PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between George Spiros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Babenco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). George Spiros has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Spiros
vs
Babenco

190 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
171 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, George Spiros!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Babenco!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spiros doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Babenco counters by moving into the clinch.
Spiros looking to slow down the pace here.

Babenco gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Spiros throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Babenco wanted to stand there but Spiros had control of the position.
Spiros throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Spiros is looking to stand up but Babenco isn't so interested in that idea.
Spiros tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Babenco drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Spiros manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Babenco has Spiros in his guard.
Spiros will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Babenco trying to keep a closed guard but Spiros is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babenco pulls Spiros in to control the position.

Spiros is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Babenco is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Babenco has escaped and now he's on top!
Babenco is stalling in the full guard.
Spiros not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spiros keeping full guard, as Babenco tries to pass.
Babenco trying to control the position from guard on top but Spiros is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Joe Babenco wasn't active enough on the ground.
Spiros shoots in looking for a takedown but Babenco manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Spiros's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Babenco closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Spiros quickly recovers to half guard.
Spiros is looking to improve his position.
Babenco controlling the pace.
Spiros is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spiros wants to control but Babenco is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Spiros looks like he's trying to stand up.
Spiros wants to get back to full guard.
Spiros is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Babenco's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Babenco's back!
Babenco just trying to survive but Spiros is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Babenco tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spiros struggling to land strikes to the head as Babenco covers up.

Spiros looking for the RNC.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Spiros struggling to keep hold of the position.
Babenco really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Spiros. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Babenco avoids the strikes from Spiros.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Babenco is keeping busy.
Babenco trying to control the hands but Spiros breaks the grip.
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 George Spiros will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Spiros closes the distance and clinches up with Babenco, looking for a takedown. Spiros pushes Babenco against the cage but Babenco circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Spiros blocks a head kick by Babenco.
Spiros shoots and misses
and Babenco counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Babenco scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Spiros tries to close the distance and clinch up but Babenco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice sprawl there from Babenco as Spiros shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Spiros. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spiros tries to close the distance and clinch but Babenco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Spiros gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Babenco counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Babenco dives in and scores a takedown into Spiros's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Babenco throws a big elbow that misses.
Babenco wants to control from the top but Spiros keeps moving.
Babenco wants to get up but he can't break Spiros's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spiros wants to sweep here but Babenco controlling him for the moment.
Spiros controls Babenco momentarily but Babenco frees himself.
Spiros preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Spiros has his foot on Babenco's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Babenco works his way back into a safe position though.
Babenco must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Spiros escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Babenco gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Spiros is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spiros is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Babenco defends well.
Babenco trying to control but Spiros is working from the bottom.
Spiros is pulling down on Babenco's head to control his posture.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Spiros is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Babenco defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babenco with a flurry of punches that miss.
Babenco looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joe Babenco was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Spiros swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Spiros tries to clinch
letting Babenco counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babenco defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Spiros.

Babenco looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Spiros is trying to get back to full guard.
Spiros is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spiros looks like he's trying to stand up.
Babenco is looking to advance position but Spiros won't allow it.
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.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Babenco pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Spiros back to the cage. Babenco follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Babenco pivots, looking for a leg kick but Spiros is out of range and Babenco settles back down.
Spiros shoots in looking for a takedown. Babenco tries to sprawl out of it but Spiros keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Babenco manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Spiros with a poor takedown

and Babenco moves into the clinch.

Babenco turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Babenco controlling from side mount.
Spiros is trying to get back to half guard.
Spiros wants to control but Babenco postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spiros tries to buck Babenco off but Babenco is having none of it.
Spiros is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Spiros keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Babenco passes the guard and advances to mount!
Spiros is trying desperately to improve position.
Spiros 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babenco is looking to stall here but Spiros recovers full guard.
Spiros working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spiros preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Spiros keeping moving, preventing Babenco from controlling successfully.
Spiros is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Spiros is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Spiros is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Babenco is controlling him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Babenco throws a quick inside leg kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Spiros enables Babenco to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Spiros manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Spiros wants to sweep but no luck.
Spiros working a defensive guard here.
Spiros looking to hit a scissor sweep but Babenco is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babenco won't allow Spiros to get back to his feet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Spiros pulls Babenco in to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because George Spiros just wasn't active enough.

Babenco shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Spiros's guard.
Babenco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spiros not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Babenco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spiros is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spiros is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Babenco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Babenco has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Joe Babenco!
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight for Joe Babenco!
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight for Joe Babenco!

Joe Babenco wins by unanimous decision!