PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Babcock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Gimmick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gimmick has chosen Rob Bailey & The Hustle Standard - Hungry as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Babcock
vs
Gimmick

180 cm
39
162 lbs
23 - 16 - 1

177 cm
36
169 lbs
32 - 19 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Bruce Babcock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Justin Gimmick!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Babcock connects with a single shot there.
Babcock scores with a sloppy right hand. Gimmick should have avoided that one.

Gimmick has closed the distance and engaged Babcock in a clinch.
Gimmick tries to work over Babcock's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Gimmick fails to land.

Gimmick breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Babcock ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gimmick moves away.
Babcock throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gimmick throws a head kick but Babcock moves out of range.
Babcock wants to clinch up but Gimmick keeps it at a distance.

Gimmick manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Babcock on his heels. He'll look to pass Babcock's guard now, I'm sure.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gimmick with a flurry of punches that miss.

Babcock has his foot on Gimmick's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gimmick works his way back into a safe position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Babcock looking for a sweep. Not yet Babcock, not yet.
Gimmick controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gimmick's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Justin Gimmick was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A head kick misses from Gimmick.

Gimmick rushes Babcock and presses him up against the cage.
Gimmick tries to circle away but Babcock has him pinned against the cage.

Babcock has clasped his hands together around Gimmick's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Babcock trying to control the action but Gimmick is working from the bottom.
Gimmick tries to buck Babcock off but Babcock is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gimmick prevents Babcock from moving into mount.
Gimmick tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Babcock wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gimmick wants to get back to his feet but Babcock drags him back down.
Gimmick can't do much from the bottom here.
Babcock works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gimmick defending against the ground and pound.

Babcock is trying to get an arm triangle but Gimmick is defending well.
Gimmick parries the strikes from Babcock easily there. Babcock is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gimmick to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gimmick tries to buck Babcock off but Babcock is having none of it.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Babcock is looking to take a break and control but Gimmick is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Babcock tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Babcock grinds an elbow into Gimmick's temple.
Babcock prevents Gimmick from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Babcock seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gimmick regains half guard.
Gimmick is looking for a sweep. Babcock is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Babcock moves nicely into side control.
Gimmick can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gimmick avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Babcock.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Babcock throws a strike aimed at the side of Gimmick's head but Gimmick avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bruce Babcock will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Babcock misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gimmick shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Babcock as he avoids it easily.
Babcock throws a chopping leg kick but Gimmick manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Babcock misses with a low kick.
A head kick from Gimmick lands but Babcock takes it in his stride.

Gimmick has Babcock up against the cage in a clinch.

Gimmick's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gimmick shoots in and drives through. Babcock sprawls well.
Babcock throws a jab when Gimmick was well out of range.

Babcock pushes Gimmick up against the cage in a clinch.
Gimmick tries to pull guard but Babcock forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Bruce Babcock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Gimmick.

Gimmick escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gimmick shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Babcock as he jumps to the side.
Babcock tries to close the distance and clinch but Gimmick swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gimmick tries to close the distance and clinch but Babcock swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gimmick looks for the body kick but Babcock saw that one coming.
Gimmick uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Babcock.
Gimmick stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Babcock.
Babcock throws the kick towards the body but Gimmick avoids it.
A head kick misses from Gimmick.
Babcock has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Babcock wants to clinch.
Gimmick fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Gimmick misses with a double jab.
Gimmick tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Babcock manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Babcock looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gimmick trying to control but Babcock postures up.
Babcock is pressing down on Gimmick's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gimmick is holding on for now.
Bruce Babcock overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gimmick is trying to stand up here but Babcock is controlling him well.
Babcock missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gimmick wants to control but Babcock is keeping busy and won't allow it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gimmick manages to get to full guard.
Babcock throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gimmick works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gimmick preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Babcock trying to control the position from guard on top but Gimmick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Babcock looking to sit in guard and control but Gimmick gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Babcock has momentary wrist control but Gimmick slips an elbow through the middle.

Babcock had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gimmick defends it easily.
Babcock 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.
Babcock keeping moving, preventing Gimmick from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babcock is looking to sweep but instead, Gimmick has passed into half guard.
Gimmick tries to pass to full mount but Babcock defends it.
Gimmick missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Babcock trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Gimmick manages to pass to mount!
Gimmick trying to control but he's not successful this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Justin Gimmick will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Babcock's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gimmick tries to clinch up but Babcock circles away and keeps his distance.

Gimmick moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gimmick.
Gimmick throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Gimmick decides to pull guard.
Gimmick has control of Babcock's left arm, preventing Babcock from doing any damage.
Babcock trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gimmick trying to keep a closed guard but Babcock is proving a slippery customer.
Gimmick is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gimmick looking to hit a scissor sweep but Babcock is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gimmick keeping moving, preventing Babcock from controlling successfully.

Justin Gimmick has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Babcock thuds a left hand into Gimmick's body.
Babcock throws a right and a left that both miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gimmick looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Justin Gimmick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gimmick doesn't manage to clinch there - Babcock circles away.
Babcock avoids the head kick by Gimmick.
Babcock lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Babcock
and Gimmick counters with a right hand to the body.
Gimmick throws a sloppy head kick and Babcock moves out of range easily.

Babcock tries to sprawl but Gimmick drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Babcock is staying active underneath Gimmick, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gimmick trying to pass the guard but Babcock defending well.
Gimmick sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Babcock defending well though.
Gimmick wants to control but Babcock is keeping him busy.
Babcock is trying to get back to full guard.
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!
Babcock is refusing to be controlled, as Gimmick sits in half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Justin Gimmick hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Babcock throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gimmick's head.
Babcock looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gimmick tries to clinch but Babcock moves out of range.
Gimmick walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Babcock checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Babcock is looking to clinch.
Gimmick tries to close the distance and clinch but Babcock swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Babcock swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gimmick.
Gimmick misses with a head kick.

Gimmick drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Babcock manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gimmick is trying desperately to improve position.
Gimmick takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Babcock fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gimmick regains half guard.
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!

Babcock seems to be working for a kimura but Gimmick defends the submission attempt.
Gimmick wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gimmick tries to get to full guard but Babcock has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Gimmick comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gimmick 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Gimmick!
Justin Gimmick very nearly forgot to thank Red Square Fight Gear amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.