PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aldo Barbados (ranked 1883 p4p, 83 weight class) and Balfour Darrow (ranked 2473 p4p, 117 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Barbados might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to What's It All For. Aldo Barbados had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 136.8lbs, 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. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Barbados
vs
Darrow

177 cm
33
150 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

166 cm
32
138 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aldo Barbados!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Balfour Darrow!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbados tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Darrow was well out of range. Poor timing from Barbados.
Darrow swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Darrow on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Barbados throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Darrow throws a nice looking combination but Barbados bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barbados went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Barbados keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barbados went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Darrow shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barbados sprawls well. Barbados wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Darrow gets slowly back to his feet.
Barbados tests Darrow's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darrow wants to slow Barbados down by chopping away at his legs.
Darrow tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barbados is looking for a counter combo.
Barbados avoids the body shot from Darrow.
Darrow misses with an uppercut. Barbados saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbados lands the left hand.
Barbados misses with the combination.
Darrow throws a quick inside leg kick.
Barbados missing with a left hand there. Darrow was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Darrow misses the shot to the body.
Darrow takes a swing at Barbados's ribcage but misses.
It appears Barbados was looking to counter with a kick there.
Barbados on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Barbados looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Darrow misses the jab.
Barbados seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Barbados looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Darrow fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Barbados looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Darrow is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Barbados rather than just go for the knockout.
Darrow cracks Barbados with an open hand slap.
Darrow stalks Barbados and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Barbados's face. Barbados staggers backwards, shaken.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Darrow lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Barbados backs up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Darrow.
Darrow with a hook.
Barbados rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Darrow counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Aldo Barbados is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Barbados finds it's way through Darrow's defenses.
Darrow misses with a jab, cross combination.
Darrow with a hook.
Barbados scores with a one two! Darrow had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Darrow connects with a nice looking jab.
Darrow avoids the head kick by Barbados.
Barbados takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Darrow misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barbados walks into a jab.
Darrow misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barbados.
Darrow bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Barbados's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbados closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Darrow fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barbados manages to avoid it.
Barbados is looking for a counter combo.
Darrow connects with a jab.
Barbados looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Barbados takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Darrow looks to land a left hand but Barbados moved out of range nicely.
Barbados throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barbados takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Barbados throws a right and a left that both miss.
Darrow lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barbados's sensitive parts.
Barbados throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Darrow pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barbados misses with an uppercut.
Darrow throws a counter combo.
Darrow scores with a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Darrow throws a body punch but Barbados moves out of range.
Darrow cracks Barbados with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbados defending well as Darrow loads up on a big left hand.
Barbados throws a series of punches but Darrow avoids them all with ease.
Barbados avoids the body shot from Darrow.
Darrow misses with a kick to the body.
Barbados displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Darrow throws out the jab.
Barbados keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Darrow.
Darrow scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Darrow lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Darrow scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Darrow misses with an uppercut. Barbados saw that one coming.
Barbados misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Barbados gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Darrow to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Barbados is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Balfour Darrow dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Barbados takes one to the chin there.
Darrow connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Darrow bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Darrow misses with a lunging right hand
and Barbados counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Darrow with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Darrow does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Darrow lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Darrow connects with a crisp jab.
A decent looking cross lands there for Darrow.
Barbados throws a good cross that connects.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Darrow tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barbados looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Barbados throws a shot from downtown. Darrow moves away and avoids it.
Barbados stuffs the takedown attempt from Darrow. Darrow gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbados moves out of range as Darrow strikes.
Balfour Darrow seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Darrow sizes up Barbados with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Darrow connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Darrow lunges at Barbados with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Barbados's hand.
Balfour Darrow seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Darrow throws a big shot that misses.
Barbados looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A nice combination there by Darrow.
Barbados looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Darrow catches Barbados with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Darrow has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Darrow throws a leg kick that misses.
Barbados tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barbados looks to land a left hand but Darrow moved out of range nicely.
Barbados will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barbados lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barbados throws a lazy right hand but Darrow sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Some wild striking there from Barbados.
Barbados's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Darrow connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barbados scrambles back to his feet.
Darrow misses with a straight right.
Nice shot by Darrow.
Barbados tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Darrow was well out of range. Poor timing from Barbados.
Darrow moves out of range of the strikes.
Barbados misses with a few strikes there.
Barbados moves out of range of the strikes.
An inside leg kick from Darrow misses.
A low kick from Darrow misses
and Barbados counters with a stiff right hand.
Barbados misses with a two punch combination.
Barbados will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darrow scores with a leg kick.
Darrow listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Darrow swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Barbados.
Darrow lands a really nice looking cross but Barbados seems unphased.
Barbados throws a jab when Darrow was well out of range.
Darrow lands a lovely overhand right.
Darrow throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Barbados pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Darrow looks to throw the jab but Barbados is out of range.
Darrow digs a good body shot into Barbados's ribs.
Darrow throws a head kick that misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Darrow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbados moves out of range as Darrow throws a body kick.
Darrow tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbados was well out of range. Poor timing from Darrow.
A counter left hand to the body from Barbados misses its target.
Barbados bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barbados avoids the body shot from Darrow.
Darrow moves out of range of the body kick from Barbados.
Barbados goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Darrow throws a leg kick which misses Barbados's front leg but catches the back leg as Barbados tries to avoid it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Darrow, right into the meat.
Aldo Barbados is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Darrow looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Darrow's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Barbados can't keep his opponent in guard - Darrow advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Barbados is looking to get back to full guard here but Darrow has managed to pass to side control instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Balfour Darrow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Barbados swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barbados thows a left - swing and a miss!
Darrow misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Some wild striking there from Barbados.
Barbados needs to keep his hands up - Darrow had a free shot at his head there.
Darrow throws a body punch but Barbados moves out of range.
It looked like Barbados was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Nice defenses there by Barbados.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbados scores with a jab to the jaw.
Barbados takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Barbados swings for the body but Darrow moves out of range.
Darrow throws a sloppy body shot
and Barbados counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barbados looks to land a left hand but Darrow moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbados throws a nice looking combination but Darrow bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Darrow feints the counter takedown.
Darrow throws a series of punches but Barbados avoids them all with ease.
Barbados went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Darrow fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barbados manages to avoid it.
Darrow connects with a leg kick. Barbados looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Darrow pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barbados bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Darrow scores with a kick to the midsection.
Barbados is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Darrow lands with a good body shot.
Barbados misses with a two punch combination.
Barbados ducks under a wild hook from Darrow.
A jab from Barbados does it's job there.
Barbados throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Darrow throws a left and a right that both miss
and Barbados counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Darrow swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbados fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Darrow looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Darrow delivers a nice body kick.
Barbados avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barbados avoids a kick to the body.
Barbados went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Darrow uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barbados.

Darrow shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Barbados is trying to stand.
Darrow is pressing down on Barbados's thigh, looking to free his foot. Barbados is holding on for now.
Darrow is stalling here. Barbados is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Darrow seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Barbados has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Balfour Darrow has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darrow gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Darrow works his way to full guard. Good work.
Darrow is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Darrow moves into full mount! Barbados won't be happy about that!
Balfour Darrow is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Barbados is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Darrow tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Darrow's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darrow is continuing to stall.
Aldo Barbados has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Balfour Darrow.
Well Darrow 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Balfour Darrow!
A victorious Balfour Darrow thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.