PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Robert Amsterdam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Babawto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Amsterdam
vs
Babawto

180 cm
19
180 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Robert Amsterdam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Renato Babawto!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Babawto looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Amsterdam is controlling Babawto's trapped leg to prevent Babawto from advancing to side control.
Amsterdam blocking the ground and pound attempt from Babawto.
Babawto trying to pass the guard but Amsterdam defending well.
Amsterdam wants to control but Babawto is keeping busy.
Amsterdam is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babawto content to control rather than advance.
Babawto is looking to take a break and control but Amsterdam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Amsterdam actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babawto controlling the pace.
Amsterdam slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Amsterdam looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Babawto passes into half guard.
Amsterdam trying to control here.
Babawto prevents Amsterdam from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Amsterdam is trying to maintain the position but Babawto is very close to passing his half guard.
Amsterdam is looking for a sweep. Babawto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Amsterdam is trying to maintain the position but Babawto is very close to passing his half guard.
Amsterdam tries to roll over but Babawto keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Amsterdam manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Amsterdam seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Amsterdam looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Babawto is working Amsterdam over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Babawto throwing strikes from guard but Amsterdam blocks nicely.
Amsterdam keeping moving, preventing Babawto from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babawto throws a big elbow that misses.
Babawto trying to control but Amsterdam is working from the bottom.
Amsterdam trying to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Babawto throws a jab but it's blocked by Amsterdam.
Amsterdam shoots in for a takedown but Babawto shows good takedown defense.
Amsterdam lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Babawto circles away quickly and effectively.
Renato Babawto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Babawto closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Amsterdam's guard.
Babawto tries to free his leg and advance position but Amsterdam is retaining full guard.

Amsterdam isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Babawto stacks Amsterdam on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Babawto!
My spies in Team Tussle inform me that Babawto has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Amsterdam tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Babawto presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amsterdam avoids a series of strikes thrown by Babawto.
Babawto lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Babawto tries to control but Amsterdam wriggling away.
Amsterdam knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Babawto on the ground.
Amsterdam wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Babawto.
Amsterdam wants to hold on but Babawto pushes him away.
Amsterdam bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Amsterdam got a little sloppy there for a moment and Babawto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Amsterdam has managed to get both his arms back between Babawto's legs - danger averted.
Amsterdam throwing strikes from guard but Babawto blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Babawto dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Babawto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Babawto throws a series of punches but Amsterdam avoids them all with ease.
Amsterdam throws a body shot but no joy.
Babawto throws a jab when Amsterdam was well out of range.
Amsterdam stuffs the takedown attempt from Babawto. Babawto gets slowly back to his feet.
Babawto tries a head kick but it misses.
Babawto throws a sloppy head kick and Amsterdam moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amsterdam closes the distance and clinches up with Babawto, looking for a takedown. Amsterdam pushes Babawto against the cage but Babawto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Amsterdam shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Babawto misses with a wild combination.
Babawto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Amsterdam misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Amsterdam. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amsterdam leaves Babawto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Amsterdam shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Babawto defends it nicely.
Renato Babawto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Amsterdam fails with a takedown attempt.

Babawto darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Babawto is looking to take a break and control but Amsterdam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amsterdam manages to get to full guard.
Amsterdam trying to keep a closed guard but Babawto is proving a slippery customer.
Babawto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Amsterdam is trying to keep Babawto in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babawto throwing strikes from guard but Amsterdam blocks nicely.
Amsterdam controls Babawto momentarily but Babawto frees himself.
Amsterdam keeping moving, preventing Babawto from controlling successfully.
Amsterdam trying to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Amsterdam fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Amsterdam stuffs the takedown.
Babawto throws an off balance right hand

and Amsterdam counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Babawto!
Amsterdam working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amsterdam in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Renato Babawto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Babawto dodges the ground and pound from Amsterdam.
Babawto wants to control but Amsterdam postures up.
Babawto dodges the ground and pound from Amsterdam.
Babawto struggling a bit here.
Babawto has one of Amsterdam's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Babawto is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Babawto manages to get back to half guard.
Ground and pound from Amsterdam.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Babawto is trying to control but can't.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Babawto is staying active underneath Amsterdam, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Babawto wants to control but Amsterdam is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Renato Babawto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Amsterdam shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Babawto as he jumps to the side.
Amsterdam blocks a head kick by Babawto.

Babawto closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Amsterdam tries to roll over but Babawto keeps him under control.
Amsterdam has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Babawto is working away from the top position though.
Babawto controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Babawto is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Amsterdam wants to control but Babawto is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amsterdam wants to get back to full guard.
Babawto takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Babawto wants to work for an arm triangle but Amsterdam is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Amsterdam won't allow Babawto to pass to mount.
Amsterdam trying to hold on to Babawto's head to control him but Babawto postures up.
Amsterdam wants to get back to full guard.

Amsterdam looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Amsterdam tries to get to full guard but Babawto has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Babawto is pressing down on Amsterdam's thigh, looking to free his foot. Amsterdam is holding on for now.
Babawto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Babawto tries to pass to full mount but Amsterdam defends it.
Babawto uses his free foot to push down on Amsterdam's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Amsterdam.
Amsterdam tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Babawto looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Amsterdam keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babawto avoids the attempt from Amsterdam to control.
Amsterdam is squirming around, avoiding Babawto's attempts to control the action.
Amsterdam keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Babawto can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Amsterdam is looking to escape.
Babawto controlling the pace for now.
Amsterdam blocking the ground and pound.
Poor strikes thrown by Babawto there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Renato Babawto is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babawto controlling from mount.
Amsterdam tries to hold on but Babawto postures up.
Amsterdam is trying desperately to improve position.
Amsterdam wants to control but Babawto is having none of it.
Robert Amsterdam has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Amsterdam working to try and regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Amsterdam is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Babawto can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Amsterdam is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato Babawto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Babawto 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renato Babawto!
Post fight, Renato Babawto stared into the camera and said 'Believe in Jiu Jitsu My Friend!!'.
Robert Amsterdam spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back.'.