PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francisco Babyara (ranked 1959 p4p, 236 weight class) and Fanta Coco (ranked 2549 p4p, 283 weight class). Fanta Coco has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Babyara
vs
Coco

208 cm
25
270 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

195 cm
32
230 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

Freebok (85% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Francisco Babyara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fanta Coco!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Colin Fotheringham and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Coco throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Babyara will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Babyara throws a body shot but no joy.
Coco scores with a crisp jab that stopped Babyara in his tracks.
Babyara swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Babyara misses with a body shot
and Coco counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Babyara is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Coco lands with a straight right. Babyara didn't see that one coming.
Babyara takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Babyara throws a hook to the side of Coco's head but Coco sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Coco looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
It looked like Babyara was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Coco.
Coco scores with a shot to the body.
Babyara looks to land a left hand but Coco moved out of range nicely.
Babyara blocks a head kick by Coco.
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!
Babyara missing with a left hand there. Coco was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coco throws a poor cross that misses
letting Babyara counter with a right hand.

It looks like Fanta Coco has been cut.
Coco keeps Babyara at a distance using the push kick.
Babyara throws the left hand but Coco avoids the punch easily.
Babyara misses the jab.
Coco rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Babyara moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Coco has closed the distance and engaged Babyara in a clinch.

Coco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've been told by Babyara's head coaches at London MMA Club that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Coco lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Babyara throws a looping overhand right but Coco ducks down to avoid it.
Babyara swings widly with a right hand
and Coco counters with a nice low kick that buckles Babyara's knee momentarily.
Sloppy strikes from Babyara. Those never looked like landing.

Coco gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Coco prevents Babyara from breaking the clinch.
Babyara has had enough of the clinch but Coco keeps him there for the moment.
Coco prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babyara misses with the head strike.
Coco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Coco lands with a left to the head.
Babyara softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Babyara tries to pull guard but Coco holds him up against the cage and eventually Babyara drops back down to his feet.
Coco lands a hook to the side of the head.

Babyara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Coco wants to clinch.
No joy there for Babyara, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Coco connects with a high kick.
Coco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Babyara lands a slapping body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coco scores with a hook to the body. Babyara takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Babyara takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Coco jabs at Babyara's body.
Coco lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Coco scores with the left hand. Babyara knows he should have avoided that one.
Babyara throws a body shot but no joy.
A nice side step and Coco releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Coco tries to clinch but Babyara moves away
and Babyara counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Babyara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Babyara pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Babyara throws a body punch but Coco moves out of range.
Coco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Babyara.
Babyara misses with a straight left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Babyara. Coco does a little dance to reset his feet.
Babyara misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coco tries to clinch but Babyara moves out of range.
Babyara throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Coco.
Coco fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Coco keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Coco moves to clinch but Babyara breaks away
and Babyara connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Coco jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Coco waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Babyara.
Coco misses with a body kick.
Coco avoids the body shot from Babyara.
Coco throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fanta Coco dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fanta Coco's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Coco connects with a high kick.
Babyara wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Babyara scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Coco misses with the combination.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Coco. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Coco changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Babyara swats away the attempt to clinch by Coco.

Coco darts in and clinches Babyara up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coco blocks an elbow strike.
Coco makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Babyara blocking some punches.
Coco is trying to force a seperation but Babyara has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babyara tries for a takedown. No joy.
Babyara wants to stall.
Coco throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Babyaras head.
Coco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Babyara's elbow.

Babyara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Babyara misses with a hook to the body
and Coco counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Coco lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Babyara at a distance.
Babyara misses with a wild combination.
Babyara misses with a two punch combination.
Coco tries to counter by closing the distance.
Coco throws a wild body kick that Babyara sees coming a mile off.
Babyara went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Coco tries to clinch up
and Babyara counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babyara rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Coco moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Coco.
Francisco Babyara is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Coco closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Coco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Coco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Coco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Babyara is looking to wear down Coco with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Babyara throws a hook to the side of Coco's head but Coco sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Coco clinches with his opponent.
Babyara is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Babyara scores with a shoulder strike.

