PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Firat Baba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Golota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Baba
vs
Golota

200 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

202 cm
25
280 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Firat Baba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andrew Golota!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Radbod Blank and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A punch combination from Golota misses.
Golota tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Golota scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Firat Baba has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slapping leg kick lands for Baba.

Golota gets a clinch.
Golota is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Golota wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Baba lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Golota.
Baba tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Golota just stands there and leans against the cage.
Golota lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Golota is trying to force a seperation but Baba has the dominant position.
Golota tries to break the clinch but Baba is controlling the position.
Baba blocking some punches.

Baba manages to break the clinch.
Baba has a takedown stuffed.
Baba walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Baba changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Golota looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Golota pushes Baba away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Baba gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baba is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Golota has escaped the position, nice work there.
Baba is looking to take a break and control but Golota is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Golota is pushing Baba's head away, looking to escape. Baba manages to hold on to the position though.
Baba wants to control but Golota is keeping him busy.

Baba is trying to get an arm triangle but Golota is defending well.
Golota pushes Baba away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Baba gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Golota can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Baba has knee on belly and moves into mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Baba cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Baba wants to control the pace but Golota is squirming around nicely.
Golota tries to buck Baba off but he can't manage it.
Baba wants to control the pace but Golota is squirming around nicely.
Baba won't let Golota get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Golota is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baba tries to control but Golota wriggling away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baba landing punches.
Golota squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Baba looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Golota tries to buck Baba off but he can't manage it.
Baba in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Golota is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Golota looks gassed!
Baba working the ground and pound effectively.
Golota is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Baba has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Baba trying to control but Golota is having none of it.

Baba working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Golota is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andrew Golota will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Firat Baba's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Baba gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Baba looking to slow down the pace here.
Baba fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Golota has had enough of the clinch but Baba keeps him there for the moment.
Baba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Baba has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Golota uses from the top position.
Golota really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baba. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Baba manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Golota manages to get himself to full guard.
Golota wants to stand up but Baba is controlling him.
Baba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Golota is looking to stand up but Baba isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golota keeping moving, preventing Baba from controlling successfully.
Baba is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Golota is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Firat Baba.
Golota doesn't manage to clinch there - Baba circles away.
Baba misses with a double jab
and Baba takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A nice combination there by Golota.

Golota closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Golota gets underhooks to prevent Baba's takedown attempt.
Golota wants to get back to striking at distance but Baba won't allow it.
Golota gets underhooks to prevent Baba's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Firat Baba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Golota working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Baba letting Golota take a breather here.
Golota can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golota is trying to break the clinch but Baba is controlling him.
The referee is keeping an eye on Golota - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Baba working aggressively here.
Baba jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Golota walks away with a smile on his face. Baba gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Golota throws a series of punches but Baba avoids them all with ease.
Baba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Golota counter with a right hand.
Andrew Golota seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baba doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Golota holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Golota's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A left lands for Golota.
Baba moves in looking to clinch but Golota pushes him off.
Baba tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Golota manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Golota.
A combination from Golota does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Golota lands a glancing blow to the side of Baba's head.
Golota scores with a punch to the head.
Golota cracks Baba with a good jab.
Golota dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Baba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Golota tries to clinch but Baba moves out of range.
Baba swats away the attempt to clinch by Golota.
Golota dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A nice combination there by Golota.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Golota!
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!
Golota bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Baba's head backwards.
Golota lands a jab-cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baba walks into a straight right hand from Golota.

Baba is rocked!

Golota has taken the fight to the clinch.
Golota wants to break free but Baba has control.
Golota scores with a shoulder strike.
Golota lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Baba backwards.
Baba misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Golota.
Golota blocking some punches.
Baba tries for a takedown. No joy.
Golota looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Golota tries to break the clinch but Baba is controlling the position.
Baba can't break the clinch.
Golota wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Golota manages to break the clinch.
Golota misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baba gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Golota lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Baba backs up against the cage.
Baba takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Golota showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Firat Baba's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Golota scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Baba doesn't seem bothered though.

Golota fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baba, pushing him back against the cage.
Baba tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Golota smiles and moves away.
Baba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Baba shoots in for a double leg but Golota sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Golota scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
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 has his takedown stuffed
and Golota counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Firat Baba. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A frustrated look appears on Golota's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Golota stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Golota breaks the clinch.
Andrew Golota seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Golota is looking to clinch.
Baba has his takedown stuffed

and Golota counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Golota.

Golota manages to break the clinch.
Golota fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baba is looking to clinch but Golota is avoiding it.
Golota tries to close the distance and clinch but Baba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Baba throws a head kick but Golota moves out of range.
Golota digs a good body shot into Baba's ribs.
Golota tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Golota lands with a shot to the body.

Golota fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baba, pushing him back against the cage.
Golota lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golota working hard to break the clinch.
Golota is trying to break free.
Golota lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Golota lands a body punch in the clinch.
Golota wants to break the clinch but can't.
Golota wants to break free but Baba has control.
Golota is trying to break free.
Golota lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Golota tries to break the clinch but Baba is controlling the position.
Golota wants to break free but Baba has control.
Golota wants to break the clinch but can't.

Golota pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Golota fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Golota is looking to clinch.
A shot to the liver by Golota. Beautiful body shot.
Golota lands a right hook to the body.
Golota scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Golota displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Baba.
Baba has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Golota tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Baba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Golota connects with a body shot.
Golota lands a jab to the nose.
Golota waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Baba.
Golota throws a series of strikes that have Baba backpedaling.
Baba tries for a takedown but Golota sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Golota throws a series of punches but Baba moves out of range.
Golota tries to close the distance and clinch but Baba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Baba moves into the clinch.
Golota is looking to break free of the clinch but Baba has double underhooks.
Baba is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Golota.
Andrew Golota is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Golota.
Golota lands a right hand that snaps the head of Baba backwards.
Baba is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Golota pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Baba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Golota closes the distance and lands a one-two.
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.
Golota with a hook.
Golota throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Golota has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Golota scores with a hook.
Andrew Golota is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Golota throws a series of punches but Baba avoids them all with ease.
Golota lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baba takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Golota fails with an attempt to clinch.
Firat Baba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Golota bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrew Golota comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Golota winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 25:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrew Golota!