PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Afeef Isa Baba (ranked 66 p4p, 9 weight class) and Lee Sin (ranked 86 p4p, 12 weight class). Baba comes to the cage accompanied by Nation Arabic Orchestra. Sin has chosen Original Nuttah as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Isa Baba
vs
Sin

181 cm
38
172 lbs
21 - 6 - 2

182 cm
37
171 lbs
32 - 14 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Voodoo 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 21 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Afeef Isa Baba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 14 - 3, fighting out of London, Lee Sin!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Donald Grub and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Baba, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Baba jabs Sin to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Sin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Baba misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sin lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sin has a couple of punches blocked by Baba.
Sin lands a hook that snaps the head of Baba backwards.
Sin blocks a body shot from Baba.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Baba.
Sin lands a nice uppercut.
Baba misses with a punch on the inside.
Baba struggles to land a body shot inside as Sin controls his hands.
Baba lands a left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sin will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Baba up against the cage.
Baba lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Baba blocks an uppercut.
Sin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sin lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sin misses with the head strike.
Sin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Baba lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Sin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baba looks to throw a body kick
enabling Sin to counter with a crisp jab.
Baba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sin.
Baba cracks Sin with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Baba avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Sin lands with a thumping leg kick.
Baba lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Baba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sin.
Sin throws a hook but Baba avoids it easily.
Baba moves out of range of the body kick from Sin.
Baba misses with a series of wild punches.
Baba takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baba misses with a hook.
Sin checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sin misses with a kick to the body.
Baba blocks a head kick by Sin.
A low kick from Sin is predictable there
and Baba counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Baba throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
It seemed like Sin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A shot to the body from Sin misses
and Baba counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Baba throws a sloppy body shot
letting Sin counter with a right hand.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Baba.
Baba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sin moves away.
Baba checks the leg kick.
Sin scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Baba slips under a jab.
Baba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sin.
A bone on bone clash there as Sin blocks the leg kick.
Baba bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baba explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Sin does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Baba looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Baba.
Baba lands a nice looking body shot.
Baba blocks a jab.
Sin works the jab nicely.
Baba avoids the body shot from Sin.
Sin ducks under a wild hook from Baba.
Good standup being displayed there by Baba as he connects with a hook.
Sin misses with a low kick.
Baba looks to score with a jab to the body but Sin is just out of range.
Baba cracks Sin with a good jab.
Baba avoids the body shot from Sin.
Sin feints and then cracks Baba's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Baba down.
Sin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Sin misses with a body kick.
A little feinted left hand from Baba on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sin moves out of range as Baba strikes.
An inside leg kick lands from Sin.
Sin blocks the body kick.
A little jabbing left from Sin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Baba slips a jab from Sin.
Baba throws a quick counter kick to the body but Sin avoids it.
Sin misses with a hook. Baba ducked under it nicely.
Sin throws a jab but it's blocked by Baba.
Sin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baba manages to avoid it.
The crowd cheers as Baba lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sin doesn't seem phased though.
The fighters circling - Baba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sin gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sin connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sin misses with an uppercut. Baba saw that one coming.
Baba swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
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 Afeef Isa Baba will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sin throws a leg kick but Baba moved away.
Baba misses with a low kick.
Baba moves out of range as Sin throws a body kick.
Sin throws a lazy uppercut
and Baba counters with a stiff right hand.

