PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Herb Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joeli Babitu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hunter comes to the cage accompanied by Intimidation mixtape. 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.

Hunter
vs
Babitu

180 cm
28
183 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

188 cm
31
180 lbs
23 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

The Empire Clothing and Laundry

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Herb Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joeli Babitu!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Babitu swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hunter counters with a slapping leg kick.
Babitu blocks a low kick nicely.
Hunter fails to land with a series of punches.
Joeli Babitu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunter slips under a jab.
Babitu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hunter avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Babitu motions for Hunter to come forward. Babitu throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hunter throws a big counter combination but Babitu scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Babitu has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
The crowd cheers as Babitu lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hunter doesn't seem phased though.
Babitu connects with a leg kick. Hunter looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Babitu lands with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babitu throws a right and a left that Hunter avoids nicely.
A left lands for Babitu.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hunter. Babitu does a little dance to reset his feet.

Babitu has closed the distance and engaged Hunter in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Babitu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Babitu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Babitu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hunter.
Hunter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hunter lands a left hand that snaps the head of Babitu backwards.
Babitu blocking some punches.
Babitu comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Babitu.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hunter.
Babitu throws a head punch that misses.
Babitu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Babitu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Babitu working aggressively here.
Babitu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hunter misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hunter softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Babitu struggles to land a body shot inside as Hunter controls his hands.
Hunter misses with a body punch.
Hunter with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A short left from Hunter.
Babitu blocking some punches.
Babitu lands a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Babitu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babitu pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Babitu's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Babitu throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hunter throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Babitu blocks it with crossed arms.
Babitu is working Hunter over against the cage.
Babitu lands a left hand.
Babitu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hunter backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Hunter fails to land.
Babitu looking to throw knees to the head but Hunter is blocking nicely.
Hunter misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hunter tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Babitu's elbow.
Babitu lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hunter or not.

Babitu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Babitu tries to clinch up but Hunter circles away and keeps his distance.
Babitu thuds a left hand into Hunter's body.
Babitu bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hunter's head backwards.
Babitu lands with a good body shot.
Hunter throws a push kick but Babitu slaps the foot to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babitu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Babitu lands a nice hook to Hunter's body. Hunter takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nice shot lands for Babitu.
Babitu lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hunter lands a head kick. Babitu smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Babitu tries a head kick but it misses.
Babitu is looking to clinch but Hunter is avoiding it.
Babitu misses with a wild body shot.
As Babitu looks to move away, Hunter throws a big counter combo bu Babitu just gets out of the way.
Babitu misses with a body kick.
Hunter scoring well with a low kick there.
Hunter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hunter.

Hunter clinches up against the cage.
Hunter lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Hunter blocks an uppercut.
Hunter scores with a shoulder strike.
Babitu working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Babitu has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Hunter manages to break the clinch.
Babitu throws a head kick but Hunter moves out of range.
Babitu throws a hook but Hunter blocks it.
Hunter moves away from the strike by Babitu.
Hunter swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Babitu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hunter was well out of range. Poor timing from Babitu.
Babitu misses with a body shot.
Hunter keeps Babitu at a distance using the push kick.
Babitu connects with a body shot.
Babitu tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hunter is able to avoid easily.
It looked like Hunter was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Babitu lands the left hand.
Hunter lands a nice shot that snaps Babitu's head back.
Hunter lands a nice looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joeli Babitu dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Babitu throws a low kick but Hunter avoids it.
Hunter slips under a jab.
Hunter tried to counter with a leg kick but Babitu avoided it.
Babitu thows a body kick. Hunter tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Babitu throws a leg kick but Hunter sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hunter tried to counter with a leg kick but Babitu avoided it.

Babitu gets a clinch.
Babitu lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A body shot lands from Babitu.

