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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Hightower (ranked 133 p4p, 203 weight class) and Bento Barboza (ranked 23 p4p, 32 weight class). Hightower's entrance music is The Power. A fine choice. Barboza has chosen Angel Of Death as his entrance music. 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?
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| 207 cm
25
242
20 - 2 - 0 |
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190 cm
25
265
19 - 4 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jason Hightower!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bento Barboza!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Colin Fotheringham and Phil Schofield.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That kick from Hightower tenderised Barboza's leg. Barboza is trying to keep his angry face on.
Barboza throws a push kick but Hightower slaps the foot to one side.
Barboza has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Nice body punch from Hightower.
Barboza connects with a body shot.
A clash of legs there as Barboza blocks the low kick.
Barboza throws out a counter right but Hightower avoids it with no problem.
Hightower stuns Barboza with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hightower misses with an uppercut
and Barboza makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barboza lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Barboza attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Barboza lands a jab to the head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barboza moves away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Barboza! But no joy.
Barboza misses with a left hand
and Hightower counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Jason Hightower seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hightower throws a nice head kick!
It looks like Bento Barboza has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hightower. Barboza does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barboza throws out a counter right but Hightower avoids it with no problem.
Nice defenses there by Barboza.
Hightower throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Barboza's head.
Hightower misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hightower throws a hook to the side of Barboza's head but Barboza sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower just misses with a punch to the body.
Barboza tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hightower throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hightower fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Barboza listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hightower misses with a body punch
and Barboza counters with a nice leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hightower thows a leg kick but Barboza checks it
and Barboza holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Barboza lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hightower backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Hightower.
Hightower escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hightower scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hightower scores with a jab to the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barboza closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Barboza scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hightower is looking to wear down Barboza with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Barboza takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Barboza swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hightower defending well as Barboza loads up on a big left hand.
Hightower is looking to counter with head kicks.
Jab, jab by Hightower - just one landing.
Hightower throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Barboza steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Hightower.
A big right from Barboza misses.
Hightower is looking to counter with head kicks.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Hightower, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hightower wants to land a leg kick but Barboza is out of range.
Hightower thows a leg kick but Barboza checks it
and Barboza counters with a straight right hand.
Barboza throws a wild body kick that Hightower sees coming a mile off.
Hightower looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Barboza lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hightower clobbers Barboza with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hightower.
Barboza jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Jason Hightower 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.
Barboza throws the left hand but Hightower avoids the punch easily.
Hightower connects with a leg kick.
Barboza is looking to land body kicks.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hightower.
Hightower connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barboza. Barboza circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Barboza just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower catches Barboza with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Barboza takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hightower is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barboza can do to turn this around?
Hightower scores with a leg kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower slips a straight right by Barboza.
Nice jab there from Hightower.
Barboza looks to throw the jab but Hightower is out of range.
Hightower moves out of range of the strikes.
Hightower scoring well with a low kick there.
Barboza is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hightower pushes Barboza away with a front kick.
Hightower throws a head kick that misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barboza uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hightower.
Barboza appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Hightower fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Barboza has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Barboza tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hightower pushes Barboza away with a front kick.
Barboza slips under a jab from Hightower.
Barboza tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hightower takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barboza tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Hightower wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hightower swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barboza now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hightower fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barboza manages to avoid it.
Barboza takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hightower throws a right hand that misses
and Barboza counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hightower is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Barboza fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hightower is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Barboza ducks under a wild hook from Hightower.
Barboza digs a good hook to Hightower's body.
Hightower digs a good hook to Barboza's body.
Hightower lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barboza.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Barboza! But no joy.
Hightower misses with a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Barboza.
Barboza blocks a jab.
Hightower checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hightower fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hightower throws a good cross that connects.
Barboza tries to land a front kick but Hightower steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Jason Hightower dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bento Barboza's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Barboza swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hightower fires out a quick counter leg kick but Barboza just manages to avoid it.
Hightower keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hightower throws a leg kick which misses Barboza's front leg but catches the back leg as Barboza tries to avoid it.
Hightower takes a swing at Barboza's ribcage but misses.
Barboza replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Hightower blocks it well.
Hightower misses the shot to the body.
Barboza throws a leg kick but Hightower moved away.
Jason Hightower is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barboza misses with a body shot.
And Hightower counters with a quick kick to the body but Barboza blocks it.
Barboza with a nice calf kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barboza.
Hightower with the inside leg kick.
A low kick lands for Hightower.