Babyara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Babyara misses with a hook. Coco ducked under it nicely.
As Babyara backs off Coco throws a huge counter combo but Babyara manages to avoid it all.
Coco slips a jab from Babyara.
Coco appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Babyara has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Babyara there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babyara lands a nice hook to Coco's body. Coco takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A head kick misses from Coco.
Coco paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A nice inside leg kick there by Coco. That's going to slow Babyara down.
Babyara on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Coco misses with a hook. Babyara ducked under it nicely.
Babyara seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Coco throws a push kick but Babyara slaps the foot to one side.
A looping hook to the body misses from Babyara. Coco does a little dance to reset his feet.

Coco closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Coco lands a nice uppercut.
Coco has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Coco breaks the clinch.

Babyara tries to keep at a distance but Coco has taken the fight into the clinch.

Babyara works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Coco is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Babyara misses with the head strike.

Babyara pulls guard.

Babyara is working an open guard so Coco takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Coco wants to clinch up but Babyara keeps it at a distance.
Coco throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
It looked like Babyara was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Coco.
Coco misses with a double jab.
It looked like Babyara was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Babyara uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Coco.
Babyara throws a shot to the body.
Babyara throws a poor cross that misses
and Coco counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Babyara on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Babyara swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Coco counters with a good, hard body kick but Babyara shrugs it off.
Fanta Coco seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Babyara stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Coco.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fanta Coco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Fanta Coco's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Coco throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fanta Coco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Babyara on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Babyara blocks a head kick by Coco.
Coco lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Coco throws a left and a right that both miss

and Babyara counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Babyara tries to throw a body punch but Coco avoids it by throwing Babyara back against the cage.
Coco throws a punch but it's blocked by Babyara.
Babyara tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Babyara tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Coco just stands there and leans against the cage.
Coco misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coco misses with a hook to the ribs.

Babyara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Coco scores with a spinning back kick!
Coco is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Babyara.
Babyara wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Coco connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babyara swings for the body but Coco moves out of range.
Babyara uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Coco.
Babyara changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Babyara on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Coco. Coco obviously looking to wear him down.
Babyara takes a swing at Coco's ribcage but misses.

Coco pushes Babyara up against the cage in a clinch.
Coco blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Coco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Babyara throws a right hand that misses
and Coco cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Coco throws a hook but Babyara blocks it.
Coco cracks Babyara with a good jab.
Coco scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Babyara doesn't seem bothered though.
Coco tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Babyara manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Babyara finds it's way through Coco's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coco throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Coco moves in looking to clinch but Babyara pushes him off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Coco throws a hook but Babyara avoids it easily.
Francisco Babyara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Coco scores with a jab to the body.
Babyara misses with a wild body shot.
Babyara scores with a nice head shot.
Coco tries to clinch but Babyara is having none of it.
Coco scoring well with a low kick there.
Babyara takes a swing at Coco's ribcage but misses.

Coco instigates a clinch.
Coco tries to throw a body punch but Babyara avoids it by throwing Coco back against the cage.
Babyara misses with a knee to the head.
Coco lands a hook that snaps the head of Babyara backwards.
Fanta Coco seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Babyara ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Babyara no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Coco gets to his feet - Babyara follows without any prompting.
Nice defenses there by Babyara.
Babyara on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Coco will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Coco misses with a kick to the body.
Babyara drops his hands momentarily and Coco takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Coco moves into the clinch.
Coco lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Coco lands a left hand that snaps the head of Babyara backwards.
Babyara blocks an uppercut.
Coco tries to throw a body punch but Babyara avoids it by throwing Coco back against the cage.

Coco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Coco dodges the punch combination from Babyara.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Coco.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A punch combination from Babyara misses.
Coco thuds his shin into the meat of Babyara's side.
Coco misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Babyara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Babyara lands a right hook to the body.
Coco scores with a body shot.
Babyara goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Fanta Coco is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Coco rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Babyara moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Babyara blocks the body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fanta Coco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Coco has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fanta Coco!
Our winner, Fanta Coco, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.