PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zahbit Lovanov (ranked 7 p4p, 85 weight class) and Bento Barboza (ranked 1 p4p, 5 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Barboza's choice of entrance music: Angel Of Death. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Lovanov
vs
Barboza

199 cm
27
265
19 - 6 - 1

190 cm
27
265
24 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
PWNAGE™

HELLBENT
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zahbit Lovanov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bento Barboza!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lovanov lands with a right hand.

It looks like Bento Barboza has been cut.
A lazy left from Barboza finds it's target.
Lovanov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Barboza tries to score with a low kick but Lovanov moves his leg out of the way.
As Barboza looks to move away, Lovanov throws a big counter combo but Barboza just gets out of the way.
Barboza throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Barboza swings for the body but Lovanov moves out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Lovanov as he connects with a hook.
Lovanov throws a jab when Barboza was well out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lovanov lands a really nice looking cross but Barboza seems unphased.
Barboza throws a leg kick that is checked

and Lovanov counters with a shoot takedown into half 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!
Lovanov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barboza does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lovanov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovanov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lovanov wants to control but Barboza is keeping him busy.
Lovanov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barboza taking some punishment here, with Lovanov in his half guard.
Lovanov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nice strikes from Lovanov there.
Barboza keeping hold of Lovanov's head, controlling as best he can.
Lovanov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovanov not doing much here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lovanov wants to pass the guard but Barboza is defending well.
Lovanov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lovanov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lovanov thows a huge punch but Barboza dodges it nicely.
Lovanov is trying to control. Barboza wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Barboza trying to control but Lovanov postures up.
Lovanov stalling.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lovanov working over Barboza with some ground and pound. Barboza looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Lovanov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barboza defending well though.
Barboza is positioning himself well to prevent Lovanov advancing to mount.
Lovanov is taking a breather. Barboza says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Barboza lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lovanov throws a lazy uppercut
and Lovanov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lovanov lands a nice hook to Barboza's body. Barboza takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Barboza lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lovanov's sensitive parts.
Barboza tries to work over Lovanov's front leg with a kick but Lovanov checks it.
Lovanov throws a jab when Barboza was well out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lovanov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barboza.
Lovanov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lovanov avoids the body shot from Barboza.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zahbit Lovanov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bento Barboza's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lovanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lovanov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barboza.
Lovanov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barboza can do to turn this around?
Lovanov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barboza was well out of range. Poor timing from Lovanov.
Lovanov missing with a left hand there. Barboza was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barboza swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Lovanov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Barboza counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Zahbit Lovanov has been cut.
Zahbit Lovanov is winning the standup battle so far.
Barboza misses the shot to the body.
Lovanov looks to score with a jab to the body but Barboza is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lovanov lands the left hand.
Lovanov fails to land with a series of punches.
Barboza fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lovanov manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barboza ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lovanov moves away.
Lovanov throws a lazy right hand but Barboza sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barboza throws a quick inside leg kick.
Barboza gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lovanov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barboza manages to avoid it.
Barboza takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lovanov throws a jab when Barboza was well out of range.
Barboza flicks out a counter leg kick but Lovanov steps away.
Lovanov lands a body shot.
Lovanov swings widly with a right hand
and Barboza connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovanov throws out a powerful jab.
Zahbit Lovanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lovanov misses with a shot to the body
and Barboza counters with a nice body kick.
Lovanov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Barboza connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lovanov scrambles back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barboza fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Lovanov is out of range.
Barboza defending well as Lovanov loads up on a big left hand.
Barboza tries a quick counter leg kick but Lovanov is wise to it.
Barboza takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The fighters circling - Lovanov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Barboza walks into a stiff left hand from Lovanov.
Barboza keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lovanov.
Barboza blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lovanov throws an off balance right hand
letting Barboza counter with a right hand.
Decent striking displayed by Lovanov there.
Lovanov lands a body shot.
Lovanov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barboza manages to avoid it.
Lovanov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Barboza counters with a nice leg kick.
Lovanov swings widly with a right hand
and Barboza counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lovanov throws a one two combo.
A big right from Lovanov misses.
Barboza swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lovanov swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Barboza counter with a right hand.
Lovanov works Barboza's body with a nice hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good exchange - Lovanov coming out on top.
Lovanov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Barboza jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Barboza thows a left - swing and a miss!
Barboza steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lovanov.
Barboza displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lovanov throws out the jab.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lovanov feints and as Barboza raises his hands in defense, Lovanov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zahbit Lovanov dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Lovanov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Barboza's head.
Barboza lands an overhand right.
Barboza looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A counter left hand to the body from Lovanov misses its target.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Barboza, as that shot connected.
Lovanov connects with a nice looking jab.
Lovanov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Donk. Barboza catches Lovanov right on the button with a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lovanov misses with a looping left.
Lovanov throws a combination that misses
and Barboza counters with a nice leg kick.
Barboza scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Barboza misses.
Lovanov scores with a jab. Barboza acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lovanov scores with a jab. Barboza acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Barboza checks a leg kick.
Barboza misses with a jab to the body
and Lovanov counters with a stiff right hand.
Barboza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lovanov.
Lovanov misses with a right hand
and Barboza counters with a nice body kick.
Lovanov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Barboza at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovanov lands with a right hand.
Barboza staying out of range there.
Barboza feints a counter leg kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Barboza - that will leave a mark!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lovanov misses with a hook to the body
and Barboza counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barboza throws a big shot that misses.
Barboza is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lovanov.
Lovanov jabs Barboza to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Barboza ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lovanov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Barboza is able to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Lovanov.
A cross from Barboza lands.
Barboza swings away with a leg kick that misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Lovanov misses the target.
Lovanov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice defenses there by Lovanov.
Lovanov swings for the body but Barboza moves out of range.
Barboza throws a good cross that connects.
Lovanov throws a hook but Barboza blocks it.
Barboza looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barboza misses with a body kick.
It looked like Lovanov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Barboza slips under a jab from Lovanov.
Lovanov misses with an uppercut
and Barboza counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barboza swings for the body but Lovanov moves out of range.
Lovanov thuds his right hand into Barboza's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Lovanov throws a body punch but Barboza moves out of range.
Lovanov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
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!
Barboza uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lovanov.
Lovanov misses with an uppercut
and Barboza counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Bento Barboza just about did enough to take it.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Barboza takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Lovanov throws a combination that misses
and Barboza counters with a straight right hand.
Lovanov is looking to chop away at Barboza's legs.
Barboza looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barboza jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Barboza lands a really nice looking cross but Lovanov seems unphased.
Lovanov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lovanov misses with a right hand
and Barboza counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lovanov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barboza throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barboza throws an overhand right that drops Lovanov like a sack of potatoes! Barboza dives in to finish the fight with more strikes and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:09 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bento Barboza!
Bento Barboza is the new super heavyweight champion!
A relieved looking Bento Barboza thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.