PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafe Barrientos (ranked 1837 p4p, 209 weight class) and Afeef Isa Baba (ranked 2453 p4p, 268 weight class). Baba comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Nation Arabic Orchestra kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Barrientos
vs
Isa Baba

180 cm
28
178 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

181 cm
33
172 lbs
9 - 2 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Organic Nutrition

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rafe Barrientos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Afeef Isa Baba!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barrientos misses with a hook
and Baba counters with a straight right hand.
Barrientos darts in looking for a takedown but Baba gets double underhooks and turns Barrientos into the cage.
Baba is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Barrientos with a body shot.

Barrientos looking to score a takedown here. Baba is defending well but Barrientos drives through and ends up in Baba's guard.
Baba seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barrientos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baba is keeping the position for now.
Baba keeping moving, preventing Barrientos from controlling successfully.
Barrientos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barrientos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Baba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barrientos stands and throws Baba's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Barrientos in side control, throwing shots but Baba defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrientos tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Baba is not content to let Barrientos control the position.
Barrientos with the ground and pound but Baba regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Baba blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barrientos.

Barrientos is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Baba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barrientos is nestled in close to Baba, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baba wants to improve his position but Barrientos is controlling well.
Barrientos sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Baba defending well though.
Barrientos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Barrientos seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Baba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Baba is holding on to half guard well.

Barrientos is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Barrientos is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Barrientos seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Baba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrientos looks to land a strike but Baba avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Barrientos has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Barrientos throwing strikes but missing.
Baba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barrientos prevents Baba from getting back to his feet.
Barrientos slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Baba regains half guard there - taking advantage of Barrientos's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Baba is trying to stand back up but Barrientos is controlling him
Barrientos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barrientos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baba trying to control from the bottom.
Barrientos throwing shots but Baba is blocking nicely.

Barrientos is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Barrientos is keen to just control but Baba is a slippery customer.

Barrientos is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Barrientos lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barrientos thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafe Barrientos dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Baba throws a good cross that connects.
That kick from Baba tenderised Barrientos's leg. Barrientos is trying to keep his angry face on.
Barrientos is looking to clinch but Baba is avoiding it.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Baba.
Jab, jab by Baba - just one landing.
Barrientos throws a body punch but Baba moves out of range.

Barrientos takes the fight into the clinch.
Baba lands with a light punch inside.
Baba lands a body punch in the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Barrientos has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Barrientos's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Baba.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barrientos wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A left hand lands to the body for Baba.
Barrientos working aggressively here.
Barrientos swings wildly with an uppercut but Baba uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barrientos misses with a body punch.
Baba blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baba throws a punch but it's blocked by Barrientos.
Baba blocking some punches.
Barrientos tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Baba lands a body punch.
Baba blocks an uppercut.
Barrientos fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Baba lands with a light punch inside.
Barrientos throws a punch but it's blocked by Baba.
Barrientos tries to land knees in the clinch but Baba avoids the damage to the body.
Baba is working Barrientos over against the cage.
Baba lands a right hand.
Barrientos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Barrientos is trying to break the clinch but Baba is controlling him.
Barrientos tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Baba's elbow.
A short left from Baba.
Baba tries to work over Barrientos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Baba is leaning against Barrientos and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Baba lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Barrientos backwards.
Barrientos working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baba blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Baba lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baba lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Afeef Isa Baba seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Baba working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Baba.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baba lands an uppercut.
Barrientos tries to circle away but Baba has him pinned against the cage.
Baba lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barrientos misses with a punch on the inside.
Knees in the clinch landing for Barrientos.
Barrientos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Baba just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nice body punch from Baba - that landed with a thud.
Baba misses with a hook to the ribs.
Baba softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Baba.
Barrientos lands an uppercut.
Baba throws a punch but it's blocked by Barrientos.
Barrientos is working for takedown but Baba is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baba tries to work over Barrientos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Baba lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Barrientos backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Baba.
Baba digs a right hand underneath Barrientos's ribcage. Barrientos let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Barrientos can't break the clinch.
Baba lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Barrientos pushes off an throws an elbow but Baba leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Baba tries a body shot but Barrientos blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barrientos.
Baba is working Barrientos over against the cage.
Nice body punch from Baba.
Baba lands an uppercut.

Barrientos is rocked!
Baba has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice body punch from Baba.
A left hand lands to the body for Baba.
A right hand to the body from Baba.
Baba makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Oh Barrientos is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Baba creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Barrientos's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Barrientos drops to his knees and Baba pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Afeef Isa Baba!
During a confident post fight interview, Afeef Isa Baba thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Rafe Barrientos spoke after the fight, saying 'Fuck you. Suck this dick!'.