PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rico Van-Plant (ranked 1360 p4p, 581 weight class) and Baldomir Barbosa (ranked 191 p4p, 82 weight class). Barbosa has chosen Unfaithful as his entrance music. Baldomir Barbosa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Van-Plant
vs
Barbosa

183 cm
25
174
8 - 7 - 0

185 cm
30
186
20 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Tiger Balls

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Rico Van-Plant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Baldomir Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van-Plant moves away from the strike by Barbosa.
We've been informed that Barbosa has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Barbosa lands with a straight right. Van-Plant didn't see that one coming.
Van-Plant slips a jab from Barbosa.
Van-Plant shoots and misses
and Barbosa counters with a nice body shot.
Barbosa throws a looping overhand right but Van-Plant ducks down to avoid it.
Van-Plant has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Van-Plant throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Barbosa tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Van-Plant is in Barbosa's guard.
Van-Plant slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Barbosa is looking for a sweep.

Van-Plant goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Barbosa has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Van-Plant but great work by Barbosa.
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!

Barbosa decides to stand back up. Barbosa steps back and let's Van-Plant get back to his feet.
Van-Plant keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barbosa.
Van-Plant misses with a takedown
and Barbosa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van-Plant has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rico Van-Plant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van-Plant shoots in for a double leg but Barbosa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No luck for Van-Plant with that takedown attempt.
A countering left hand to the body from Barbosa misses.
Van-Plant closes the distance and clinches up with Barbosa, looking for a takedown. Van-Plant pushes Barbosa against the cage but Barbosa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Van-Plant shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barbosa let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Barbosa lands with an overhand left.

It looks like Rico Van-Plant has been cut.
Van-Plant misses with a takedown attempt
and Barbosa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barbosa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Van-Plant.
Barbosa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa lands with a nice body punch.
Van-Plant wants to clinch
and Van-Plant takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Barbosa leaves Van-Plant with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Van-Plant tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barbosa defends well and Van-Plant ends up having to push Barbosa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Barbosa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Van-Plant tries for a takedown. No joy.
Barbosa pushes Van-Plant back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Barbosa struggles to land a body shot inside as Van-Plant controls his hands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Barbosa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van-Plant with a lazy takedown attempt
and Barbosa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Van-Plant is breathing heavily.
Barbosa cracks Van-Plant with a good jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rico Van-Plant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van-Plant bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice shot by Barbosa.
Van-Plant shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barbosa sprawls well. Barbosa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Van-Plant gets slowly back to his feet.
Barbosa misses with a hook.
Van-Plant feinted with a counter takedown.
Van-Plant uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Barbosa.
Van-Plant goes for a double leg but Barbosa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barbosa continues to drive forward.
Barbosa appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Van-Plant has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Barbosa avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Barbosa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Barbosa lands a shoulder strike.
Van-Plant is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Barbosa.
Barbosa gets underhooks to prevent Van-Plant's takedown attempt.

Barbosa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barbosa misses with a straight left.
Barbosa lands with a straight right. Van-Plant didn't see that one coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van-Plant slips a straight right by Barbosa.
Van-Plant misses with a takedown attempt
and Barbosa counters with a straight right hand.
Van-Plant fails to land the takedown.
Van-Plant 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.
Nice sprawl there from Barbosa as Van-Plant shoots in.
Barbosa stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Van-Plant shoots in and drives through. Barbosa sprawls well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Baldomir Barbosa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rico Van-Plant's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Van-Plant looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Baldomir Barbosa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Van-Plant swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Barbosa counters with a left to the body.
Van-Plant shoots in and drives through. Barbosa sprawls well.
Van-Plant doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Barbosa counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rico Van-Plant. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Barbosa lands a big right hand that sends Van-Plant crashing to the mat! Barbosa stays standing though and waves Van-Plant back to his feet!

Van-Plant is rocked!
Barbosa throws a lazy right hand but Van-Plant sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Oh Van-Plant is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbosa slaps away a takedown attempt from Van-Plant, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Barbosa throws out a counter right but Van-Plant avoids it with no problem.
Van-Plant seems to have got his legs back now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van-Plant tries for a takedown but Barbosa circles away easily

and Barbosa counters with a nice right hand that sends Van-Plant toppling to the canvas! Van-Plant scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Barbosa finish him?!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van-Plant fails with a takedown attempt.
Barbosa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Van-Plant finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Barbosa! But no joy.
Barbosa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Van-Plant sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A jab from Barbosa misses.
A low kick from Van-Plant is predictable there
and Barbosa counters with a stiff right hand.
Barbosa misses the jab.
Van-Plant feinted with a counter takedown.
Van-Plant staying out of range there.
Van-Plant misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Van-Plant changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barbosa tries to avoid it but Van-Plant manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barbosa to the ground. Barbosa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Barbosa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van-Plant uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barbosa.
Van-Plant shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Barbosa defends it nicely.
Barbosa stuffs the takedown.
Barbosa lands a nice shot to the body.
Van-Plant misses with a wild combination.
Van-Plant shoots and misses
letting Barbosa counter with a right hand.
Van-Plant has his takedown stuffed
and Barbosa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van-Plant uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Barbosa.
Van-Plant half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Van-Plant uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barbosa.
Van-Plant shoots and misses
and Barbosa counters with a nice uppercut.
Barbosa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Van-Plant with a lazy takedown attempt

and Barbosa counters with a nice right hand that sends Van-Plant toppling to the canvas! Van-Plant scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Barbosa finish him?!
Barbosa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van-Plant is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Barbosa.
Van-Plant avoids the body shot from Barbosa.
Van-Plant attempts a counter takedown but Barbosa avoids it well and moves away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbosa drops Van-Plant with a big left hand! Van-Plant is injured, injured bad! Barbosa jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Baldomir Barbosa!
After winning the bout, Baldomir Barbosa thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.