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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joeli Babitu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamad Al Zahran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 188 cm
32
180 lbs
25 - 9 - 0 |
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188 cm
30
178 lbs
20 - 11 - 2 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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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
25 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joeli Babitu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
20 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Hamad Al Zahran!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Babitu lands a jab to the head.
Babitu wants to land a leg kick but Al Zahran is out of range.
Babitu connects with a body shot.
Babitu throws a nice head kick!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Al Zahran checks a leg kick.
Nice shot by Babitu.
Babitu tries to close the distance and clinch but Al Zahran swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Babitu moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Babitu jabs Al Zahran to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Al Zahran blocks a head kick by Babitu.
Al Zahran takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Babitu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Al Zahran moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Babitu is looking to slow Al Zahran down with leg kicks.
Babitu throws a low kick but Al Zahran avoids it.
Al Zahran with the counter takedown but Babitu avoids it easily.
Babitu misses with a straight right.
Al Zahran with the counter takedown but Babitu avoids it easily.
Joeli Babitu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Zahran gets tackled into the cage by Babitu. Babitu maintains the clinch.
Al Zahran misses with a hook to the ribs.
Babitu swings wildly with an uppercut but Al Zahran uses good head movement to avoid it.
Al Zahran lands a body punch in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Babitu's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Babitu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Al Zahran gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Babitu had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Al Zahran defends it easily.
Al Zahran trying to control but Babitu is working from the bottom.
Al Zahran looking to sit in guard and control but Babitu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babitu preventing the sweep.
Al Zahran looking to control.
Babitu trying to control but Al Zahran is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Al Zahran is on top in guard.
Babitu seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Al Zahran with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Babitu will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babitu has control of Al Zahran's left arm, preventing Al Zahran from doing any damage.
Al Zahran 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.
Babitu pushes Al Zahran off and scrambles back to his feet.
Al Zahran takes a kick to the side of the head.
Babitu throws a low kick but Al Zahran avoids it.
Al Zahran drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Babitu defends it well.
Babitu moves into range and clinches up with Al Zahran.
Babitu misses with a body punch.
Al Zahran tries a body shot but Babitu blocks it.
Babitu is trying to push Al Zahran away but Al Zahran has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Babitu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Babitu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Zahran has a couple of punches blocked by Babitu.
A head punch on the inside from Babitu fails to land.
Babitu struggles to land a body shot inside as Al Zahran controls his hands.
Babitu throws a head punch that misses.
Babitu scores with a shoulder strike.
Al Zahran has Babitu pressed against the cage.
Babitu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Babitu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Babitu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Al Zahran's elbow.
Al Zahran misses with a punch to the body.
Al Zahran has Babitu pressed against the cage, preventing Babitu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Babitu missing with knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Al Zahran creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Babitu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Babitu tries to throw a body punch but Al Zahran avoids it by throwing Babitu back against the cage.
Al Zahran softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Joeli Babitu dominated that round.
That's time! Babitu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Al Zahran uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Babitu.
Babitu looks to throw the jab but Al Zahran is out of range.
Babitu looks to score with a jab to the body but Al Zahran is just out of range.
Babitu wants to land a leg kick but Al Zahran is out of range.
A jab lands there for Al Zahran.
Joeli Babitu is winning the standup battle so far.
Babitu feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Al Zahran's calf.
Al Zahran takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Babitu throws a low kick but Al Zahran avoids it.
Joeli Babitu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Zahran scores with a hook to the body. Babitu takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Babitu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Al Zahran can do to turn this around?
Babitu misses with a hook. Al Zahran ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Zahran attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Al Zahran blocks a low kick nicely.
Babitu misses with a wild body shot.
Al Zahran avoids the body shot from Babitu.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Babitu throws a sloppy body shot
and Al Zahran counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Al Zahran trying to control but Babitu is working from the bottom.
Al Zahran tries to free his leg and advance position but Babitu is retaining full guard.
Al Zahran throwing strikes from guard but Babitu blocks nicely.
Babitu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Babitu keeping full guard, as Al Zahran tries to pass.
Al Zahran with a nice head shot there.
Al Zahran trying to stand up but can't free himself from Babitu's guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babitu is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Babitu misses with a body shot.
Babitu throws a head kick that misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Babitu.
Al Zahran bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Babitu lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Babitu on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
An inside leg kick from Babitu misses.
And Al Zahran tries to counter it with a takedown but Babitu pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Babitu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Babitu catches Al Zahran with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Babitu scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Al Zahran doesn't seem bothered though.
Al Zahran buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Zahran throws an overhand right that lands on Babitu's shoulder, as Babitu tries to avoid the shot.
Donk. Babitu catches Al Zahran right on the button with a cross.
Babitu chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Al Zahran can pounce on him.
Babitu scores with a punch to the head.
Babitu throws a hook but Al Zahran avoids it easily.
Al Zahran throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Babitu is looking to counter punch.
The fighters circling - Babitu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Babitu misses with a wild body shot.
Al Zahran lands with a shot to the body.
Al Zahran's corner calls for a 1-2. Al Zahran obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Babitu misses with a jab, cross combination.
Al Zahran walks forward, straight into a front kick from Babitu.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Babitu.
Al Zahran connects with a body shot that sends Babitu's belly button to the back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Babitu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Al Zahran changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Babitu swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Al Zahran.
Babitu throws a quick inside leg kick.
Al Zahran jabs Babitu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Babitu. Al Zahran does a little dance to reset his feet.
Al Zahran throws a jab but it's blocked by Babitu.
Babitu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Al Zahran. That did some damage!
Babitu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Babitu throws an overhand right that lands on Al Zahran's shoulder, as Al Zahran tries to avoid the shot.
Nice cross by Babitu.
Al Zahran misses with a takedown attempt - Babitu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Joeli Babitu dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Babitu takes a swing at Al Zahran's ribcage but misses.
Nice defenses there by Al Zahran.
Babitu misses with a hook.
Babitu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Al Zahran counters with a shoot takedown. Babitu fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Zahran looking to pass the guard.
Al Zahran with a flurry of punches that miss.
Babitu is trying to keep Al Zahran in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Zahran advances to half guard.
Al Zahran is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Al Zahran is looking to stall here but Babitu recovers full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Zahran trying to control but Babitu is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Babitu is looking to stand up but Al Zahran isn't so interested in that idea.
Al Zahran is looking to advance position but Babitu has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Al Zahran can't escape the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Zahran tries to lock up and control but Babitu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Babitu trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Al Zahran working to try and regain half guard.
Hamad Al Zahran has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babitu can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Al Zahran is looking to escape.
Al Zahran is working to get back to half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Babitu avoids the attempt from Al Zahran to control.
Al Zahran is looking to get to half guard.
Al Zahran slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Zahran is trying to maintain the position but Babitu is very close to passing his half guard.
Babitu wants to pass the guard but Al Zahran is defending well.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joeli Babitu.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Babitu, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joeli Babitu!
Joeli Babitu was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
44% |
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