PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luciano Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eldrazi Emrakul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luciano Barbosa had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Luciano Barbosa looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Barbosa
vs
Emrakul

175 cm
22
185 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
176 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Luciano Barbosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eldrazi Emrakul!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emrakul throws a leg kick which misses Barbosa's front leg but catches the back leg as Barbosa tries to avoid it.
Emrakul lands a leg kick that knocks Barbosa off balance momentarily.
Emrakul looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Emrakul tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbosa was well out of range. Poor timing from Emrakul.
Emrakul thows a body shot but no joy.
Barbosa swings for the body but Emrakul moves out of range.
Barbosa stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Barbosa takes a swing at Emrakul's ribcage but misses.
Barbosa blocks the body kick.
Emrakul connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Barbosa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Emrakul was well out of range. Poor timing from Barbosa.
Barbosa has been working on his boxing with his coaches at WarZone Training Facility 1 in the buildup to the fight.
Eldrazi Emrakul seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Emrakul throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Barbosa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Emrakul misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Emrakul.
An inside leg kick from Emrakul misses.
Emrakul lands a front kick.
Emrakul scores with a push kick.
Barbosa is breathing heavily.
Emrakul throws a good cross that connects.
Emrakul swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Emrakul takes a swing at Barbosa's ribcage but misses.
Emrakul throws a leg kick which misses Barbosa's front leg but catches the back leg as Barbosa tries to avoid it.
Emrakul tries to work over Barbosa's front leg with a kick but Barbosa checks it.
A solid body kick from Emrakul.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Emrakul looks to throw the jab but Barbosa is out of range.
Emrakul throws a chopping leg kick but Barbosa manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Emrakul slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emrakul misses the shot to the body.
Emrakul is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Barbosa rather than just go for the knockout.
Barbosa fails to land with a series of punches.
Emrakul lands with a thumping leg kick.
Emrakul throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Emrakul throws a solid leg kick but Barbosa takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Emrakul.
Emrakul lands a front kick.
Emrakul lands a leg kick that knocks Barbosa off balance momentarily.
Emrakul throws a shot from downtown. Barbosa moves away and avoids it.
Emrakul throws a leg kick that misses.
Emrakul fakes the leg kick and cracks Barbosa in the body.
Barbosa steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Emrakul. That one must have hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Emrakul.
Emrakul lands with a thumping leg kick.
Emrakul feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Barbosa's calf.
Barbosa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Emrakul.
Emrakul motions for Barbosa to come forward. Emrakul throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Emrakul throws out a leg kick but Barbosa moves out of range and Emrakul only half commits.
Emrakul pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Emrakul lands with a right hand.
Emrakul tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Barbosa is able to avoid easily.
Barbosa throws a jab when Emrakul was well out of range.
Emrakul throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Emrakul is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Emrakul lands a head kick. Barbosa smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barbosa lands with a good body shot.
Barbosa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Emrakul throws the kick towards the body but Barbosa avoids it.
Barbosa will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Emrakul throws a quick inside leg kick.
Barbosa checks a low kick from Emrakul.
Barbosa looks to score with a jab to the body but Emrakul is just out of range.
Barbosa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Emrakul throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Emrakul keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Emrakul has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barbosa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Emrakul.
Emrakul throws a nice inside leg kick.
Barbosa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eldrazi Emrakul dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A chopping leg kick lands by Emrakul.
Barbosa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Emrakul is looking to slow Barbosa down with leg kicks.
An inside leg kick from Emrakul misses.
Emrakul throws a leg kick but Barbosa checks it.
Barbosa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Emrakul throws out a leg kick but Barbosa moves out of range and Emrakul only half commits.
Emrakul misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Emrakul throws a leg kick which misses Barbosa's front leg but catches the back leg as Barbosa tries to avoid it.
Emrakul throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Barbosa.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Barbosa checks a leg kick.
Barbosa avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Barbosa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Emrakul throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Emrakul.
Barbosa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Emrakul.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barbosa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Emrakul swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Emrakul fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barbosa manages to avoid it.
Emrakul misses with a body shot.
Emrakul lands with a straight right. Barbosa didn't see that one coming.
Barbosa fails with a takedown attempt.
Eldrazi Emrakul seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa takes a kick to the side of the head.
Emrakul swings away with a leg kick that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barbosa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Emrakul finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Barbosa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Emrakul is trying to defend but Barbosa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Barbosa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barbosa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Barbosa is thwarting Emrakul's attempts to control the position.
Barbosa has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa wants to free his trapped foot but Emrakul is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Emrakul keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Barbosa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Emrakul's head.
Emrakul trying to control here.
Emrakul trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Barbosa manages to pass to mount!
Emrakul is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Barbosa wants to control the pace but Emrakul is squirming around nicely.
Emrakul taking shots to the head.
Emrakul felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emrakul working to try and regain half guard.
Barbosa fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Emrakul tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Barbosa landing punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbosa lands a big elbow.
Emrakul wants to control but Barbosa is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emrakul tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Barbosa in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Emrakul is bucking up trying to escape but Barbosa cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Barbosa cracks Emrakul with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Barbosa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Emrakul looks a forlorn figure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Eldrazi Emrakul will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Barbosa checks a low kick from Emrakul.
Emrakul throws a poor cross that misses
and Emrakul takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Emrakul attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Barbosa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Emrakul.
Emrakul throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Emrakul tries to score with a low kick but Barbosa moves his leg out of the way.
Barbosa's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Emrakul connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barbosa scrambles back to his feet.
Emrakul lands a high kick!
Emrakul uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barbosa.
Emrakul bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barbosa swings for the body but Emrakul moves out of range.
Emrakul takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emrakul leaves Barbosa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Emrakul throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Emrakul throws a lazy body kick
and Barbosa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Emrakul thinking.
Emrakul misses with an attempted mid kick.
Emrakul will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Emrakul attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Barbosa sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Emrakul feints and then cracks Barbosa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Barbosa down.

Barbosa shoots in and gets a takedown into Emrakul's guard.
Barbosa trying to control but Emrakul is working from the bottom.
Barbosa is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Emrakul is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emrakul has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Emrakul working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barbosa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barbosa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barbosa scoring with some ground and pound.
Barbosa is stalling in the full guard.
Barbosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Emrakul is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eldrazi Emrakul is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Barbosa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Barbosa landing with the ground and pound.
Emrakul can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Barbosa controls the pace.
Emrakul trying to keep a closed guard but Barbosa is proving a slippery customer.
Barbosa pushing down on Emrakul's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Emrakul is trying to get back to full guard.
Barbosa is taking a breather. Emrakul says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Emrakul is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa is thwarting Emrakul's attempts to control the position.
Emrakul tries to get to full guard but Barbosa has control of the leg.
Emrakul wants to control but Barbosa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Barbosa thows a huge punch but Emrakul dodges it nicely.
Emrakul gets full guard.
Barbosa is stalling in the full guard.
Emrakul looking for a sweep. Not yet Emrakul, not yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Emrakul trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Luciano Barbosa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barbosa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Emrakul's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Eldrazi Emrakul.
I've got Emrakul winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eldrazi Emrakul!
In his post fight interview, Eldrazi Emrakul started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.