PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Badou Baha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafal Kula (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?

Baha
vs
Kula

187 cm
17
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Badou Baha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafal Kula!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Shimada and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baha connects with a body shot that sends Kula's belly button to the back.
Kula fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baha manages to avoid it.
Kula lands a jab to the head.
Baha throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kula looks to land a combination but Baha avoids it well.
Kula misses with a combination

and Baha counters by clinching up.
Baha lands an uppercut.
Kula has a couple of punches blocked by Baha.

Kula's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Baha takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Baha moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sloppy strikes from Kula. Those never looked like landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Baha misses the target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kula throws a body shot but no joy.
Kula takes a swing at Baha's ribcage but misses.
Kula throws a nice looking combination but Baha bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kula connects with a single shot there.
Kula throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baha uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kula.
Kula misses with a body shot.
Baha throwing a counter right hand but Kula manages to avoid it.
Baha seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Kula cracks Baha with an open hand slap.
Kula throws a series of punches but Baha avoids them all with ease.
Kula takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Baha works Kula's body with a nice hook.
Nice uppercut lands for Baha. That snapped Kula's head back.
Kula throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Baha instigates a clinch.
Kula misses with a punch on the inside.
Kula tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kula fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Kula breaks the clinch.
Kula swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Baha counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baha keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like Baha was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kula.
Baha takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kula is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Baha rather than just go for the knockout.
Baha scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kula misses with a two punch combination.
Sloppy strikes from Baha. Those never looked like landing.
Kula misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kula on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kula just misses with a punch to the body.
Baha drops his hands momentarily and Kula takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kula swings widly with a right hand

and Baha counters by clinching up.
A right hand to the body from Baha.
Kula lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kula swings wildly with an uppercut but Baha uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kula wants to break free but Baha has control.
Kula blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Baha lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Baha - that landed with a thud.
Baha lands with a left to the head.
Kula has a couple of punches blocked by Baha.
Baha gets through Kula's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Baha.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Baha.
Baha has Kula pressed against the ropes, preventing Kula from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kula tries to break free but Baha pushes him back against the ropes.
Kula has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Baha lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short left from Baha.
Baha lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Baha presses Kula against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Baha lands a nice shot to the body.
Baha struggles to land a body shot inside as Kula controls his hands.
Kula struggles to land a body shot inside as Baha controls his hands.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Baha.
Kula tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Baha throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kulas head.
Kula blocking some punches.
Kula swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Baha.
Baha lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Baha.
Baha lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Good body shot from Baha.
A head punch on the inside from Kula fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Baha.
Baha lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Baha blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Baha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Baha misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kula can't break the clinch.
Baha scores with a nice hook to the head.
Baha lands a body punch.
Baha lands an uppercut.
Kula throws a head punch that misses.
Baha lands with a light punch inside.
Baha lands a body punch in the clinch.
Baha has Kula pressed against the ropes, preventing Kula from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Baha blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Baha tries a body shot but Kula blocks it.
Baha digs a right hand underneath Kula's ribcage. Kula let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Baha throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kulas head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kula throws a punch but it's blocked by Baha.
Baha lands with a left to the head.
A short right from Baha on the inside.
Kula misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kula's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kula rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Baha counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kula throws a series of punches but Baha moves out of range.
Kula looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rafal Kula seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kula misses with a double jab

and Baha counters by moving into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Baha.

Kula breaks the clinch.
Kula throws a lazy uppercut

and Baha counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Baha scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Baha tries a body shot but Kula blocks it.
Baha blocks an uppercut.
Good body shot from Baha.
Baha is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kula can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baha lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Kula breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rafal Kula seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baha moves out of range of the strikes.
Baha tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kula was well out of range. Poor timing from Baha.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kula uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Baha.
Kula throws a lazy uppercut
and Baha counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Baha both land. Nice combination.
Kula scores with a crisp jab that stopped Baha in his tracks.
Kula missing with a left hand there. Baha was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kula takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Baha throws a series of punches but Kula avoids them all with ease.
Kula takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kula fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Baha on the side of the head.
Kula is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Baha.
Baha lands with a shot to the body.
Rafal Kula is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baha scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kula in his tracks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kula throws an off balance right hand
and Baha counters with a right hand to the body.
Baha lands a jab to Kula's midsection.