Babitu breaks from the clinch.
Babitu defending well as Hunter loads up on a big left hand.
Herb Hunter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hunter takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Babitu scores with a push kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babitu scores with a kick to the body.
Babitu bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hunter slips under a jab.
Hunter takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babitu misses with a low kick.
Hunter cracks a nice hook into Babitu's ribs.
Babitu tries to clinch but Hunter moves out of range.
Hunter appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Babitu cracks Hunter with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Babitu tries a low kick but Hunter avoids it.
Nice straight punches there by Babitu. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Babitu.
Hunter fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Babitu looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Babitu scores with a jab. Hunter acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Babitu lands a lovely overhand right.
Babitu throws a low kick but Hunter moves out of range easily.
Hunter slips a straight right by Babitu.
A jab lands there for Babitu.
Hunter blocks a low kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Babitu.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Babitu lands a nice hook to Hunter's body. Hunter takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Babitu tries to clinch but Hunter is having none of it.
A head kick from Babitu lands but Hunter takes it in his stride.
Babitu throws a leg kick but Hunter moved away.
Hunter looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hunter.
Babitu tries to clinch but Hunter moves out of range.
Babitu blocks a jab.
Babitu swinging wildly here.
Babitu closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hunter counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babitu fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hunter on the side of the head.
Hunter throws a chopping leg kick but Babitu manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Hunter avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Babitu lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hunter has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hunter and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hunter half committed to a counter leg kick.
Babitu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hunter.
Babitu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hunter was well out of range. Poor timing from Babitu.
A counter left hand to the body from Hunter misses its target.
Babitu looks to score with a jab to the body but Hunter is just out of range.
Hunter ducks under a wild hook from Babitu.
Babitu slips a straight right by Hunter.
Babitu tries a head kick but it misses.
Hunter throwing a counter right hand but Babitu manages to avoid it.
Babitu walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hunter.
Hunter wants to clinch up but Babitu keeps it at a distance.
Babitu misses with a low kick.
It appears Hunter was looking to counter with a kick there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter throws a head kick but Babitu moves out of range.
Hunter slips under a jab from Babitu.
An inside leg kick lands from Hunter.
Babitu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hunter is looking to wear down Babitu with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Babitu throws a hook but Hunter blocks it.
Hunter misses with a few strikes there.
Babitu throws out a counter right but Hunter avoids it with no problem.
Babitu throws a one two combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A chopping leg kick lands by Babitu.
Hunter attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Babitu throws a head kick that misses.
Babitu bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A slow jab from Babitu misses its intended target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joeli Babitu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Babitu throws a lazy right hand but Hunter sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hunter walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Babitu checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Babitu's corner calls for a 1-2. Babitu obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Babitu tries to close the distance and clinch but Hunter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Babitu throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Good leg kick by Babitu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A bone on bone clash there as Babitu blocks the leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Hunter finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Babitu. That's going to slow Hunter down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babitu connects with the punch.
Hunter works Babitu's body with a nice hook.
Babitu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hunter blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babitu connects with a high kick.
Hunter throws a body punch but Babitu moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Babitu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Hunter tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Babitu is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hunter with a body shot.
Babitu misses with a looping right.
Babitu tries to score with a low kick but Hunter moves his leg out of the way.
Babitu walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hunter lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Babitu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Babitu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hunter bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Babitu's head.
Babitu walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hunter checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Babitu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter keeps the fight on the outside.
Hunter was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hunter is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Babitu swings for the body but Hunter moves out of range.
Hunter walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Babitu misses the jab.
Herb Hunter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Babitu connects with an inside leg kick.
Hunter keeps the fight on the outside.
Hunter throws a leg kick but Babitu sees it coming and moves out of range.
Babitu is looking to clinch.
It looked like Hunter was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hunter takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Babitu lands a jab.
Nice body punch from Babitu.
Hunter throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babitu throws the kick towards the body but Hunter avoids it.
Babitu scores with a leg kick.
Babitu finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nice shot lands for Babitu.
Babitu throws a one two combo.
Hunter slips a jab from Babitu.
Babitu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hunter.
Babitu tries to close the distance and clinch but Hunter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Babitu fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Joeli Babitu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Babitu tries to land a body kick
and Hunter cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Babitu lands with an overhand left.
Babitu throws a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hunter takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hunter looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Babitu throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Babitu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Babitu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hunter uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Babitu.

Hunter lands a left and a right that send Babitu crashing to the mat, dazed. Hunter thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Babitu is rocked!

It looks like Joeli Babitu has been cut.
A head kick by Babitu misses
and Hunter scores with a counter punch that sends Babitu to the canvas! Hunter smells blood - he's punishing Babitu with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Babitu has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Herb Hunter!
A relieved looking Herb Hunter thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.