Barboza chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hightower throws a leg kick that is checked
and Barboza counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barboza throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hightower lands with a hook. Barboza tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Barboza takes a swing at Hightower's ribcage but misses.
Hightower looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
You can see that Barboza has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Barboza 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The fighters circling - Barboza throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Barboza has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hightower finds it's way round the side to connect with Barboza's head.
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!
A low kick from Barboza is predictable there
and Hightower connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hightower tries to move into range but Barboza moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Barboza misses with a wild body shot.
Hightower is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hightower scores with a hook.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barboza misses with a low kick as Hightower jumps back.
And Hightower counters with a quick kick to the body but Barboza blocks it.
Hightower looks to land a body kick but Barboza moved away.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hightower.
Hightower connects with a solid leg kick.
Barboza walks into a left hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hightower.
Hightower lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hightower throws a lazy right hand but Barboza sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Hightower.
Barboza misses with a wild body shot.
Barboza on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hightower lunges at Barboza with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Barboza's hand.
Barboza tries to score with a low kick but Hightower moves his leg out of the way.
Hightower is looking to counter punch.
Barboza has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hightower takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A jab from Hightower misses.
Barboza is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Barboza misses the jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Jason Hightower clearly takes 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.
Barboza chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hightower can pounce on him.
Hightower takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Barboza lands a jab.
Hightower cracks Barboza with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Barboza - that will leave a mark!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower takes a swing at Barboza's ribcage but misses.
Barboza takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Barboza lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hightower takes a step back to recover.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Barboza throws a chopping leg kick but Hightower manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Hightower half committed to a counter leg kick.
Hightower displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barboza throws out the jab.
Hightower throws a counter high kick but Barboza was just alert enough to avoid it.
Barboza misses with a low kick.
Barboza swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hightower counters with a stiff right hand.
Hightower throws out a loose jab but Barboza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barboza is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Barboza lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hightower's sensitive parts.
Hightower throws a leg kick but Barboza moved away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower scores with a nice strike.
Barboza waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hightower.
Barboza misses with a left hand
and Hightower counters with a stiff right hand.
Hightower dips to his left and cracks Barboza with an uppercut!
Hightower throws a lazy head kick
letting Barboza counter with a right hand.
Barboza misses with a body punch
and Hightower counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hightower swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Hightower.
Barboza keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hightower.
Barboza steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Hightower bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like Hightower was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Barboza's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Barboza lands a glancing blow to the side of Hightower's head.
Barboza avoids the head kick by Hightower.
Barboza just misses with a punch to the body.
Hightower throws a chopping leg kick but Barboza manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Barboza swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hightower misses with a hook. Barboza ducked under it nicely.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barboza missing with a left hand there. Hightower was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A low kick from Barboza misses
and Hightower counters with a good low kick that Barboza was not able to check.
Hightower looks for the body kick but Barboza saw that one coming.
Barboza swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hightower smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice shot by Hightower.
Barboza keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hightower.
Barboza swings widly with a right hand
letting Hightower counter with a right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Jason Hightower had his way with Bento Barboza in that round.
The cut man is working on Bento Barboza's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
Hightower dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Barboza fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hightower manages to avoid it.
Barboza smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Barboza takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hightower defending well as Barboza loads up on a big left hand.
A little feinted left hand from Hightower on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower lands with a kick to the temple. Barboza shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Hightower tries to score with a low kick but Barboza moves his leg out of the way.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Barboza! But no joy.
Hightower smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barboza's sensitive parts.
Nice straight punches there by Hightower. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hightower.
Barboza uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hightower.
Hightower steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barboza.
Hightower fires out a quick counter leg kick but Barboza just manages to avoid it.
Barboza throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hightower sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Barboza moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hightower scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jason Hightower is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower scoring well with a low kick there.
Barboza swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hightower lands a slapping body shot.
Hightower throws a leg kick but Barboza sees it coming and moves out of range.
Barboza appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Hightower with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Barboza is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hightower. That's going to slow Barboza down.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hightower.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hightower.
Hightower throws a good cross that connects.
Hightower with a nice calf kick.
Good exchange - Barboza coming out on top.
Barboza bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hightower just misses with a punch to the body.
Hightower uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barboza.
Hightower throwing a counter right hand but Barboza manages to avoid it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hightower takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hightower bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Barboza looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hightower ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hightower just misses with a punch to the body.
Hightower moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Hightower showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hightower, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 50:45
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 50:45
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 50:45
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Hightower!
Jason Hightower retains his heavyweight title!
Jason Hightower thanked the fans post fight for their support.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
49% |
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