PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Afeef Isa Baba (ranked 172 p4p, 377 weight class) and Uesugi Mochinori (ranked 29 p4p, 61 weight class). Baba comes to the cage accompanied by Nation Arabic Orchestra. Mochinori is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Japanese Battle Music. Uesugi Mochinori has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Baba
vs
Mochinori

181 cm
43
172
30 - 15 - 2

180 cm
28
175
14 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition
Urban Fighter

Shadow Warrior Nutrition
Conviction

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 30 - 15 - 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 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Uesugi Mochinori!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Donald Grub and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mochinori lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Baba on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mochinori. Mochinori obviously looking to wear him down.
Mochinori pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mochinori tries to land a leg kick but Baba saw it coming and moves away.
Baba looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mochinori throws a body punch but Baba moves out of range.
Mochinori fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Baba has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Mochinori paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A jab from Baba misses.
Mochinori moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Baba blocks a low kick nicely.
Mochinori throws a nice inside leg kick.
A jab from Mochinori finds it's way through Baba's defenses.
Baba checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Baba fires out a quick counter leg kick but Mochinori just manages to avoid it.
Uesugi Mochinori seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baba has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Mochinori.
Baba uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mochinori.
We've been informed that Mochinori has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Mochinori misses with a looping left.
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!
Mochinori attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mochinori misses the jab.
Nice shot by Mochinori.
Mochinori misses with a wild body shot.
It looked like Baba was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Mochinori.
A low kick from Mochinori misses
and Baba counters with a solid body kick.
Nice defenses there by Mochinori.
A solid leg kick lands there for Baba.
Baba swings for the body but Mochinori moves out of range.
Mochinori scores with a sloppy right hand. Baba should have avoided that one.
Mochinori takes a swing at Baba's ribcage but misses.
Mochinori throws a leg kick but Baba checks it.
Mochinori pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mochinori thows a leg kick but Baba checks it
and Baba counters with a three punch combo that has Mochinori backing up. Mochinori nods at Baba to acknowledge the strikes.
Mochinori throws a chopping leg kick but Baba manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Mochinori throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Baba.
Baba checks a leg kick.
Baba throwing a counter right hand but Mochinori manages to avoid it.
Mochinori is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

It looks like Uesugi Mochinori has been cut.
A jab from Mochinori finds it's way through Baba's defenses.
Mochinori will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Baba is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Mochinori connects with a leg kick.
Baba scores with a jab. Mochinori acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Mochinori tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Baba misses the shot to the body.
Mochinori misses with a lunging right hand
and Baba counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mochinori thinking.
Good exchange - Mochinori coming out on top.
Baba takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Mochinori looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nice uppercut lands for Mochinori. That snapped Baba's head back.
Baba clobbers Mochinori with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mochinori throws a wild body kick that Baba sees coming a mile off.
Mochinori lands a nice hook to Baba's body. Baba takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mochinori.
Mochinori scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mochinori on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Baba has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Baba there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mochinori thows a leg kick but Baba checks it
enabling Baba to counter with a crisp jab.
Baba throws a wild body kick that Mochinori sees coming a mile off.
Mochinori bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Mochinori shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Baba lets loose with a powerful body kick. Mochinori will feel that in the morning.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baba lands with a cross.
Baba lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mochinori's sensitive parts.
Baba throws the kick towards the body but Mochinori avoids it.
Mochinori follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Mochinori.
Baba has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Mochinori.
Baba will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Oooooh!!! Baba has knocked Mochinori down with a huge combo! Baba steps away and waves a wobbly Mochinori back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Mochinori attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mochinori thuds his shin into the meat of Baba's side.
Mochinori throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Baba checks a low kick from Mochinori.
A low kick from Mochinori is predictable there
and Baba counters with a nice body kick.
A big left from Mochinori misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mochinori dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Baba. That did some damage!
Baba checks the leg kick nicely there.
Good standup being displayed there by Mochinori as he connects with a hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Uesugi Mochinori will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Uesugi Mochinori's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mochinori connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Baba tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mochinori was well out of range. Poor timing from Baba.
Baba lands a body shot.
Baba looks to score with a jab to the body but Mochinori is just out of range.
Mochinori gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Baba counters with a straight right hand.
Mochinori moves away from the strike by Baba.
Mochinori lands a nice leg kick that just misses Baba's sensitive parts.
Baba is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Mochinori throws a leg kick which misses Baba's front leg but catches the back leg as Baba tries to avoid it.
Mochinori throws a hook but Baba avoids it easily.
Mochinori lands with an uppercut that bounces Baba off the cage and back into range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mochinori moves away from the strike by Baba.
Mochinori misses with a hook. Baba ducked under it nicely.
Mochinori throws a chopping leg kick but Baba manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Mochinori looks to score with a jab to the body but Baba is just out of range.
Baba was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Uesugi Mochinori seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mochinori scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baba blocks a jab.
Baba chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mochinori can pounce on him.
Mochinori throws a lazy body kick
letting Baba counter with a right hand.
Baba misses the shot to the body.
Mochinori is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Baba.
Baba wants to land a leg kick but Mochinori is out of range.
Mochinori scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A low kick from Mochinori is predictable there
and Baba counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Baba is looking to score with low kicks.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Baba.
Baba looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mochinori lands a jab to Baba's midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mochinori looks for the body kick but Baba saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mochinori just misses with a punch to the body.
Baba slips under a jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Baba. That snapped Mochinori's head back.
Mochinori throws a lazy uppercut
and Baba counters with a left and a right that stings Mochinori.
Mochinori throws a jab but it's blocked by Baba.
It looked like Baba wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Baba blocks a leg kick.
Mochinori connects with a good right hand that stumbles Baba. Baba circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mochinori bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Baba misses with a straight right.
Baba thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mochinori scores with a kick to the body.
Baba moves out of range of the leg kick from Mochinori.
Mochinori throws a lazy right hand but Baba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Baba stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Mochinori.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baba takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Mochinori misses with a body kick.
A lazy left from Mochinori finds it's target.
Baba throws a good cross that connects.

