head kick by Barbosa.
Murt goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Barbosa swings for the body but Murt moves out of range.
Barbosa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Murt.
Barbosa shoots in looking for a takedown. Murt tries to sprawl out of it but Barbosa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Murt manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murt swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Barbosa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Barbosa.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Barbosa obliges.
Murt keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Barbosa's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Barbosa dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Murt fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Murt scores with a head kick.
Murt looks to land a combination but Barbosa avoids it well.
Barbosa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barbosa.
Hector Barbosa is winning the standup battle so far.
Barbosa lets loose with a powerful body kick. Murt will feel that in the morning.
Barbosa connects with a solid leg kick.
Good leg kick by Barbosa there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Barbosa connects with a solid leg kick.
Murt closes the distance looking to clinch
and Barbosa counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Barbosa is looking to wear down Murt with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Murt lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barbosa circles away quickly and effectively.
A nice inside leg kick there by Barbosa. That's going to slow Murt down.
Murt has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Barbosa finds it's way round the side to connect with Murt's head.
An inside leg kick lands from Barbosa.
Murt misses with a kick to the body.
Barbosa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Murt throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barbosa.
Murt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barbosa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barbosa lets loose with a powerful body kick. Murt will feel that in the morning.
Barbosa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Murt circles away.
Barbosa throws a half hearted mid kick.
Murt tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Barbosa slips a jab and a cross from Murt.
Murt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barbosa fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Murt has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barbosa lands a nice leg kick that just misses Murt's sensitive parts.
Matthew Murt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Barbosa has taken the fight to the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Murt's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barbosa tries a knee to the head but Murt blocks it.
Murt tries to break free but Barbosa pushes him back against the cage.
Barbosa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Barbosa connects with a knee to the head.
Murt's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Murt is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Barbosa lands a good knee to the midsection. Murt won't want to take too many of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murt takes a knee to the side of the body.
Murt is breathing heavily.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Barbosa takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Barbosa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Murt avoids it.
Barbosa avoids a wild elbow strike from Murt.
Murt with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Barbosa trying to land knees to the body.
Barbosa looking to stall.
Barbosa connects with a knee to the head.
Murt fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Knees to the body from Barbosa.
Barbosa will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Murt up against the cage.
Murt has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Barbosa.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barbosa connects with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbosa tries to land knees in the clinch but Murt avoids the damage to the body.
Barbosa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Murt is defending well for now.
Murt throws a knee to the head but misses.
Murt misses with an elbow strike.
Murt misses with an elbow over the top.
Murt stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Barbosa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Murt is defending well for now.
Barbosa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Murt has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Murt lands with a short shot to the head.
Barbosa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Barbosa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Barbosa landing knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee is keeping an eye on Murt - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Murt breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barbosa thumps Murt with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Barbosa dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Barbosa throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Murt on the side of the head.
Murt uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barbosa.
Murt takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Barbosa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barbosa thows a leg kick but Murt checks it
and Murt counters with a big head kick but Barbosa shrugs it off.
A slapping leg kick lands for Barbosa.
Barbosa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Good shot there by Barbosa.
Murt throws a left and a right that both miss
and Barbosa counters with a good low kick that Murt was not able to check.
Barbosa with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A solid leg kick lands there for Barbosa.
Barbosa lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Barbosa thows a leg kick but Murt checks it
and Murt counters with a left and a right that stings Barbosa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa misses with a head kick.
Barbosa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Murt.

Murt forces Barbosa back against the cage and clinches.
Barbosa tries a knee to the head but Murt blocks it.
Murt lands an elbow that stopped Barbosa in his tracks for a moment.
Murt avoiding damage as Barbosa throws knees to the body.
Barbosa missing with knees to the body.
Barbosa lands a good knee to the midsection. Murt won't want to take too many of those.
Murt lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Murt throws a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Barbosa as Murt tries to tie him up.
Murt managing to block the knees to the body from Barbosa.
Murt throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barbosa blocks it with crossed arms.

Murt breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa cracks Murt with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Barbosa misses with a low kick.
Matthew Murt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barbosa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses.
Murt tries to clinch but Barbosa moves out of range.
Barbosa scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Barbosa fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Murt to the ground. Barbosa is now in Murt's guard.
Barbosa preventing the sweep.
Barbosa looking to sit in guard and control but Murt gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Barbosa is trying to keep Murt in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murt is pushing down on Barbosa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Barbosa is fighting to maintain full guard but Murt has managed to sneak the leg through.
Barbosa wants to get back to full guard.
Barbosa misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Murt stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Barbosa to get to his feet.
Good leg kick by Barbosa there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Barbosa scores with a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Barbosa.
Barbosa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Barbosa throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murt throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Murt wants to clinch up but Barbosa keeps it at a distance.
Barbosa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hector Barbosa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters circling a little - Barbosa finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Barbosa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murt tries to kick Barbosa off but Barbosa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Murt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barbosa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barbosa wants to control but Murt is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murt wants to get back to his feet.
Barbosa wants to pass the guard but Murt is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hector Barbosa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Barbosa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hector Barbosa!
After winning the bout, Hector Barbosa thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Matthew Murt spoke after the fight, saying 'Well, I have to take my hat off to Hector. He beat me the first time and I got a second crack at it but he still had the better of me. I can't make excuses. The better man won.'.