PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matias Sabio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Baal (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.

Sabio
vs
Baal

178 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 Las Vegas, Matias Sabio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Baal!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sabio shoots in and gets a takedown into Baal's guard.
Baal is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Baal really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sabio. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sabio being controlled here momentarily.
Sabio passes into half guard.
Baal wants to improve his position but Sabio is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabio is controlling the pace.
Baal is holding on to half guard well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baal is looking to control Sabio's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Baal avoid being mounted?
Sabio works his way into side control.
Baal is trying to improve his position.
Baal is not content to let Sabio control the position.

Sabio is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Baal knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sabio lands a decent elbow from side control.
Baal parries the strikes from Sabio easily there. Sabio is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Baal to escape.
Baal wants to control but Sabio postures up.
Sabio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baal keeps working.
Sabio wants to stand but Baal is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Baal is looking for a sweep.

Sabio tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Baal is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Sabio asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Sabio tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Baal pushes Sabio away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sabio gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Baal misses with a head kick.
Sabio thinks about countering with a body kick.

Sabio shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Baal's guard.
Sabio tries to stand but Baal is controlling from the bottom.
Sabio trying to control but Baal is working from the bottom.

Baal throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Baal looks winded!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sabio.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matias Sabio dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sabio shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sabio tries to clinch but Baal is having none of it.
Baal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sabio moves in looking to clinch but Baal pushes him off.
Baal shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sabio defends it nicely.

Sabio throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Baal tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sabio is in Baal's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabio stopping the sweep attempt from Baal.

Baal is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Baal keeping moving, preventing Sabio from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabio passes Baal's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sabio is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sabio is pressing down on Baal's thigh, looking to free his foot. Baal is holding on for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baal blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sabio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sabio throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sabio tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Sabio is looking to take a break and control but Baal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sabio keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sabio shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Baal but Baal pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baal tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sabio defends well and Baal ends up having to push Sabio into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Baal shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sabio eats them both and turns towards Baal to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sabio looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sabio misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matias Sabio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sabio tries to move into range but Baal moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sabio stuffs the takedown.
Baal is breathing heavily.
Good work by Sabio as he checks the leg kick.
Sabio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Baal can do to turn this around?
Sabio looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Baal misses with a takedown attempt - Sabio sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sabio wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Sabio leaves Baal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sabio throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Baal was covering up waiting for the punch and Sabio finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Baal has a closed guard, preventing Sabio from standing up.
Baal is wriggling around but Sabio manages to pass to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sabio frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matias Sabio 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!

Sabio shoots in and drives through. Baal sprawls well.
Matias Sabio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baal fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sabio tries for a takedown but Baal circles away easily

and Baal holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Baal stalling in the clinch but Sabio improves position.
Sabio tries to pull guard but Baal forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matias Sabio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sabio jumps guard but Baal stands there with Sabio around his waist. Sabio gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Baal has Sabio pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sabio manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sabio successfully pulls guard.
Baal tries to free his leg and advance position but Sabio is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sabio looking for a guillotine here but Baal defends easily.

Sabio has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Baal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sabio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Baal looking to sit in guard and control but Sabio gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Baal controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baal has momentary wrist control but Sabio slips an elbow through the middle.
Sabio has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Baal is proving hard to escape from.
Baal is looking to stand up but Sabio isn't so interested in that idea.
Sabio wanted to stand there but Baal had control of the position.
Baal wants to get back to his feet but Sabio is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabio is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Baal can't keep his opponent in guard - Sabio advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Sabio seems to be working for a kimura but Baal defends the submission attempt.
Sabio working over Baal with some ground and pound. Baal looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Baal wants to control but Sabio passes into side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabio throws an elbow but Baal slips to the side and avoids it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee asks Sabio politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Sabio prefers to stall for the moment though.
Baal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sabio is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Baal's half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matias Sabio showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sabio, 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Matias Sabio!
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Matias Sabio!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Matias Sabio!

Matias Sabio wins by unanimous decision!