PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joeli Babitu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Babitu comes to the cage accompanied by Na Bogi Koya. Alvarez has chosen Filter - Hey man, nice shot. as his entrance music. 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.

Babitu
vs
Alvarez

188 cm
20
180 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

175 cm
27
171 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joeli Babitu!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thiago Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Babitu lands a head kick. Alvarez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a takedown. Babitu tries to sprawl out of it but Alvarez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Babitu manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Babitu checks the leg kick nicely there.
Babitu feints and then cracks Alvarez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Alvarez down.
Alvarez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Babitu counters with a solid body kick.
Babitu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Babitu cracks the inside of Alvarez's front leg.
Alvarez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Babitu stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Alvarez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Babitu counters with a low kick, right behind Alvarez 's knee.
Babitu lands with a thumping leg kick.
Babitu throws a nice head kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez misses with a double jab.
Babitu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Babitu on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Babitu looks for the body kick but Alvarez saw that one coming.
Babitu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Babitu throws a head kick that Alvarez semi-blocks.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Babitu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crunch! Babitu slams his shin into Alvarez's torso.
Babitu throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Alvarez.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Babitu throws a sloppy head kick and Alvarez moves out of range easily.
Alvarez misses with a takedown attempt - Babitu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Babitu throws a leg kick
and Alvarez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Alvarez avoids the head kick by Babitu.
Babitu keeps Alvarez at a distance using the push kick.
Alvarez throws a shot to the body.
Both fighters circling a little - Babitu finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Alvarez looks to land a combination but Babitu avoids it well.
Babitu throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
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!
Babitu scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Alvarez swinging wildly here.
Babitu throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Alvarez looks gassed!
A nice inside leg kick there by Babitu. That's going to slow Alvarez down.
Babitu slips a jab from Alvarez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babitu throws a sloppy head kick and Alvarez moves out of range easily.
Babitu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Alvarez takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Alvarez shoots for a takedown but Babitu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Joeli Babitu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Alvarez.
Alvarez shoots in but no luck this time.
Babitu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Babitu lands a head kick. Alvarez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Babitu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alvarez.
Babitu scoring well with a low kick there.
Babitu throws a head kick that misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Babitu.
Joeli Babitu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alvarez moves out of range of the body kick.
Babitu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Alvarez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Babitu under the eye.
Alvarez's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Alvarez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Alvarez takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Babitu. That's going to slow Alvarez down.
Alvarez steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Babitu. That one must have hurt.
Babitu lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Alvarez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A good leg kick by Babitu.
That kick from Babitu tenderised Alvarez's leg. Alvarez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Babitu lands with a nice body kick.
Alvarez fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Babitu is out of range.
Babitu throws a half hearted mid kick.
A head kick from Babitu lands but Alvarez takes it in his stride.
Babitu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Alvarez's sensitive parts.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body kick there by Babitu.
Babitu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Babitu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alvarez.
Babitu throws a body kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babitu throws a nice head kick!
Alvarez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Babitu scores with a leg kick.
Alvarez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alvarez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Babitu counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Alvarez is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Babitu buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Babitu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Babitu lands with a slapping head kick.
Babitu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Babitu connects with a high kick.
Babitu throws a front kick that sends Alvarez stumbling back into the cage.
Babitu keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Babitu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Babitu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alvarez.
Babitu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joeli Babitu dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Alvarez throws a right hand that Babitu ducks under and follows up with a left that Babitu also avoids with ease.
Babitu moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Babitu.
Thiago Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Babitu lands a high kick!
Alvarez moves out of range of the body kick.
Alvarez is trying desperately to land a takedown but Babitu is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a right hand that Babitu ducks under and follows up with a left that Babitu also avoids with ease.
Alvarez takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Babitu moves out of range.
Joeli Babitu is winning the standup battle so far.
Babitu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A good leg kick by Babitu.
Alvarez thows a body shot but no joy.
Alvarez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Babitu. Babitu obviously looking to wear him down.
Alvarez fails with the takedown.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Alvarez might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Babitu has got the better of the exchanges.
Babitu lands with a kick to the ribs.
Alvarez is breathing heavily.
Babitu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Babitu lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Alvarez.
Alvarez takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Alvarez takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
An inside leg kick lands from Babitu.
Babitu lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Babitu throws a quick inside leg kick.
Babitu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Alvarez.
Alvarez takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Babitu throws a leg kick which misses Alvarez's front leg but catches the back leg as Alvarez tries to avoid it.
Babitu scores with a kick to the body.
Babitu throws a sloppy head kick and Alvarez moves out of range easily.
Alvarez takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Babitu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Babitu lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Babitu pushes Alvarez away with a front kick.
Babitu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Babitu throws a leg kick which misses Alvarez's front leg but catches the back leg as Alvarez tries to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Babitu.
Babitu explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Nice body kick from Babitu.
Good leg kick by Babitu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Babitu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Alvarez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Babitu.
Babitu throws a front kick that sends Alvarez stumbling back into the cage.
Babitu lets loose with a powerful body kick. Alvarez will feel that in the morning.
Babitu lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Babitu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Babitu lands with a kick to the ribs.
Babitu scoring well with a low kick there.
Babitu turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Babitu throws a leg kick which misses Alvarez's front leg but catches the back leg as Alvarez tries to avoid it.
Alvarez connects with a nice looking jab.
Alvarez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Babitu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez moves out of range of the body kick.
A head kick from Babitu lands but Alvarez takes it in his stride.
Alvarez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Babitu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Alvarez shoots for a double leg takedown but Babitu sprawls well. He's pushed Alvarez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Babitu.
Babitu lands a head kick. Alvarez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Babitu misses with a body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Babitu, right into the meat.
Babitu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck for Alvarez with that takedown attempt.
