PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dave Rushing (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Babenco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rushing
vs
Babenco

180 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
171 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dave Rushing!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Babenco!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paulsen Ambrosius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rushing tries to clinch but Babenco is having none of it.
Rushing shoots in but Babenco avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rushing shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Babenco sprawls well. Babenco wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rushing gets slowly back to his feet.
Babenco avoids the head kick by Rushing.
Babenco is looking to clinch.

Babenco pushes Rushing up against the cage in a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rushing - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Babenco pulls guard successfully.
Rushing trying to control the position from guard on top but Babenco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babenco looking for a sweep. Not yet Babenco, not yet.
Rushing trying to control but Babenco is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dave Rushing wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rushing throws a hook but Babenco avoids it easily.
Rushing fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Rushing. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Babenco wants to land a leg kick but Rushing is out of range.
Babenco goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rushing throws a series of strikes that have Babenco backpedaling.
Rushing shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Babenco pinned against the cage. Babenco gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Babenco lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rushing circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babenco throws a head kick but Rushing moves out of range.
Rushing throws a head kick that misses.
Babenco tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rushing defends well and Babenco ends up having to push Rushing into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Babenco is trying to pull guard but Rushing turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rushing slowing the pace effectively.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Babenco wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The referee calls for Rushing to work.
Rushing is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Babenco lands a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rushing has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Babenco is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babenco will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rushing up against the cage.
Rushing comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Rushing gets control of Babenco's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rushing will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rushing will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Babenco stays in close to Rushing's body and controls the position.
Rushing has control of Babenco's left arm, preventing Babenco from doing any damage.
Babenco prevents Rushing from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babenco trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rushing trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dave Rushing wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rushing shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Babenco pinned against the cage. Babenco gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rushing misses with a takedown

and Babenco counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Babenco slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Rushing working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Babenco doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Babenco manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Babenco wants to stand but Rushing has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Babenco will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Babenco tries to close the distance and clinch but Rushing swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Babenco leaves Rushing with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Babenco swats away the attempt to clinch by Rushing.
Babenco throws a leg kick but Rushing sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Babenco shoots in and bounces Rushing off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Babenco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rushing is keeping the position for now.
Babenco stops Rushing from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rushing looking for a sweep. Not yet Rushing, not yet.

Rushing is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Babenco tries to free his leg and advance position but Rushing is retaining full guard.
Rushing working a defensive guard here.
Babenco wants to pass the guard but Rushing is keeping the position.
Babenco is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rushing is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Babenco throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rushing works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Babenco must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Babenco is looking to stand up but Rushing won't let him.
Rushing trying to control the position.
Rushing wants to get back to his feet but Babenco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babenco trying to control but Rushing is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Joe Babenco wasn't active enough on the ground.
Babenco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rushing shoots in and drives through. Babenco sprawls well.

Babenco clinches.
Babenco tries to pull guard but Rushing holds him up against the cage and eventually Babenco drops back down to his feet.

Rushing pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Babenco clinches with his opponent.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Babenco creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Babenco prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Rushing. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rushing jumps guard but Babenco turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Babenco is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rushing to keep the fight standing.
Babenco dodges an elbow strike from Rushing.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Rushing pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rushing takes the fight into the clinch.
Babenco tries to stall but Rushing uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rushing tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Babenco smiles and moves away.
Rushing defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Babenco.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Babenco will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Rushing misses with a takedown attempt

so Babenco counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Babenco postures up.
Babenco controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rushing looking to hit a scissor sweep but Babenco is one step ahead there.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Babenco looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dave Rushing wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rushing darts in looking for a takedown but Babenco gets double underhooks and turns Rushing into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rushing is pushing Babenco up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rushing jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Babenco walks away with a smile on his face. Rushing gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Rushing. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rushing tries to clinch there but Babenco circles away.
A combination from Babenco does no damage.
Rushing will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Babenco tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Babenco defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rushing.
Babenco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rushing swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rushing shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rushing looks to clinch

and Babenco counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Babenco.
Babenco with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Babenco goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rushing prevents it.
Rushing misses with some punches.
A bit of stalling here from Rushing.

Babenco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rushing misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dave Rushing is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Babenco takes the fight into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babenco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rushing is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rushing tries to land knees in the clinch but Babenco avoids the damage to the body.
Rushing content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rushing tries to break the clinch but Babenco is controlling the position.
Joe Babenco seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rushing is working Babenco over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babenco taking a breather.
A frustrated look appears on Babenco's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Rushing breaks the clinch.
Rushing misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rushing throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Dave Rushing is winning the standup battle so far.
Babenco shoots in looking for a takedown. Rushing tries to sprawl out of it but Babenco keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rushing manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rushing tries to clinch there but Babenco circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rushing misses with a head kick.

Rushing rushes Babenco and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joe Babenco.
I've got Babenco 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 for Joe Babenco!
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Joe Babenco!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight for Joe Babenco!

Joe Babenco wins by unanimous decision!