PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Khamzat Chimaev (ranked 2662 p4p, 2508 weight class) and Gerwazy Babula (ranked 363 p4p, 342 weight class). Chimaev comes to the cage accompanied by Katioucha. Babula has chosen Hey Buddy as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Chimaev
vs
Babula

183 cm
26
185
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
185
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Fantasy Threads
Seventh Circle Clothing

Bondi MMA 🏝️
BE Younick

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khamzat Chimaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gerwazy Babula!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Babula closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Babula.
Babula fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Babula throws a punch but it's blocked by Chimaev.
Chimaev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Babula makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Chimaev drops down looking for an ankle pick but Babula pulls his leg out and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Babula.
Babula misses with a punch on the inside.
Babula makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chimaev jumps guard but Babula turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A short right from Babula on the inside.
Chimaev goes for a takedown attempt but Babula pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Khamzat Chimaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Babula clinches up against the cage.
We've been hearing reports that Chimaev has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Stalling in the clinch from Chimaev.
The referee calls for Babula to work.
Chimaev content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Babula blocks a body shot from Chimaev.
Babula gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Chimaev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babula looking to throw knees to the head but Chimaev is blocking nicely.
Chimaev drops down looking for an ankle pick but Babula pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gerwazy Babula is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Chimaev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Chimaev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Babula is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Babula takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Babula wants to get back to his feet.
Chimaev is putting a hurting on Babula here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babula is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Chimaev is controlling him well.
The ground and pound from Chimaev seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Babula on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Chimaev working the ground and pound.
Chimaev in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Babula pushes Chimaev away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Chimaev gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Chimaev postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Chimaev working away.
Babula pushes Chimaev away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Chimaev gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Chimaev is looking to take a break and control but Babula is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Chimaev are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Chimaev trying to control the action but Babula is working from the bottom.
Chimaev lands a decent elbow from side control.
Babula is working to avoid the ground and pound but Chimaev connects with a decent elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Babula is pushing Chimaev's head away, looking to escape. Chimaev manages to hold on to the position though.
Babula is trying to control Chimaev's posture but Chimaev avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Babula defending against the ground and pound.
Babula is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Khamzat Chimaev will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Babula scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Babula lands with a right hand.
Babula tests Chimaev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Chimaev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Chimaev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Babula manages to avoid it.
The crowd cheers as Babula lands an impressive looking overhand right. Chimaev doesn't seem phased though.
Babula connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Chimaev on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Chimaev is rocked!

Chimaev has Babula up against the cage in a clinch.
Oh Chimaev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Babula.
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!
Babula throws an elbow that misses.
Babula lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Babula has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Babula has a couple of punches blocked by Chimaev.
Babula lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Chimaev backwards.
Babula scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chimaev is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Babula stalling in the clinch.
Babula tries to land a knee to the head but Chimaev blocks with his arms.
Chimaev seems to have got his legs back now.
Babula misses with some punches.
Babula misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chimaev.
Babula has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Chimaev seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Babula can turn it around.

Babula breaks the clinch.
Babula scores with a nice right hand.
Chimaev on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nice takedown defense from Babula. No joy for Chimaev on that attempt.
Chimaev looks to throw the jab but Babula is out of range.

Babula gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Chimaev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Babula smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Khamzat Chimaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babula lands with an uppercut that bounces Chimaev off the cage and back into range.
Chimaev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chimaev throws a big shot that misses.
Babula throws out a counter right but Chimaev avoids it with no problem.
Babula scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chimaev drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Chimaev throws a hook but Babula blocks it.
Babula throws an overhand right that drops Chimaev like a sack of potatoes! Babula dives in to finish the fight with more strikes and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gerwazy Babula!