That has opened up Uesugi Mochinori's cut even more.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mochinori.
Mochinori shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Baba avoids a kick to the body.
Baba appears to be looking for a big counter.
Mochinori swings away with a body shot that misses
and Baba counters with a solid body kick.
Mochinori is breathing heavily.
Baba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mochinori.
Mochinori throws a leg kick
and Baba counters with a solid body kick.
Mochinori looks to land a body kick but Baba moved away.
Mochinori avoids the body shot from Baba.
Mochinori throws a leg kick which misses Baba's front leg but catches the back leg as Baba tries to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mochinori takes a swing at Baba's ribcage but misses.
Mochinori thumps Baba with a low kick.
A leg kick checked by Baba.
Baba lands with an uppercut that bounces Mochinori off the cage and back into range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters circling - Baba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mochinori! But no joy.
Mochinori misses with an uppercut.
Mochinori throws a wild body kick that Baba sees coming a mile off.
Baba was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A big right from Mochinori misses.
It looked like Baba wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mochinori slips a jab and a cross from Baba.
Mochinori throws out a counter right but Baba avoids it with no problem.
Mochinori misses with a kick to the body
and Baba counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mochinori throws a looping overhand right but Baba ducks down to avoid it.
Baba is looking to counter punch.
Baba dips to his left and cracks Mochinori with an uppercut!
Mochinori misses with an uppercut
and Baba counters with a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Baba. Mochinori does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mochinori appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
And that is 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.
The cut man is working on Uesugi Mochinori's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Baba misses with a straight right.
Mochinori throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Baba 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.
Mochinori's jab looks to have found its range, popping Baba under the eye.
Baba takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mochinori on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Mochinori takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mochinori looks for the body kick but Baba saw that one coming.
Mochinori throws a leg kick that is checked
and Baba counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baba moves out of range as Mochinori throws a body kick.
Baba appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Mochinori blocks the body kick.
Baba thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mochinori misses with a lunging right hand
and Baba counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mochinori throws a leg kick
and Baba counters with a nice kick to the body.
Mochinori has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Baba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mochinori throws a front kick aimed at Baba's knee but Baba avoids it well.
Mochinori checks a leg kick.
Mochinori throws an overhand right that lands on Baba's shoulder, as Baba tries to avoid the shot.
Mochinori misses with a low kick.
Baba throws a looping overhand right but Mochinori ducks down to avoid it.
Baba lands a head shot.
Mochinori throws a poor cross that misses
and Baba counters with a nice uppercut.

Mochinori is rocked!
Mochinori will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
It appears Baba was looking to counter with a kick there.
Mochinori is still on wobbly legs! Can Baba finish him?
Baba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mochinori manages to avoid it.
Mochinori seems to have recovered his senses.
Mochinori uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mochinori.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mochinori.
Mochinori motions for Baba to come forward. Mochinori throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Baba throwing a counter right hand but Mochinori manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baba moves out of range of the leg kick from Mochinori.
Mochinori tries to land a leg kick but Baba saw it coming and moves away.
Baba chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mochinori can pounce on him.
The crowd cheers as Mochinori lands an impressive looking overhand right. Baba doesn't seem phased though.
Mochinori swings widly with a right hand
and Baba counters with a right hand to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mochinori throws a low kick but it's checked well by Baba.
It appears Baba was looking to counter with a kick there.
Mochinori is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Baba.
Baba fires out a quick counter leg kick but Mochinori just manages to avoid it.
Baba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mochinori moves away.
Mochinori scores with a shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mochinori. That's going to slow Baba down.
Mochinori looks to land a right hand but Baba moved out of range.
Baba appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Baba keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mochinori.
Mochinori avoids a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Mochinori.
Mochinori keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mochinori swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mochinori lands a head shot.
Mochinori ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baba moves away.
Mochinori buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Baba scores with a nice body kick.
Mochinori takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mochinori manages to avoid it.
Baba dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mochinori lands a jab to Baba's midsection.
Mochinori looks to land a right hand but Baba moved out of range.
Baba slips under a jab from Mochinori.
Baba looks to land a body kick but Mochinori moved away.
Mochinori throws a half hearted mid kick.
Baba was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Baba. Those never looked like landing.
Mochinori motions for Baba to come forward. Mochinori throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mochinori throws a leg kick
and Baba finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mochinori throws a leg kick
and Baba counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mochinori misses the shot to the body.
Baba is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Baba misses with a body kick.
Baba lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mochinori at a distance.
Mochinori walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mochinori throws a leg kick
and Baba cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

The cut above Uesugi Mochinori's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Mochinori tries a low kick but Baba avoids it.
Mochinori thuds his shin into the meat of Baba's side.
A cross from Mochinori lands.
Baba scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

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 Baba has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Afeef Isa Baba!
Our winner, Afeef Isa Baba, 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.