PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Barbaros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caliph James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eddie Barbaros has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barbaros
vs
James

160 cm
26
195 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

188 cm
19
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eddie Barbaros!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Caliph James!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from James.

James rushes Barbaros and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barbaros throws an elbow but it's blocked.
James lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
James avoids the elbow strike from Barbaros, against the cage.
James blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
James misses with a knee strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Barbaros just misses with a elbow thrown towards James's brow.
Barbaros is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. James is defending well for now.
James blocks the elbow strike.
James blocks an elbow strike from Barbaros.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Barbaros.
Barbaros lands an elbow inside that James shrugs off.

It looks like Caliph James has been cut.
James lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Barbaros has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Barbaros throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but James blocks it with crossed arms.
Barbaros using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
James misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James misses with a punch to the body.
James tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Barbaros's elbow.
Barbaros tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
James avoiding damage as Barbaros throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James avoids a wild elbow strike from Barbaros.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Barbaros has double underhooks.
James tries a knee to the head but Barbaros blocks it.
James blocks the elbow strike.
Barbaros misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from James.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Barbaros.
Barbaros throws an elbow but it misses.
James doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Barbaros stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
James working aggressively here.
Barbaros throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Barbaros tries to land knees in the clinch but James avoids the damage to the body.
Barbaros prevents the takedown attempt.
James throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barbaros blocks it with crossed arms.
Barbaros lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A short uppercut from James.
Nice elbow from James.

It looks like Eddie Barbaros has been cut.
James misses with some punches.
Barbaros trying to land knees to the body.
James lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbaros lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Barbaros landing knees to the body.
Barbaros looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Barbaros tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
James working aggressively here.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James throws a quick inside leg kick.
James misses with a looping right.
James throws a shot from downtown. Barbaros moves away and avoids it.
Barbaros avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barbaros takes one on the button.
The fighters circle momentarily. James darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Barbaros avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
James throws a hook but Barbaros blocks it.
Caliph James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barbaros fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but James is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from James misses
and Barbaros counters with a good low kick that James was not able to check.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Barbaros.
James throws a shot from downtown. Barbaros moves away and avoids it.
James fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barbaros manages to avoid it.
Barbaros slips under a jab from James.
James misses with a looping left.
We've been told by Barbaros's head coaches at Steel Penn/Heavy Hands Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Barbaros takes a jab right on the kisser.
James pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barbaros takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
James throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barbaros sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Good exchange - James coming out on top.
James lands a two punch combo.
James misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbaros misses with a low kick.
James jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Barbaros looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James looks to land a left hand but Barbaros moved out of range nicely.
Barbaros closes the distance looking to clinch
and James counters with a left and a right that stings Barbaros.
Barbaros moves to clinch but James breaks away
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
James connects with a crisp jab.

James has taken the fight to the clinch.
James tries to circle away but Barbaros has him pinned against the cage.
Barbaros lands an elbow just above James 's eye.

That has opened up Caliph James's cut even more.
Barbaros lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caliph James dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barbaros displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as James throws out the jab.
Barbaros is looking to clinch.
James thows a left - swing and a miss!
Barbaros takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Barbaros takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The fighters circling - James throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Barbaros clinches up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Barbaros.
Barbaros lands a damaging elbow.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Barbaros just misses with a elbow thrown towards James's brow.
Barbaros pushes off an throws an elbow but James leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
James swings away with an uppercut that misses.
James looking to throw knees to the head but Barbaros is blocking nicely.
Barbaros blocks an elbow strike from James.
Barbaros with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James working hard to break the clinch.
James tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbaros lands a nice elbow.

The cut above Caliph James's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

James breaks the clinch.
Barbaros gets cracked with a nice right hand there by James.
Barbaros steps to the side to avoid the strikes from James.
Barbaros displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as James throws out the jab.

Barbaros has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.
Eddie Barbaros has scored more points in the clinch so far.
James is trying to push Barbaros away but Barbaros has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Barbaros connects with a knee to the head.
Barbaros tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
Barbaros tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
Barbaros lands an elbow inside that James shrugs off.
Barbaros looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Barbaros avoids a wild elbow strike from James.
Barbaros is trying to maintain a safe position but James gets an underhook and turns Barbaros into the cage.
Barbaros pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
Barbaros is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. James is defending well for now.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barbaros tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Come on Barbaros - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James swings wildly with an uppercut but Barbaros uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James being controlled against the cage.
Barbaros misses with an elbow strike.
Barbaros creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
James has had enough of the clinch but Barbaros keeps him there for the moment.
Barbaros blocks a punch to the side of the head.
James lands a left hand.
James cracks Barbaros with a nice body shot.
Barbaros throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
James working hard to break the clinch.
Barbaros misses with an elbow strike.
James with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James is trying to push Barbaros away but Barbaros has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
James avoids a wild elbow strike from Barbaros.
Barbaros throws a knee to the head but misses.
James looking to throw knees to the head but Barbaros is blocking nicely.
James is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbaros trying to stall but James improves his position.
James lands with a right to the head.
Barbaros using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
James misses with a body punch.
Barbaros blocks a punch to the side of the head.
James working aggressively here.
James dodges an elbow strike from Barbaros.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, James creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
James has a couple of punches blocked by Barbaros.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for James.
James dodges an elbow strike from Barbaros.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
James blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barbaros looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
James goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
James blocks the elbow strike.
A frustrated look appears on James's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barbaros prevents a body shot from James.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
Barbaros using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Barbaros lands an elbow inside that James shrugs off.

Caliph James's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

James moves into the clinch successfully.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A head punch on the inside from James fails to land.
James using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barbaros has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
James swings wildly with an uppercut but Barbaros uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice elbow from Barbaros.
Barbaros blocks a punch to the side of the head.
James looking to throw knees to the head but Barbaros is blocking nicely.
Barbaros with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
James lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
James makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
James scores with a shot to the side of Barbaros's head.
James is trying to break the clinch but Barbaros has him pressed against the cage.
James pushes Barbaros back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
James lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
James has a couple of punches blocked by Barbaros.
Barbaros tries to stall but James uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Barbaros throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
James throws a punch but it's blocked by Barbaros.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Caliph James will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Barbaros doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.

James moves into the clinch.
James swings wildly with an uppercut but Barbaros uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barbaros tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barbaros gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Barbaros creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
James misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barbaros lands an elbow inside.
Barbaros throws an elbow but it misses.
Barbaros gets underhooks to prevent James's takedown attempt.
James lands with a short shot to the head.
James doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James avoids the elbow strike from Barbaros, against the cage.
James scores with a nice hook to the head.
Barbaros blocks the elbow strike.
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
James throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barbaros blocks it with crossed arms.
James blocks an elbow strike from Barbaros.
Barbaros tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
James is trying to break the clinch but Barbaros is controlling him.
James pushes off an throws an elbow but Barbaros leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
James blocks an elbow strike from Barbaros.
Barbaros tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
James blocks the elbow strike.
James misses with the head strike.
Barbaros lands a damaging elbow.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Caliph James's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Eddie Barbaros!
Eddie Barbaros took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Devotion Energy Inc (Laundry)(Flights) for their support in the buildup to the fight.