PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kingsley Babajide (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Herminio Herculano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Babajide
vs
Herculano

169 cm
26
157 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
26
170 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kingsley Babajide!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Herminio Herculano!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab from Babajide.
Babajide throws a hook but Herculano avoids it easily.
Herculano is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Babajide looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Babajide just misses with a punch to the body.
Herculano tries to counter by closing the distance.
Babajide has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Rabid Dog in the buildup to the fight.
Babajide throws a right hand that misses
and Herculano counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Kingsley Babajide has been cut.
Herculano slips a straight right by Babajide.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babajide throws a body shot but no joy.
Babajide sets himself, and Herculano steps forward looking for the clinch! Babajide avoids it this time.
Babajide misses with an uppercut. Herculano saw that one coming.
Babajide thows a left - swing and a miss!
Herculano looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kingsley Babajide seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babajide misses the shot to the body.
Babajide sets himself, and Herculano steps forward looking for the clinch! Babajide avoids it this time.
Herculano walks into a straight right hand from Babajide.
Babajide misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Herculano counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Herculano.
Babajide has a couple of punches blocked by Herculano.
Herculano stalling the fight.
Herculano blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Babajide fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Come on Herculano - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Babajide stalling in the clinch.
Herculano misses with a hook to the ribs.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Herculano displaying some good clinch control by pressing Babajide up against the cage.
Babajide looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herculano works on Babajide's body with a couple of short punches.
Babajide wants a takedown.
Herculano stalling in the clinch but Babajide improves position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Herculano.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Herculano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Herculano lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Herculano takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Herculano is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Herminio Herculano.
Babajide pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Babajide pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Herculano wants to counter with a clinch but Babajide pushes him away.
Babajide doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Herculano counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kingsley Babajide. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babajide throws out a loose jab but Herculano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Herculano looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Herculano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Babajide.
Babajide misses with a hook
and Herculano counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Babajide misses the shot to the body.
Herculano tries to counter by closing the distance.
Good standup being displayed there by Babajide as he connects with a hook.
Babajide swings widly with a right hand
and Herculano counters with a straight right hand.
Babajide looks to land a left hand but Herculano moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babajide misses with a hook to the body
and Herculano counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Babajide misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Herculano.
Herculano steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Babajide.
Babajide misses with a takedown attempt - Herculano sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Herculano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Babajide.
Herculano slips a straight right by Babajide.
Herculano tries to counter with a clinch but Babajide shakes him off and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Babajide swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Herculano ducks under a wild hook from Babajide.
Herculano wants to counter the offense by Babajide and move into the clinch position.
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 Kingsley Babajide will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kingsley Babajide's cut.
That's time! Babajide's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Babajide tries for a takedown but Herculano circles away easily
and Herculano counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Babajide throws a jab but it's blocked by Herculano.
Babajide misses the shot to the body.
Babajide with a lazy takedown attempt
and Herculano counters with a nice body shot.
Babajide shoots in and drives through. Herculano sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kingsley Babajide. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babajide swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Herculano tries to counter by closing the distance.
Babajide swings for the body but Herculano moves out of range.
Herculano tries to counter by closing the distance.
Babajide scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babajide doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Herculano counters by moving into the clinch.
Herculano lands a shoulder strike.
Herculano stalling.
Herculano has Babajide pushed against the cage.
Herculano gets underhooks to prevent Babajide's takedown attempt.
A shot in the inside from Babajide.
Herculano lands an uppercut.
Herculano stalling the fight.
Babajide has had enough of the clinch but Herculano keeps him there for the moment.
Herculano taking a breather.
Babajide has had enough of the clinch but Herculano keeps him there for the moment.
Herculano is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Herculano lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herculano throws a punch but it's blocked by Babajide.
Babajide leaning his opponent against the cage.
Good body shot from Herculano.
A nice left hand lands by Herculano.
A right hook to the body lands for Babajide.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Babajide.
Herculano tries to stall but Babajide uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Babajide wants to get back to striking at distance but Herculano won't allow it.
Herculano digs a right hand into Babajide's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Babajide's gas tank.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Babajide letting Herculano take a breather here.
Herculano lands an uppercut.
Babajide fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Herculano misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babajide tries to throw a body punch but Herculano avoids it by throwing Babajide back against the cage.
Babajide lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A hook to the body from Herculano.
Herculano lands a right hand that snaps the head of Babajide backwards.
Babajide lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Babajide swings wildly with an uppercut but Herculano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Babajide is looking to take this one to the mat.
Babajide swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Herminio Herculano seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Herculano gets underhooks to prevent Babajide's takedown attempt.
Herculano struggles to land a body shot inside as Babajide controls his hands.
Babajide lands with a left to the head.
Babajide working hard to break the clinch.
Herculano is stalling here.
Herculano lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Herculano.
Herculano dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herculano blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Babajide misses with a body punch.
Herculano working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Herculano lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Herculano scores with a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Herculano is trying to stall.
Herculano tries to throw a body punch but Babajide avoids it by throwing Herculano back against the cage.
Herculano slows down the pace here.
Babajide lands a hook that snaps the head of Herculano backwards.
Herculano is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Herculano tries a body shot but Babajide blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Herculano.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herminio Herculano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kingsley Babajide's cut.
That's time! Babajide's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Herculano doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Herculano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Herculano wants to counter with a clinch but Babajide pushes him away.
Babajide throws a hook to the side of Herculano's head but Herculano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Herculano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Herculano steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Babajide.

Babajide fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Herculano sprawls well initially but Babajide persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Babajide is trying to control the action in half guard but Herculano is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babajide works his foot free and advances to mount.
Babajide wants to take Herculano's back here but Herculano is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Herculano really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Babajide. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babajide can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Herculano is looking to escape.
Herculano wants to hold on but Babajide pushes him away.

Babajide is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Herculano is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Herculano flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Babajide anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Herculano and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Babajide slips an arm under Herculano chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Babajide has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Babajide is squeezing on Herculano like an anaconda would it's prey. Herculano fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kingsley Babajide!
Kingsley Babajide retains his lightweight title!