PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Buford Barnes (ranked 24726 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Joy Virtudazo (ranked 4177 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Barnes
vs
Joy Virtudazo

203 cm
18
161 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

168 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Buford Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ian Joy Virtudazo!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Igor Prikhodko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virtudazo tries for a takedown but Barnes circles away easily
letting Barnes counter with a right hand.
Barnes scores with a head kick. Virtudazo tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Virtudazo misses with a takedown attempt
and Barnes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Virtudazo has his takedown stuffed
and Barnes counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Virtudazo is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Buford Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ian Joy Virtudazo.

Virtudazo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Virtudazo is looking for a kimura but Barnes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Virtudazo to get the leverage.

Virtudazo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Barnes sees it coming and defends easily.

Barnes kicks Virtudazo off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtudazo takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Virtudazo tries for a takedown but Barnes circles away easily
and Barnes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barnes throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Virtudazo.
Barnes digs a good hook to Virtudazo's body.
Barnes scores with a head kick. Virtudazo tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Barnes plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Virtudazo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Barnes to the ground. Virtudazo is now in Barnes's guard.
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!
Virtudazo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes wants to sweep but no luck.
Virtudazo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Virtudazo trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Virtudazo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Virtudazo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Virtudazo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Barnes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Virtudazo kicks Barnes off and gets back to his feet.
Barnes jabs Virtudazo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Virtudazo misses with a takedown attempt - Barnes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtudazo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Barnes counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Barnes scores with a head kick. Virtudazo tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Virtudazo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Barnes counters with a head kick. That will keep Virtudazo thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Virtudazo misses with a takedown attempt
and Barnes counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Barnes is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Virtudazo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Barnes's guard.

Barnes is looking for a triangle but Virtudazo pushes his legs off easily.
Barnes is breathing heavily.
Barnes keeping moving, preventing Virtudazo from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtudazo's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Virtudazo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Virtudazo wants to pass the guard but Barnes is keeping the position.
Barnes keeping moving, preventing Virtudazo from controlling successfully.
Barnes wants to sweep here but Virtudazo controlling him for the moment.
Virtudazo works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Barnes is defending against the submission attempts here by Virtudazo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Virtudazo is looking to advance position but Barnes won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buford Barnes dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Virtudazo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Barnes's guard.
Barnes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Barnes is looking to stand up but Virtudazo isn't so interested in that idea.
Barnes wants to sweep here but Virtudazo controlling him for the moment.
Virtudazo trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Barnes manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Virtudazo wants to get back to his feet but Barnes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes throwing strikes but missing.
Virtudazo wants to stand up but Barnes is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Barnes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barnes stops Virtudazo from standing up.
Virtudazo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Virtudazo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Barnes scoring with some ground and pound.
Virtudazo wants to get back to his feet but Barnes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ian Joy Virtudazo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barnes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barnes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Virtudazo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Virtudazo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Barnes is trying to defend but Virtudazo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnes is defending against the submission attempts here by Virtudazo.
Virtudazo wants to free his trapped foot but Barnes is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Virtudazo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Virtudazo jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Barnes is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Barnes and Virtudazo has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Virtudazo tries for a kimura but Barnes is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Virtudazo trying to control the action but Barnes is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virtudazo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Virtudazo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Barnes, who protects the arm well.
Barnes tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

Virtudazo goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Barnes rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Virtudazo's guard! Nice work there by Barnes!
Virtudazo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Virtudazo wants to get back to his feet but Barnes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Barnes throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtudazo wants to stand and escape but Barnes is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Virtudazo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Barnes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Barnes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Virtudazo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barnes trying to control but Virtudazo is working from the bottom.

Virtudazo scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Virtudazo but Virtudazo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Virtudazo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Virtudazo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barnes's waist but Barnes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Virtudazo off to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ian Joy Virtudazo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barnes throws a shot to the body.
Barnes throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Virtudazo.
Virtudazo has his takedown stuffed
and Barnes counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Virtudazo is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Barnes goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Virtudazo gets a takedown into half guard.
Virtudazo prevents Barnes from improving his position.
Barnes is not content to let Virtudazo control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtudazo stops Barnes from getting back to his feet.

Virtudazo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barnes is just riding it out for now. Virtudazo eventually gives up the hold.
Barnes tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Barnes is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Virtudazo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Barnes defends it well.
Barnes is looking for a sweep. Virtudazo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Virtudazo wants to pass to mount but Barnes is defending the position.
Virtudazo controlling the pace.
Barnes punching from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Virtudazo trying to control the action but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Barnes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Virtudazo can do to turn this around?

Virtudazo seems to be working for a kimura but Barnes defends the submission attempt.
Virtudazo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Virtudazo trying to pass the guard but Barnes defending well.
Virtudazo uses his free foot to push down on Barnes's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Barnes.
Barnes is working to get back to half guard.

Virtudazo looking to secure an arm triangle but Barnes defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is trying to escape the mount.

Virtudazo has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Barnes is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ian Joy Virtudazo!