PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Quick Ness (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitch Babaloli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ness's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Flashing Blade. Babaloli has chosen Wu Tang Clan - Da Mystery Of Chessboxin' as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ness
vs
Babaloli

200 cm
26
199 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

188 cm
24
192 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Quick Ness!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mitch Babaloli!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Babaloli misses.
No joy there for Ness, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ness tries to clinch but Babaloli moves out of range.
Ness fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ness closes the distance and clinches up with Babaloli, looking for a takedown. Ness pushes Babaloli against the ropes but Babaloli circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Ness shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Babaloli napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Babaloli sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Well, if Ness is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Babaloli is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Babaloli makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ness bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ness wants to control but Babaloli is keeping him busy.
Ness has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Babaloli!
Ness controlling his opponent.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ness unloads with some shots from mount but Babaloli bucks and avoids them well.
Ness really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ness putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Babaloli tries to hold on but Ness postures up.
Ness can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Babaloli is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli has given up his back here.
Ness punches the canvas rather than the man.
Ness is riding his opponent, not letting Babaloli buck him off.

Babaloli fending off the submission attempt from Ness.
Ness is trying to stick to Babaloli's back but Babaloli is turning into Ness. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ness's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Babaloli.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Babaloli thows a big elbow that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ness is on top in guard.
Ness is stalling in the full guard.
Babaloli is trying to keep Ness in close.
Ness tries to stand but Babaloli is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ness trying to control the position from guard on top but Babaloli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ness is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Babaloli is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Ness wants to get up but he can't break Babaloli's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ness trying to control the position from guard on top but Babaloli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Quick Ness wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ness chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Babaloli can pounce on him.
Babaloli scores with a jab to the body.
Ness wants to clinch.
Ness tries to close the distance and clinch up but Babaloli swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Ness doesn't manage to clinch there - Babaloli circles away.
Ness tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Babaloli paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Babaloli drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Babaloli prevents Ness from getting back to his feet.
Babaloli wants to control from the top but Ness keeps moving.
Ness looking to hit a scissor sweep but Babaloli is one step ahead there.
Babaloli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ness swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Babaloli postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Ness working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Babaloli doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Babaloli manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ness is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ness is breathing heavily.
Babaloli advances to half guard.
Ness tries to get to full guard but Babaloli has control of the leg.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ness on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Babaloli scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Babaloli prevents Ness from standing back up.
Babaloli throwing shots but Ness is blocking nicely.
Babaloli thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ness's head.
Babaloli scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ness wants to get back to his feet.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli lands with a punch from half guard.
Ness wants to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Babaloli.
Babaloli drops an elbow to the side of Ness's head.
Babaloli missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Babaloli working Ness over with strikes.
Babaloli missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Babaloli wants to take a breather but Ness is having none of it.
Babaloli throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ness tries to roll over but Babaloli keeps him under control.
Babaloli sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ness defending well though.
Babaloli is looking to take a break and control but Ness is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ness wants to get back to his feet.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli lands with a punch from half guard.
Ness pushes Babaloli off looking to stand but Babaloli dives back in and keeps control.
Babaloli works his foot free and advances to mount.
A nice elbow there by Babaloli.
Babaloli working Ness over with strikes here.
Ness can't escape the position.
Babaloli landing punches.
Babaloli scoring with strikes but Ness is staying in there.
Babaloli punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Babaloli connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ness working to try and regain half guard.
Babaloli breaks from Ness's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Babaloli working Ness over with strikes here.
Ness tries to reverse the position but Babaloli maintains control.
Babaloli connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Babaloli scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Babaloli working Ness over with strikes here.
Babaloli connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Ness is working to get back to half guard.
Babaloli lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitch Babaloli dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ness shoots in but Babaloli avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Babaloli circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ness tries for a takedown but Babaloli circles away easily

so Babaloli counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ness avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Babaloli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ness swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ness wants to stand and escape but Babaloli is having none of it.
Babaloli with a nice head shot there.
Babaloli lands a couple of elbows.
Babaloli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ness swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ness will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ness looking for a guillotine here but Babaloli defends easily.

Babaloli gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ness slaps away a takedown attempt from Babaloli, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ness scores with a punch to the head.
Quick Ness seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ness closes the distance looking to clinch

and Babaloli decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ness's guard.
Babaloli landing some decent shots from guard.
Babaloli is fighting to break Ness's control of his arms but Ness is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ness keeping moving, preventing Babaloli from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli stops Ness from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Babaloli accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Babaloli won't allow Ness to get back to his feet.
Babaloli won't allow Ness to sweep him here.
Babaloli wants to pass the guard but Ness is keeping the position.
Ness keeping moving, preventing Babaloli from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ness has his takedown stuffed

so Babaloli counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Quick Ness. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Babaloli trying to control but Ness is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli looking to sit in guard and control but Ness gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Babaloli working a defensive guard here.
Babaloli keeping full guard, as Ness tries to pass.
Ness wants to control from the top but Babaloli keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ness trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Babaloli managing to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ness accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ness tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Babaloli counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Babaloli shoots and misses

and Ness counters with a shoot takedown. Babaloli fights it but they end up in guard.
Ness sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Ness missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Ness is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Babaloli is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Babaloli has escaped and now he's on top!
Babaloli stops Ness from standing up.
Babaloli trying to control but Ness is working from the bottom.
Babaloli cracks Ness with a solid left hand.
Mitch Babaloli has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ness manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ness sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Ness trying to control but Babaloli is having none of it.
Poor strikes thrown by Ness there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Ness controlling from the full mount.
Babaloli is squirming around, avoiding Ness's attempts to control the action.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli wants to control but Ness is having none of it.
Babaloli sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Babaloli is defending against the submission attempts here by Ness.
Ness prevents Babaloli from improving his position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Babaloli is controlling Ness's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Ness wants to lay and pray for a moment but Babaloli keeps working.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Babaloli is trying to maintain the position but Ness is very close to passing his half guard.
Ness trying to control from half guard but Babaloli is working away.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Quick Ness just wasn't active enough.
Ness keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Ness feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Babaloli looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ness is one step ahead there.
Babaloli pulls Ness in close to his closed guard and prevents Ness from doing any damage or advancing position.
Babaloli can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ness controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mitch Babaloli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Babaloli 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Mitch Babaloli!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Mitch Babaloli!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Mitch Babaloli!

Mitch Babaloli wins by unanimous decision!