Baba has closed the distance and engaged Sin in a clinch.
Sin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sin has a couple of punches blocked by Baba.
Sin lands a nice uppercut.
A short right from Sin.
Baba tries to work over Sin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sin misses with some punches.
Sin scores with a nice hook to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Sin - that landed with a thud.
Lee Sin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sin digs a right hand underneath Baba's ribcage. Baba let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sin lands a shoulder strike.
Sin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice left hand lands by Sin.
Baba swings wildly with an uppercut but Sin uses good head movement to avoid it.
I was talking to Baba's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baba tries a body shot but Sin blocks it.
Baba misses with a hook from the clinch.
Baba tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sin's elbow.
Sin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sin throws a punch but it's blocked by Baba.
Sin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Good body shot from Baba.
Sin misses with a punch on the inside.
Baba is working Sin over against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Baba as Sin tries to tie him up.
Baba misses with a hook to the ribs.
Baba blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sin.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Baba.
Sin misses with some punches.
Baba tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baba blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Baba.
Baba blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sin blocks an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Baba's elbow.
Sin swings wildly with an uppercut but Baba uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sin blocks an uppercut.
Baba struggles to land a body shot inside as Sin controls his hands.
A short left from Sin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sin misses with a body punch.
Sin throws a punch but it's blocked by Baba.
Baba struggles to land a body shot inside as Sin controls his hands.
Sin throws a head punch that misses.
Baba prevents a body shot from Sin.
Sin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sin lands a body shot.
Sin lands a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baba prevents a body shot from Sin.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sin.
Baba throws a punch but it's blocked by Sin.
Sin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Baba's elbow.
Sin lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Baba misses with a punch to the body.
Baba lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sin or not.
Sin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Baba backwards.
Sin tries to throw a body punch but Baba avoids it by throwing Sin back against the cage.
Baba blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sin lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sin.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Baba.
A nice left hand lands by Baba.
Baba working aggressively here.
Baba misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Baba lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sin or not.
Baba working aggressively here.
Sin misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baba prevents a body shot from Sin.
Baba lands a hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sin tries to throw a body punch but Baba avoids it by throwing Sin back against the cage.
Baba lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Baba pushes Sin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Sin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice defenses there by Baba.
Baba appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Sin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Baba sizes up Sin with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sin throws a leg kick
and Baba counters with a nice uppercut.
Sin throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Baba counters with a nice kick to the body.
Sin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sin is breathing heavily.
Baba misses with a wild combination.
Baba walks into a stiff left hand from Sin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Afeef Isa Baba will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Baba.

Baba clinches.
Sin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Baba misses with some punches.
Sin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Baba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Baba tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sin's elbow.
Sin tries a body shot but Baba blocks it.
Baba takes a shot to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Sin fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sin trying to land knees to the body.
Sin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Baba swings wildly with an uppercut but Sin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Baba doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sin misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baba lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sin backwards.
Sin misses with a punch to the body.
Sin working aggressively here.
Baba lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Baba misses with the head strike.
Baba swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Baba working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Baba tries a body shot but Sin blocks it.
Sin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Baba can't find room to land a body shot as Sin controls the action.
Baba lands with a left to the head.
Baba tries to work over Sin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Baba has a couple of punches blocked by Sin.
Sin lands a left hand.
Sin tries a body shot but Baba blocks it.
Sin misses with a punch to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Baba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sin has a couple of punches blocked by Baba.
Lee Sin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baba can't find room to land a body shot as Sin controls the action.
Baba tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sin.
Sin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sin prevents a body shot from Baba.
Sin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sin working aggressively here.
Sin can't find room to land a body shot as Baba controls the action.
Sin lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sin blocks an uppercut.
Sin misses with a body punch.
Sin trying to stall but Baba improves his position.
Sin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sin digs a right hand into Baba's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Baba's gas tank.
Sin swings wildly with an uppercut but Baba uses good head movement to avoid it.
Baba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sin connects with a single shot there.
Baba throws a sloppy head kick
and Sin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Baba throws a nice outside leg kick.
A slow jab from Baba misses its intended target.
Sin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baba swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Sin throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sin misses with a hook.
An inside leg kick lands from Sin.
Sin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Baba thuds his shin into the meat of Sin's side.
Sin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baba lands a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baba scores with a jab.
Afeef Isa Baba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sin.
Nice shot lands for Sin.
Baba scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd cheers as Sin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Baba doesn't seem phased though.
Baba throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Afeef Isa Baba is winning the standup battle so far.
Sin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Good leg kick by Baba there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Baba throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sin misses with a leg kick.
Baba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sin throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Baba counters with a nice body kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Sin. Baba shrugs it off though.
Baba misses with a body shot.
Sin throws a body kick that misses
and Baba counters with a nice body kick.
Sin throws a right and a left that Baba avoids nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Afeef Isa Baba.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Baba, 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Lee Sin!
Lee Sin seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.