PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Afeef Isa Baba (ranked 68 p4p, 157 weight class) and Santino Lombardo (ranked 8 p4p, 23 weight class). Baba's entrance music is Nation Arabic Orchestra. A fine choice. Lombardo has chosen Illusions as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Santino Lombardo is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Baba
vs
Lombardo

181 cm
40
172
25 - 9 - 2

184 cm
24
170
12 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Altitude Clothing

HELLS BALLS RECOVERY
PWNAGE

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 25 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Afeef Isa Baba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Santino Lombardo!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baba dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lombardo. That did some damage!
Lombardo throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Baba counters with a three punch combo that has Lombardo backing up. Lombardo nods at Baba to acknowledge the strikes.
Lombardo 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.
Baba throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lombardo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lombardo doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Lombardo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Baba with a hook.
Lombardo throws a leg kick but Baba sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Baba. Lombardo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lombardo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Baba throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Baba buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Baba takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baba throws out a loose jab but Lombardo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lombardo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Baba.
Baba lands with a nice combination. Lombardo backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Santino Lombardo has been cut.
Baba looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lombardo with the inside leg kick.
Baba misses with a straight left.
Lombardo moves forwards but Baba connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Baba explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombardo looks to land a body kick but Baba moved away.
A head kick misses from Baba.
Baba moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Baba throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lombardo is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Baba will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A little jabbing left from Lombardo on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Baba throws a wild body kick that Lombardo sees coming a mile off.
Baba throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lombardo scores with a punch to the head.
Baba connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Lombardo's hands.
Baba stuns Lombardo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Baba swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lombardo gets off balance looking for a body kick
enabling Baba to counter with a crisp jab.
Lombardo throws a body shot but no joy.
Baba swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A nice side step and Lombardo releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Baba walks into a straight right hand from Lombardo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baba misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Baba is predictable there
and Lombardo counters with an outside leg kick.
Baba checks a low kick from Lombardo.
Lombardo throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
enabling Baba to counter with a crisp jab.
Lombardo misses with a series of wild punches.
Lombardo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Baba misses with a hook. Lombardo ducked under it nicely.
Baba misses with a head kick.
Lombardo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lombardo throws a leg kick but Baba checks it.
Baba appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Baba walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Lombardo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Baba throws a body kick that misses.
Donk. Lombardo catches Baba right on the button with a cross.

It looks like Afeef Isa Baba has been cut.
Baba bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lombardo's head backwards.
Lombardo lands a nice looking body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baba just misses with a punch to the body.
Baba misses with an uppercut.
Lombardo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Baba swings for the body but Lombardo moves out of range.
Lombardo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Lombardo slips under a jab from Baba.
Baba slips under a jab from Lombardo.
Lombardo gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Baba.
Lombardo jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Lombardo tries to work over Baba's front leg with a kick but Baba checks it.
Baba appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Lombardo lands a jab to Baba's midsection.
Jab from Baba.
Baba defending well as Lombardo loads up on a big left hand.
Baba misses with a leg kick.
Baba is looking to land body kicks.
Baba throws a shot from downtown. Lombardo moves away and avoids it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Lombardo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baba throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Baba blocks a leg kick.
Lombardo lands with a thumping leg kick.
Lombardo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baba throwing a counter right hand but Lombardo manages to avoid it.
Baba is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Baba scores with a nice body kick.
Lombardo darts in trying to clinch
and Baba counters with a nice leg kick.
Lombardo staying out of range there.
Baba throws a head kick but Lombardo moves out of range.
Lombardo throws a push kick but Baba slaps the foot to one side.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baba looks to land a body kick but Lombardo moved away.
Lombardo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lombardo avoids a kick to the body.
Baba slips a jab from Lombardo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Afeef Isa Baba dominated that 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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lombardo throws a wild body kick that Baba sees coming a mile off.
Baba loads up on a big right hand but Lombardo slips the punch.
Lombardo only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Lombardo takes one to the side of the head.
Baba tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lombardo was well out of range. Poor timing from Baba.
A nice inside leg kick there by Lombardo. That's going to slow Baba down.
Baba throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Lombardo might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Baba has got the better of the exchanges.
Lombardo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Baba is looking to slow Lombardo down with leg kicks.
Baba throws a nice inside leg kick.
Baba works Lombardo's body with a nice hook.
Lombardo staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lombardo throws a nice inside leg kick.
A big left from Lombardo misses.
Baba lands a slapping body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lombardo takes a swing at Baba's ribcage but misses.
Baba stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombardo scores with a head kick. Baba tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Lombardo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A shot to the body from Baba misses
and Lombardo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Baba takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Lombardo digs a good hook to Baba's body.
Lombardo misses with a leg kick
and Baba counters with a good, hard body kick but Lombardo shrugs it off.
Lombardo slips a straight right by Baba.
Lombardo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Lombardo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Baba's hands.
Lombardo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baba has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lombardo.
Baba misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Lombardo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lombardo catches Baba with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Lombardo blocks a jab.
Lombardo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baba dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Baba throws a body punch but Lombardo moves out of range.
Lombardo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Baba steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Lombardo. That one must have hurt.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Lombardo - that will leave a mark!
Lombardo misses with a head kick.
Lombardo lands a nice looking body shot.
Lombardo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Baba.
Lombardo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Baba throws a big shot that misses.
Lombardo staying out of range there.
A nice side step and Lombardo releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Lombardo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baba manages to avoid it.
Baba throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Lombardo counters with a nice uppercut.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lombardo.
Baba connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A big left from Baba misses.
Lombardo unleashes a big counter combination but Baba bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lombardo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Baba.
Baba throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice jab there from Lombardo.
Jab by Lombardo.
Lombardo scores with a nice body kick.
Lombardo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lombardo moves out of range as Baba strikes.
Lombardo only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Lombardo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Baba on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Lombardo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Baba moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Baba rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lombardo counters with a nice leg kick.
Baba will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Baba thows a leg kick but Lombardo checks it
and Lombardo counters with a body kick.
Lombardo blocks the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lombardo.
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!
Lombardo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Lombardo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Baba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lombardo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Baba throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Lombardo counter with a right hand.
Lombardo takes a swing at Baba's ribcage but misses.
Baba is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Baba moves away from the strike by Lombardo.
A quick step to the side and Baba tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Baba misses with a lunging right hand
and Lombardo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Baba defending well as Lombardo loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lombardo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Lombardo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Baba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lombardo misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santino Lombardo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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!

