PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gerwazy Babula (ranked 1845 p4p, 2496 weight class) and Marc Tong Panong (ranked 270 p4p, 345 weight class). Babula comes to the cage accompanied by Hey Buddy. Tong Panong has chosen Tetris Song as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Babula
vs
Tong Panong

188 cm
20
185
4 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
192
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️

The Natural Order

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gerwazy Babula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marc Tong Panong!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Babula swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tong Panong counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
I was talking to Babula's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Babula blocks an elbow strike from Tong Panong.
Babula blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Babula.
Babula blocks a body shot from Tong Panong.
Babula scores with a shoulder strike.
Babula working aggressively here.
Tong Panong tries to land knees in the clinch but Babula avoids the damage to the body.
Tong Panong is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Babula pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tong Panong tries for a takedown. No joy.
Babula tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Babula lands with a right to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babula lands a right hand.
Tong Panong goes for a takedown attempt but Babula pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gerwazy Babula has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marc Tong Panong.
Babula scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tong Panong on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Babula tries to bum rush Tong Panong with a series of wild strikes but Tong Panong uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tong Panong fails with an attempt to clinch.

Babula rushes Tong Panong and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tong Panong misses with a punch on the inside.
Tong Panong has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Babula after a bit of a struggle.
Babula has a couple of punches blocked by Tong Panong.
Tong Panong working aggressively here.
Babula misses with some punches.
Tong Panong misses with a knee to the head.
Tong Panong is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Babula is defending well for now.
Tong Panong tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Babula blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Babula is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Babula fails to land.
Tong Panong has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Babula avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tong Panong trying to land knees to the body.

Babula is fighting off a takedown attempt but Tong Panong is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Babula to the mat. Babula regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Babula wants to stand but Tong Panong is controlling the position.
Babula is adopting a defensive guard.
Babula wants to stand but Tong Panong is controlling the position.
Tong Panong wants to stand and escape but instead Babula has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Babula wants to stand but Tong Panong has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tong Panong wants to get back to his feet but Babula is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tong Panong can do anything to dispel that myth.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Babula scores with a jab. Tong Panong acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A jab from Babula does it's job there.
Tong Panong slips under a jab from Babula.
Tong Panong uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Babula.
Babula lands a right hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tong Panong is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Babula works the jab nicely.
Babula scores with a punch to the head.

Tong Panong is rocked!

Babula forces Tong Panong back against the cage and clinches.
Tong Panong is still on wobbly legs! Can Babula finish him?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Babula lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Babula creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Tong Panong's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Tong Panong drops to his knees and Babula pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gerwazy Babula!
Marc Tong Panong was interviewed post fight and said 'I need to Take some time off'.