Joeli Babitu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Alvarez.
Alvarez avoids the head kick by Babitu.
Babitu throws a head kick that misses.
Alvarez tries to bum rush Babitu with a series of wild strikes but Babitu uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Alvarez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Babitu can pounce on him.
Babitu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Alvarez can do to turn this around?
A nice inside leg kick there by Babitu. That's going to slow Alvarez down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Babitu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alvarez blocks a low kick nicely.
Babitu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Babitu avoids them all with ease.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alvarez looks to land a combination but Babitu avoids it well.
Babitu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Babitu throws a head kick that half lands.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Babitu.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Babitu lands with a kick to the temple. Alvarez shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Babitu lands a head kick. Alvarez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Babitu tries a head kick but it misses.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Babitu defends it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joeli Babitu dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Babitu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Alvarez takes a swing at Babitu's ribcage but misses.
Alvarez misses with a jab, cross combination.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
Alvarez blocks a low kick nicely.
A head kick from Babitu lands but Alvarez takes it in his stride.
Babitu misses with a body kick.
Alvarez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Alvarez tries to clinch up but Babitu circles away and keeps his distance.
Babitu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Babitu lands a head kick. Alvarez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Alvarez moves out of range as Babitu throws a body kick.
Babitu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Alvarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alvarez throws a combination. Babitu tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babitu throws a half hearted mid kick.
Alvarez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Babitu circles away.
Crunch! Babitu slams his shin into Alvarez's torso.
Babitu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Babitu lands with a kick to the ribs.
Babitu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alvarez misses with a few strikes there.
Babitu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Alvarez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Babitu looks for the body kick but Alvarez saw that one coming.
Babitu lands with a kick to the ribs.
Alvarez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Babitu misses with a body kick.
Alvarez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Babitu plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Babitu lands a head kick!
Babitu tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Alvarez crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Babitu - the referee stops the clock and Alvarez gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Babitu. Alvarez manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
That kick from Babitu tenderised Alvarez's leg. Alvarez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Babitu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Alvarez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Babitu was well out of range. Poor timing from Alvarez.
Alvarez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Babitu.
Alvarez throws a right hand that Babitu ducks under and follows up with a left that Babitu also avoids with ease.
Alvarez moves out of range of the leg kick from Babitu.
Babitu throws a head kick but Alvarez moves out of range.
Babitu cracks the inside of Alvarez's front leg.
Alvarez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Babitu swivels and escapes.
Babitu lets loose with a powerful body kick. Alvarez will feel that in the morning.
Babitu lands a front kick.
Babitu thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Alvarez if he has to take too many more of those.
Alvarez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Babitu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Babitu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Babitu feints and then cracks Alvarez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Alvarez down.
Babitu thows a body kick. Alvarez tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Alvarez misses with a hook
and Babitu counters with a head kick.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but Babitu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Joeli Babitu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Alvarez.
Alvarez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Babitu counters with a thumping low kick.
Alvarez on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Babitu connects with an inside leg kick.
Alvarez throws a big shot that misses.
Alvarez takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Babitu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Babitu thows a body kick. Alvarez tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Alvarez lands a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Babitu counters with an inside leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Babitu.
Babitu connects with an inside leg kick.
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!
Babitu throws a head kick that misses.
Alvarez misses with a wild combination.
Alvarez takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Babitu scoring well with a low kick there.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Alvarez!
Babitu goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A chopping leg kick lands by Babitu.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Alvarez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Babitu moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Alvarez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Babitu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joeli Babitu clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Babitu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Jab by Alvarez.
Alvarez has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Babitu.
Alvarez swinging wildly here.
Babitu connects with an inside leg kick.
Alvarez tries for a takedown but Babitu circles away easily
and Babitu counters with a good, hard body kick but Alvarez shrugs it off.
Babitu lands a high kick!
Alvarez fails with a takedown attempt.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Babitu. Alvarez shrugs it off though.
Babitu scores with a push kick.
Babitu swats away the attempt to clinch by Alvarez.
Alvarez is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Babitu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babitu throws a sloppy head kick and Alvarez moves out of range easily.
Alvarez swinging wildly here.
Alvarez takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A good leg kick by Babitu.
Babitu feints and then cracks Alvarez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Alvarez down.
Nice body kick from Babitu.
Babitu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alvarez tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Babitu misses with a head kick.
Babitu misses with a low kick.
Alvarez misses with an uppercut
and Babitu counters with a nice body kick.
Babitu throws a wild body kick that Alvarez sees coming a mile off.
Horrible takedown by Alvarez or perhaps it was just good defense by Babitu which made him look bad.
Joeli Babitu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Alvarez.
Alvarez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Babitu. Babitu obviously looking to wear him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Babitu.
Nice straight punches there by Alvarez. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Alvarez.
Alvarez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Babitu can pounce on him.
Babitu lands with a kick to the ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Babitu throws a push kick but Alvarez slaps the foot to one side.
Alvarez pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Babitu back to the cage. Alvarez follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Babitu misses with a kick to the body.
Alvarez on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alvarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Babitu lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Babitu.
Alvarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alvarez scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A chopping leg kick lands by Babitu.
Alvarez misses with a double jab
and Babitu counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Alvarez misses with a series of wild punches.
Babitu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Babitu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Alvarez misses with a double jab
and Babitu counters with a good low kick that Alvarez was not able to check.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Babitu bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Babitu turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Alvarez walks forward, straight into a front kick from Babitu.
Alvarez steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Babitu. That one must have hurt.
Babitu pushes Alvarez away with a front kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Babitu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a one two combo.
Babitu throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice inside leg kick there by Babitu. That's going to slow Alvarez down.
Babitu scores with a nice body kick.
Alvarez blocks a head kick by Babitu.
Babitu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Babitu lands a nice looking kick to the body. Alvarez takes a step back to recover.
Babitu takes one on the button.
Babitu throws a head kick but Alvarez moves out of range.