Lombardo throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Baba counters with a nice uppercut.
Baba throws a jab when Lombardo was well out of range.
Baba backing away here, and Lombardo unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Baba tries a head kick but it misses.
Baba throws a sloppy head kick
and Lombardo counters with a straight right hand.
Baba looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Lombardo throws a looping overhand right but Baba ducks down to avoid it.
Lombardo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Baba.
Baba shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A nice leg kick from Baba, right into the meat of the thigh.
Baba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lombardo throws a hook but Baba blocks it.
Baba swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baba avoids the body shot from Lombardo.
Baba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lombardo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Baba. That did some damage!
Baba tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lombardo was well out of range. Poor timing from Baba.
Baba misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombardo swings widly with a right hand
and Baba counters with a right hand to the body.
Jab, jab by Lombardo - just one landing.
Lombardo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Baba is out of range.
It appears Baba was looking to counter with a kick there.
Baba throws a right and a left that both miss.
A looping hook to the body misses from Baba. Lombardo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Baba thumps Lombardo with a low kick.
Baba swings for the body but Lombardo moves out of range.
Lombardo connects with a body shot.

Baba gets tackled into the cage by Lombardo. Lombardo maintains the clinch.
Lombardo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right hook to the body lands for Lombardo.
Lombardo lands an uppercut.
Baba tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lombardo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baba swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lombardo blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lombardo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Baba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lombardo.
Lombardo working aggressively here.
Baba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lombardo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Baba prevents a body shot from Lombardo.
Lombardo lands a right hand.

Baba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baba catches Lombardo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Donk. Lombardo catches Baba right on the button with a cross.
Baba is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Baba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lombardo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Baba takes one to the chin there.
Baba has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lombardo.
Baba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lombardo.
Lombardo cracks Baba with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lombardo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Baba throws out the jab.
Baba checks a low kick from Lombardo.
A nice inside leg kick there by Lombardo. That's going to slow Baba down.
Lombardo scores with a jab to the body.
Baba on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Baba throws a right hand that misses
and Lombardo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lombardo misses with the body kick
and Baba counters with a low kick, right behind Lombardo 's knee.
Lombardo lands a leg kick that knocks Baba off balance momentarily.
Lombardo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Lombardo misses with a straight right.
Jab by Lombardo.
Baba lands with a good body shot.
Lombardo jabs at Baba's body.
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!
Lombardo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baba avoids the head kick by Lombardo.
Good standup being displayed there by Lombardo as he connects with a hook.
Baba throws the kick towards the body but Lombardo avoids it.
Lombardo doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Lombardo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Baba lands with a kick to the ribs.
Baba slips under a jab.
Lombardo misses with an uppercut.
Lombardo wants to land a leg kick but Baba is out of range.
Baba tried to counter with a leg kick but Lombardo avoided it.
Lombardo scores with a punch to the head.
Lombardo misses with a looping left.
Baba takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lombardo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A low kick from Baba misses
letting Lombardo counter with a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lombardo misses with a right hand
and Baba counters with a body kick.
Baba throws a low kick but Lombardo avoids it.
Lombardo let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santino Lombardo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lombardo 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Santino Lombardo!
An out of breath Santino Lombardo thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.