PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Phat Ho (ranked 1095 p4p, 54 weight class) and Aldo Barbados (ranked 1701 p4p, 83 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Ho might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water. Barbados comes into a darkened arena with his song building. What's It All For kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Aldo Barbados 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!

Ho
vs
Barbados

175 cm
29
142 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

177 cm
34
141 lbs
14 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

IniTech Nutrition
Sportivité

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Phat Ho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Aldo Barbados!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbados takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Barbados tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ho scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Barbados throws a shot from downtown. Ho moves away and avoids it.
Ho misses with a shot to the body
and Barbados counters with a nice uppercut.
Ho throws a wild body kick that Barbados sees coming a mile off.
Barbados is trying to counter with his kicks.
Barbados keeps the fight on the outside.
Ho misses with an uppercut.
Ho takes a jab right on the kisser.
Barbados throws the left hand but Ho avoids the punch easily.
Ho ducks under a wild hook from Barbados.
Ho lunges at Barbados with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Barbados's hand.
Barbados tries to bum rush Ho with a series of wild strikes but Ho uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ho connects with a solid leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A chopping leg kick lands by Ho.
A big left from Ho misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Barbados misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ho lands a right hand.
Ho with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Barbados avoiding damage as Ho throws knees to the body.
Ho lands a body shot in the clinch.
Barbados wants to break free but Ho has control.
Ho throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barbados blocks it with crossed arms.
Ho tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Barbados prevents a body shot from Ho.
Barbados wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ho fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ho can't find room to land a body shot as Barbados controls the action.
Ho tries to work over Barbados's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barbados tries to circle away but Ho has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ho can't find room to land a body shot as Barbados controls the action.

Barbados breaks from the clinch.
Ho tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Barbados cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ho is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ho throws a head kick that misses.
Ho looks to throw the jab but Barbados is out of range.
Barbados pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barbados misses with a body shot.
Ho moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Barbados looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ho has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ho with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ho tries to land knees in the clinch but Barbados avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ho lands a nice shot to the body.
I was talking to Ho's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Barbados is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Barbados wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short uppercut from Ho.
A frustrated look appears on Barbados's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ho presses Barbados against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Barbados wants to break free but Ho has control.
Ho tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Barbados's elbow.
Ho tries a body shot but Barbados blocks it.
Ho misses with a punch to the body.
Ho misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ho missing with knees to the body.
Ho tries to throw a body punch but Barbados avoids it by throwing Ho back against the cage.
Ho misses with a body punch.
Ho is working Barbados over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barbados escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barbados misses with a lunging right hand
and Ho counters with a low kick, right behind Barbados 's knee.
Barbados swinging wildly here.
Ho with a nice cross.
Ho takes a swing at Barbados's ribcage but misses.

Ho instigates a clinch.
Ho throws a punch but it's blocked by Barbados.
Ho tries a body shot but Barbados blocks it.
Barbados is trying to break the clinch but Ho is controlling him.
Ho tries a body shot but Barbados blocks it.
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!
Barbados is trying to force a seperation but Ho has the dominant position.
Ho misses with a body punch.
Ho is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phat Ho dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ho doesn't manage to clinch there - Barbados circles away.
Barbados throws a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ho looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ho lands with an uppercut that bounces Barbados off the cage and back into range.
Barbados swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barbados stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ho.
Ho looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbados is just out of range.
Barbados throws a leg kick but Ho sees it coming and checks it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ho connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Barbados throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ho.
Ho throws a sloppy head kick
and Barbados counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbados throws a shot from downtown. Ho moves away and avoids it.
Ho uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barbados.
Ho comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ho tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbados was well out of range. Poor timing from Ho.
A shot to the body from Ho misses
and Ho takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice defenses there by Ho.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ho.
Ho lands with a nice body punch.
Barbados throws a hook to the side of Ho's head but Ho sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ho slips under a jab.
Ho ducks under a wild hook from Barbados.
Ho ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barbados moves away.
Barbados misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aldo Barbados is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbados wants to slow Ho down by chopping away at his legs.
Ho digs a good body shot into Barbados's ribs.

Ho clinches with his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ho tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ho lands a knee to the body.
Ho misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ho tries a body shot but Barbados blocks it.
Ho tries to throw a body punch but Barbados avoids it by throwing Ho back against the cage.
Ho misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Ho fails to land.
Ho with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Barbados is trying to break the clinch but Ho has him pressed against the cage.
Ho tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Barbados breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barbados takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Phat Ho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barbados.
Ho fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Barbados lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ho at a distance.
Ho misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ho.
Barbados connects with a jab.
Ho is looking to wear down Barbados with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Ho clinches up against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ho obliges.
Phat Ho has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ho tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Barbados's elbow.
Ho misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ho lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Barbados or not.
Ho lands a body punch.
Ho tries to work over Barbados's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ho misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ho can't find room to land a body shot as Barbados controls the action.
Nice body punch from Ho - that landed with a thud.
Ho lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ho makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ho lands a shot to the body.
Ho tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Barbados's elbow.
Ho misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ho struggles to land a body shot inside as Barbados controls his hands.
Barbados wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ho has him pressed against the cage.
Ho scores a nice knee to the body.
Barbados blocks an uppercut.
Ho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ho lands a nice elbow.
Barbados wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ho putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Barbados in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phat Ho dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barbados throws a hook to the side of Ho's head but Ho sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barbados moves out of range as Ho strikes.
Barbados tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ho was well out of range. Poor timing from Barbados.
Ho throws a leg kick which misses Barbados's front leg but catches the back leg as Barbados tries to avoid it.
Barbados's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Barbados throws a head kick that misses.
Barbados misses with a jab to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Ho.
Barbados looks to score with a jab to the body but Ho is just out of range.
Barbados swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbados misses with a wild combination.
Ho chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Barbados throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho misses with a kick to the body
and Barbados counters with a stiff right hand.
Barbados keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ho misses the shot to the body.
Barbados throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ho stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ho throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ho chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Barbados misses with the combination.
Ho misses the shot to the body.
Ho steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barbados.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barbados. Ho does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ho throws the kick towards the body but Barbados avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ho throws a head kick that Barbados semi-blocks.
Ho moves out of range as Barbados strikes.
Ho lands a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ho, right into the meat.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Barbados - that will leave a mark!
Barbados keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ho throws a leg kick
and Barbados counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Phat Ho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barbados throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ho stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ho throws out a leg kick but Barbados moves out of range and Ho only half commits.

Ho gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ho working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Barbados tries to break the clinch but Ho is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho has Barbados pressed against the cage, preventing Barbados from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ho struggles to land a body shot inside as Barbados controls his hands.
Ho tries to throw a body punch but Barbados avoids it by throwing Ho back against the cage.
Barbados looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A head punch on the inside from Ho fails to land.
Barbados wants to get back to striking at distance but Ho won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ho keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Barbados's efforts to push away.
Barbados wants to break free but Ho has control.
Ho misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barbados working hard to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barbados wants to break the clinch but can't.
Aldo Barbados has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barbados is looking to break free of the clinch but Ho has double underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Phat Ho.
Well Ho has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phat Ho!
During a confident post fight interview, Phat Ho thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.