Alvarez closes the distance and pushes Babitu back into the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Babitu manages to break the clinch.
Babitu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Babitu misses with a low kick.
Nice body kick there by Babitu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joeli Babitu had his way with Thiago Alvarez in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Alvarez walks forward, straight into a front kick from Babitu.
Babitu misses with an attempted mid kick.
A head kick from Babitu lands but Alvarez takes it in his stride.
Babitu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Alvarez misses with a series of wild punches.
Alvarez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Babitu.
Babitu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Some wild striking there from Alvarez.
Alvarez closes the distance and clinches up with Babitu, looking for a takedown. Alvarez pushes Babitu against the cage but Babitu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Alvarez misses with a few strikes there.
Alvarez steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Babitu. That one must have hurt.
Babitu throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Alvarez misses with a wild body shot.
Babitu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babitu turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Alvarez is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Alvarez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alvarez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Babitu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Babitu moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Babitu lands with a slapping head kick.
Alvarez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Babitu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Crunch! Babitu slams his shin into Alvarez's torso.
Babitu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Alvarez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Babitu connects with a high kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Babitu. That's going to slow Alvarez down.
Babitu bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Babitu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Alvarez avoids the head kick by Babitu.
Alvarez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Babitu swivels and escapes.
Joeli Babitu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Joeli Babitu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Alvarez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Babitu turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Alvarez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Babitu. Babitu obviously looking to wear him down.
Babitu moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Babitu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Babitu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Babitu connects with a high kick.
Babitu tries to land a front kick but Alvarez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Alvarez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alvarez misses with a head kick.
Alvarez misses with a wild body shot.
Babitu scores with a spinning back kick!
Babitu moves out of range of the strikes.
Alvarez misses with a double jab.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Babitu.
Babitu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babitu blocks a jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Babitu, right into the meat.
A solid leg kick lands there for Babitu.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that Babitu avoids nicely.
Babitu misses with a body kick.
Babitu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Babitu is looking to land body kicks.
Alvarez blocks a head kick by Babitu.
Babitu misses with a low kick.
Alvarez sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Babitu.

Alvarez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Babitu looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Alvarez tries to score with some ground and pound. Babitu controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Alvarez tries for a kimura but Babitu is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babitu is trying to improve his position.
Thiago Alvarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Alvarez is trying to get an arm triangle but Babitu is defending well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Alvarez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joeli Babitu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Babitu, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 50:45
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 50:45
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 50:45

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