PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sid Cotton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danson Barboza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sid Cotton has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cotton
vs
Barboza

216 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

173 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sid Cotton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Danson Barboza!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cotton changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Barboza looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Barboza is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Barboza trying to hold on to Cotton's head to control him but Cotton postures up.
Barboza is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cotton's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cotton's back!
Barboza has the hooks in. Cotton is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Barboza is looking for a choke. Cotton gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Cotton manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Barboza trying to keep a closed guard but Cotton is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barboza pulls Cotton in close to prevent any damage.
Barboza wants to sweep but no luck.
Barboza is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Danson Barboza hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Cotton darts in looking for a takedown but Barboza gets double underhooks and turns Cotton into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotton is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Barboza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barboza shoots in for a double leg but Cotton sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Barboza misses with the combination.
Cotton tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barboza defends well and Cotton ends up having to push Barboza into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Barboza tries to pull guard but Cotton forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sid Cotton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danson Barboza.

Barboza manages to pull guard.
Barboza wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Barboza's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Danson Barboza was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Cotton will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Barboza closes the distance and clinches.
Cotton is trying to break free.
Cotton trying to land knees to the body.
Cotton wants to get back to striking at distance but Barboza won't allow it.
Barboza is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cotton to keep the fight standing.
Barboza is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Barboza should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cotton misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cotton tries to pull guard but Barboza won't allow it.

Barboza pulls guard effortlessly.
Barboza controlling the position.

Barboza is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Cotton presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Barboza slows down the pace here.
Cotton has had enough of the clinch but Barboza keeps him there for the moment.
Cotton really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cotton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barboza.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danson Barboza dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Barboza displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Sid Cotton has been cut.
Barboza lands with a nice body punch.
Cotton moves out of range of the body kick.

Barboza fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cotton, pushing him back against the cage.
Cotton is trying to pull guard but Barboza has him pressed against the cage.
Barboza stalling in the clinch.

Barboza manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Barboza looking for a guillotine here but Cotton defends easily.
Barboza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barboza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Barboza looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Barboza looking for a sweep. Not yet Barboza, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cotton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cotton preventing the sweep.
Barboza is striking off his back. Cotton thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Barboza is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barboza wants to control but Cotton is keeping busy.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Danson Barboza hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Cotton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cotton throws a head kick but Barboza moves out of range.

Cotton tries to keep at a distance but Barboza has taken the fight into the clinch.
Barboza has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cotton after a bit of a struggle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barboza goes for a takedown attempt but Cotton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Barboza fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sid Cotton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danson Barboza.

Barboza gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Barboza blocks a body shot from Cotton.

Barboza manages to break the clinch.

Barboza gets a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Barboza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Barboza rushes Cotton and presses him up against the cage.
Barboza tries to pull guard but Cotton forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Barboza goes for a takedown attempt but Cotton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danson Barboza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sid Cotton's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Barboza throws a nice looking combination but Cotton bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Barboza darts in and clinches Cotton up against the cage.

Barboza jumps guard.
Barboza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cotton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barboza on the ground.
Barboza throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Cotton trying to control the position from guard on top but Barboza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cotton will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Barboza tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sid Cotton has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Barboza shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cotton as he jumps to the side.

Barboza shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Barboza showed some decent athleticism there.
Barboza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barboza wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Barboza is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cotton is trying to maintain the position but Barboza is very close to passing his half guard.

Barboza decides to stand and escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barboza shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cotton as he avoids it easily.
Cotton looks for a takedown but Barboza sprawls well.
Barboza fails with a takedown attempt.
Sid Cotton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danson Barboza.
A jab from Barboza misses.
Cotton darts in looking for a takedown but Barboza gets double underhooks and turns Cotton into the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Barboza as Cotton tries to tie him up.
Barboza tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cotton just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barboza tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cotton can't break the clinch.
Cotton is trying to break the clinch but Barboza is controlling him.
Barboza is working for takedown but Cotton is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cotton tries to stall but Barboza uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cotton doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Barboza trying to stall but Cotton improves his position.
Cotton wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Cotton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cotton closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barboza circles away.

Barboza closes the distance and pushes Cotton back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cotton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Danson Barboza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barboza feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cotton's calf.
Barboza tries for a takedown but Cotton sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Barboza swinging wildly here.
Barboza fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Barboza avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cotton shoots in for a takedown but Barboza shows good takedown defense.
Sid Cotton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Danson Barboza is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cotton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danson Barboza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barboza has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danson Barboza!