PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Keke Kivi (ranked 164 p4p, 579 weight class) and Lucas Barbosa (ranked 22 p4p, 85 weight class). Lucas Barbosa told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kivi
vs
Barbosa

195 cm
25
190
9 - 1 - 0

178 cm
27
190
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Beachside Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Keke Kivi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lucas Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kivi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barbosa.
Kivi connects with a looping right hand.
Kivi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kivi misses with a looping right.
Barbosa feints the counter takedown.
Kivi cracks Barbosa with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Barbosa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
It looked like Kivi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbosa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kivi.
Barbosa tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kivi throws a jab when Barbosa was well out of range.
Kivi scores with a decent looking hook.
Barbosa has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Kivi.

It looks like Lucas Barbosa has been cut.
Nice sprawl there from Kivi as Barbosa shoots in.
Barbosa throws a shot from downtown. Kivi moves away and avoids it.
Barbosa scores with a nice head shot.
Barbosa takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kivi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Barbosa shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Barbosa takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kivi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kivi throws a looping overhand right but Barbosa ducks down to avoid it.
Kivi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kivi is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Barbosa slips under a jab from Kivi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kivi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barbosa ducks under a wild hook from Kivi.
Kivi lands a jab to the head.
Barbosa cracks Kivi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Barbosa misses with a takedown attempt - Kivi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Keke Kivi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Barbosa.
Kivi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barbosa. Barbosa circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kivi is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kivi is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kivi cracks Barbosa with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd cheers as Kivi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Barbosa doesn't seem phased though.
Kivi throws a good cross that connects.
A jab from Kivi misses.
Barbosa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barbosa changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Barbosa slips a jab from Kivi.
Kivi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barbosa.
Kivi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Nice defenses there by Barbosa.
Barbosa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kivi misses with a straight left.
A swing and a miss from Kivi.
Kivi misses with a hook.
Keke Kivi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kivi pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Barbosa back to the cage. Kivi follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Barbosa connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kivi's hands.
Kivi misses with an uppercut. Barbosa saw that one coming.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Keke Kivi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lucas Barbosa's cut.
That's time! Kivi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Good shot there by Kivi.
Barbosa throws a hook but Kivi avoids it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Kivi misses the target.
Barbosa shoots in for a takedown but Kivi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kivi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Barbosa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Donk. Barbosa catches Kivi right on the button with a cross.
Barbosa slips a jab from Kivi.
Barbosa with the counter takedown but Kivi avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Barbosa misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kivi misses with a hook.
Barbosa changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Barbosa fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa misses with an uppercut.
Kivi misses the jab.
Kivi throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Barbosa on the side of the head.
Barbosa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kivi.
Kivi lands a jab to the nose.
Kivi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And Barbosa tries to counter it with a takedown but Kivi pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Barbosa loads up on a big right hand but Kivi slips the punch.
Kivi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kivi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kivi loads up on a big right hand but Barbosa slips the punch.
Nice takedown defense from Kivi. No joy for Barbosa on that attempt.
Keke Kivi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Barbosa.
Kivi thows a left - swing and a miss!
A decent looking cross lands there for Barbosa.
Barbosa moves away from the strike by Kivi.
Kivi throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Barbosa counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kivi!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Barbosa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kivi, who protects the arm well.

Barbosa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kivi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barbosa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Barbosa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kivi is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Island project, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

Barbosa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kivi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kivi is not content to let Barbosa control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barbosa on the ground.
Barbosa lands a decent elbow from side control.
Barbosa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kivi keeps working.
Kivi is trying to control Barbosa's posture but Barbosa avoids it.
Kivi managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Barbosa.

Barbosa is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Kivi looks calm but he's in trouble here. Barbosa gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Kivi is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Barbosa lets go of the hold and Kivi can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Lucas Barbosa!
Lucas Barbosa is the new middleweight champion!