Baha closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kula.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kula misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Baha lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kula or not.

Kula manages to break the clinch.
Kula displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Baha throws out the jab.
Baha misses with a hook
and Kula counters with a right hand to the body.
Kula throws a hook to the side of Baha's head but Baha sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kula throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Baha counters with a nice body shot.
Kula on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A combination from Kula does no damage.
Baha lands a nice shot that snaps Kula's head back.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kula throws a head punch that misses.
Kula throws a punch but it's blocked by Baha.
Baha lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kula backwards.
Baha goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Baha.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Baha.
Kula misses with the head strike.
Baha lands a body punch.
Kula wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kula fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kula lands with a short shot to the head.
Baha scores with a hook to the body.
Baha lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kula backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kula.
Kula tries a body shot but Baha blocks it.
A left hand lands to the body for Baha.
Baha blocks a body shot from Kula.
Kula misses with a short punch on the inside.
Baha scores with a shoulder strike.
Kula working hard to break the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Baha scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Baha.
Kula blocking some punches.
Nice body punch from Baha - that landed with a thud.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kula misses with a punch to the body.
A short left from Baha.
Baha presses Kula against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kula tries to throw a body punch but Baha avoids it by throwing Kula back against the ropes.
Baha misses with a punch to the body.
A shot in the inside from Baha.
Baha is leaning against Kula and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kula.
Baha working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kula misses with a punch on the inside.
Kula is trying to push Baha away but Baha has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Baha softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Baha lands with a short shot to the head.
Kula swings wildly with an uppercut but Baha uses good head movement to avoid it.
Baha throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kulas head.
Baha keeps control of Kula as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nice body punch from Baha - that landed with a thud.
Kula is breathing heavily.
Baha lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kula can't find room to land a body shot as Baha controls the action.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Baha.
Kula has a couple of punches blocked by Baha.
Good body shot from Baha.
Baha blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badou Baha dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Baha fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kula fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kula blocks a jab.
Kula is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Baha blocks a jab.
Baha looks to land a left hand but Kula moved out of range nicely.
Baha throws a shot from downtown. Kula moves away and avoids it.
Kula misses with a few strikes there.
A combination from Kula does no damage.
A counter left hand to the body from Baha misses its target.
Baha lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kula backs up against the ropes.
Kula throws a hook but Baha avoids it easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kula.
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!
A big right from Kula misses.
Nice uppercut there from Baha.
Kula takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baha gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baha swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kula.
Baha looks to land a right hand but Kula moved out of range.

Baha clinches with his opponent.
Baha lands a body shot.
Baha scores with a nice hook to the head.
Baha digs a right hand underneath Kula's ribcage. Kula let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A nice left hand lands by Baha.
Baha lands a hook to the side of the head.
Baha makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kula has a couple of punches blocked by Baha.
Baha working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Baha lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kula or not.
Baha throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kulas head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kula throws a head punch that misses.
Good body shot from Baha.
Kula swings wildly with an uppercut but Baha uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Baha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Baha.
Baha lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Kula's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Baha moves into the clinch successfully.
Baha scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Baha gets through Kula's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kula is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Kula tries to work over Baha's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Baha lands with a left to the head.
Baha lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kula backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Baha creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Baha.
A nice left hand lands by Baha.
Baha misses with a body punch.
Baha lands a hook that snaps the head of Kula backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kula.
Kula tries to break free but Baha pushes him back against the ropes.
Kula misses with a punch on the inside.
Baha scores with a shot to the side of Kula's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baha works on Kula's body with a couple of short punches.
Baha keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kula's efforts to push away.
Baha lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kula backwards.
Baha lands a hook that snaps the head of Kula backwards.
Baha lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Kula is rocked!
Baha lands with a left to the head.
Kula is still on wobbly legs! Can Baha finish him?
Kula takes a shot to the head.
Baha scores with a shoulder strike.
Baha blocks an uppercut.
Baha stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Baha.
Baha lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kula backwards.
Baha pushes Kula against the ropes. Baha is working some dirty boxing. Baha pushes off with a quick right hook! Kula goes down! Kula tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Baha moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Badou Baha!
Badou Baha spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.