PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Caio Barbosa (ranked 1877 p4p, 206 weight class) and Thip Top (ranked 5111 p4p, 406 weight class). Thip Top has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barbosa
vs
Top

163 cm
20
145 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
155 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Caio Barbosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Thip Top!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Top pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barbosa attempts a counter takedown but Top avoids it well and moves away.

Top gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Barbosa gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barbosa controlling the pace.
Top tries to get to full guard but Barbosa has control of the leg.
Barbosa wants to take a breather but Top is having none of it.
Barbosa trying to pass the guard but Top defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Barbosa connects with a nice short shot to Top's temple.
Barbosa trying to control the action but Top is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barbosa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Top defends it well.
Barbosa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Top preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Top is trying to stand up here but Barbosa is controlling him well.

Barbosa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Barbosa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Barbosa wants to take a breather but Top is having none of it.
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.
Top is looking for a sweep. Barbosa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barbosa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Barbosa moves nicely into side control.
Barbosa wants to control but Top is keeping him busy.
We've been hearing that Barbosa has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Top struggling a bit here.
Top prevents Barbosa from improving position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Top is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Barbosa cracks Top with a big elbow.
Top has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Top wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Top is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Barbosa throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Top dodges the ground and pound from Barbosa.
Top is looking for a sweep.
Top managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Barbosa.
Top managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Barbosa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Top takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Barbosa wants to control but Top is keeping him busy.
Barbosa connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Top some visible discomfort.
Top wants to control but Barbosa postures up.
Top wants to get back to his feet but Barbosa drags him back down.
Top parries the strikes from Barbosa easily there. Barbosa is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Top to escape.
An elbow from Barbosa crashes against the mat.
Barbosa in side control lands a decent elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barbosa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Top keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caio Barbosa dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Top fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Top looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Top misses with a head kick.
Top tries to clinch but Barbosa moves out of range.
Barbosa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Top has managed to clinch.
Barbosa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Top prevents it.
Top trying to control the position but instead, Barbosa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Top into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Barbosa gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Top regains guard.
Barbosa throwing strikes from guard but Top blocks nicely.
Barbosa wants to control from the top but Top keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Top is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Barbosa stands and throws Top's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Top regains half guard, as Barbosa was trying to land strikes.
Barbosa lands strikes from half guard.
Barbosa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Top keeps working.

Barbosa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Top has hold of Barbosa's hands but Barbosa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Barbosa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barbosa content to control rather than advance.
Top is trying to stand.
Barbosa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa winds up and cracks Top with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Top keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Barbosa controlling the action here.

Top is defending against the submission attempts here by Barbosa.
Top avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Barbosa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Top wants to get back to full guard.
Barbosa is just content to waste time from the top position. Top takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Barbosa passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Barbosa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Barbosa throwing strikes but Top manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barbosa struggling a bit here.
Barbosa is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caio Barbosa dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Top rushes Barbosa and presses him up against the cage.
Barbosa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Top smiles and moves away.
Top tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barbosa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barbosa blocks a head kick by Top.
Top wants to clinch.
Barbosa attempts a counter takedown but Top avoids it well and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Top moves to clinch but Barbosa breaks away

and Barbosa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Top wants to control but Barbosa is keeping busy.
Barbosa uses his free foot to push down on Top's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Top.
Top gets back to half guard.
Barbosa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Top does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Barbosa with the ground and pound but Top uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Barbosa lands a couple of digs.
Barbosa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barbosa lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Barbosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Top is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thip Top has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barbosa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Barbosa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Top is trying to get back to full guard.
Barbosa wants to pass to mount but Top is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Top wants to get back to full guard.
Barbosa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Barbosa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Top tries to kick Barbosa off but Barbosa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Barbosa misses with a head shot. Top uses the momentum to regain guard.
Barbosa passes Top's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Barbosa wants to work for an arm triangle but Top is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Top on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Barbosa landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Barbosa prevents Top from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barbosa sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Barbosa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Top is doing well to control the position and prevent Barbosa from advancing to side control.
Caio Barbosa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barbosa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caio Barbosa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barbosa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caio Barbosa!
Caio Barbosa was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.