PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Barcos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kobe Bryant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kobe Bryant will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Barcos
vs
Bryant

165 cm
19
183 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

192 cm
20
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nicolas Barcos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kobe Bryant!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Bryant finds it's way through Barcos's defenses.

Bryant drops Barcos with a left and a right! Oh, Barcos is hurt - Bryant dives into side control looking to finish!

It looks like Nicolas Barcos has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barcos misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Barcos is trying to get back to half guard.

Bryant is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Barcos has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bryant wants to stand but Barcos is controlling his arm.
Barcos 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.
Barcos tries to improve position but can't.
Bryant controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barcos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bryant trying to control the position but Barcos is working away.
Barcos is trying to get back to half guard.
Barcos throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Barcos tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Barcos is working hard here to advance position.
Barcos sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barcos is trying to get back to full guard.
Bryant is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barcos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barcos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bryant sprawls well. Bryant wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barcos gets slowly back to his feet.

Barcos looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barcos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bryant moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Bryant looking for a guillotine here but Barcos defends easily.
We've been hearing good reports from Barcos's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Barcos passes Bryant's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Barcos thows a huge punch but Bryant dodges it nicely.
Barcos wants to pass the guard but Bryant is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Barcos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bryant blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barcos.
Bryant blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barcos.
Barcos not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barcos wants to pass to mount but Bryant is defending the position.
Barcos lands strikes from half guard.
Bryant keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barcos throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Barcos sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bryant defending well though.
Barcos seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kobe Bryant dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nicolas Barcos's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bryant slaps away a takedown attempt from Barcos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bryant slaps away a takedown attempt from Barcos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Barcos shoots and misses

so Bryant counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicolas Barcos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barcos looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Bryant puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Bryant tries to stand but can't do so whilst Barcos controls his leg.
Bryant is trying to control the action in half guard but Barcos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barcos slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barcos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bryant manages to get himself to full guard.

Bryant looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bryant has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barcos with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bryant utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bryant utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barcos won't allow Bryant to sweep him here.
Barcos throws an elbow that misses. Bryant uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barcos's guard. Nice move by Bryant!

Barcos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bryant must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bryant trying to control but Barcos is working from the bottom.
Barcos being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barcos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bryant slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Barcos.
Barcos strikes from the bottom but Bryant passes into mount!
Bryant prevents Barcos from getting the reversal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Barcos working to try and regain half guard.
Barcos throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Barcos is trying desperately to improve position.
Bryant is looking to stand but Bryant has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barcos is trying to escape the mount.
Barcos is squirming around, avoiding Bryant's attempts to control the action.
Barcos is wriggling around trying to escape.
Barcos might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Bryant working for a guillotine from mount but Barcos is in no mood to give up.
Barcos tries to improve his position but instead Bryant has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kobe Bryant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nicolas Barcos's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Barcos shoots in for a takedown but Bryant shows good takedown defense.
Barcos is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bryant sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Barcos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bryant's waist but Bryant gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barcos off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicolas Barcos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barcos.
Barcos will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bryant lands the left hand.
Bryant closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Bryant thuds a left hand into Barcos's body.
Bryant has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Barcos is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Barcos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Bryant decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barcos's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bryant passes Barcos's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Bryant is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Barcos sees it coming and defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barcos is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Bryant jumps into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bryant working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bryant has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Barcos is looking to improve his position but Bryant isn't that keen on the idea.
Barcos slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Barcos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant is controlling the pace.
Barcos works his way to full guard. Good work.
Barcos has a closed guard, preventing Bryant from standing up.
Bryant content to stall in guard here.
Nicolas Barcos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bryant slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Barcos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barcos tries to get to full guard but Bryant has control of the leg.

Bryant is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barcos is just riding it out for now. Bryant eventually gives up the hold.
Kobe Bryant is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bryant is trying to control the action in half guard but Barcos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Barcos is trying to get back to full guard.
Barcos flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Bryant perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Barcos throws a lazy uppercut

and Bryant counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Barcos actively working from the bottom here.
Barcos wants to improve his position but Bryant is controlling well.
Barcos throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barcos throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Barcos is in trouble now - Bryant has advanced to mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kobe Bryant comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bryant 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kobe Bryant!