PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Thomas Babcock (ranked 1456 p4p, 1160 weight class) and Liko Dares (ranked 197 p4p, 160 weight class). Babcock comes to the cage accompanied by SS00999. The crowd seem to be enjoying Dares's choice of entrance music: I Saw the Sign. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Babcock
vs
Dares

177 cm
26
183
7 - 2 - 0

184 cm
27
177
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jesse Thomas Babcock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Liko Dares!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dares throws a nice inside leg kick.
Babcock blocks a low kick nicely.
Babcock throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Dares.
Babcock definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Dares bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Dares moves out of range of the strikes.
Dares lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Dares misses with a body kick.
Babcock throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Babcock tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dares was well out of range. Poor timing from Babcock.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dares throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Babcock has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Dares.
Dares misses with a head kick.
Babcock feinted with a counter takedown.
Dares ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dares with the inside leg kick.
Babcock avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Dares avoids the body shot from Babcock.
Dares is looking to chop away at Babcock's legs.
Dares with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Babcock drives through with a takedown into Dares's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dares can do anything to dispel that myth.
Dares working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Babcock.
Dares is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dares is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Babcock passes Dares's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Dares tries to get to full guard but Babcock has control of the leg.
Babcock is thwarting Dares's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babcock trying to control the action but Dares is working from the bottom.
Dares is looking for a sweep. Babcock is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ground and pound from Babcock.
Dares moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Babcock lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Babcock slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Babcock distracts Dares with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Babcock 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dares controlling the position.
Dares looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Dares is trying to keep Babcock in close.
Babcock with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dares pulls Babcock in to control the position.
Dares wants to sweep here but Babcock controlling him for the moment.
Babcock scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Babcock postures up in Dares's guard and throws a big left but Dares blocks it.
Dares looking to control.
Dares lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Dares tries to free his leg and advance position but Babcock is retaining full guard.
Dares stopping the sweep attempt from Babcock.
Babcock wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Dares sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Babcock is controlling Dares's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dares throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Babcock works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dares drops back, looking for a kneebar! Babcock looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Babcock looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Babcock!

Dares is trying to control Babcock's posture but Babcock avoids it.
Dares is not content to let Babcock control the position.
Babcock lands an elbow.
Dares is looking for a sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jesse Thomas Babcock will probably get the nod.
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.

Dares connects with a high kick.
Dares bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dares misses with a head kick.
Babcock throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Babcock throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dares throws a nice inside leg kick.
Dares is looking to score with low kicks.
Babcock throws a body punch but Dares moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dares tries a head kick but it misses.
Babcock changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A head kick misses from Dares.

Babcock drives through with a takedown into Dares's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Dares is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Babcock scoring with some ground and pound.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babcock with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Babcock tries to free his leg and advance position but Dares is retaining full guard.
Babcock content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dares wants to sweep but no luck.
Babcock is in close to Dares's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dares lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Dares trying to control the position from guard on top but Babcock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Babcock wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Babcock swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dares is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Dares wants to control from the top but Babcock keeps moving.
Dares won't allow Babcock to sweep him here.
Babcock preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dares trying to control the position from guard on top but Babcock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Dares throws a leg kick but Babcock checks it.
Dares tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dares throws a nice outside leg kick.
Liko Dares seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dares throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Dares throws a sloppy head kick and Babcock moves out of range easily.
Dares throws a solid leg kick but Babcock takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Dares.
Dares doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Babcock thows a left - swing and a miss!
Babcock looks to score with a jab to the body but Dares is just out of range.
Babcock takes a swing at Dares's ribcage but misses.
Dares wants to counter the offense by Babcock and move into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Babcock shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Dares manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Babcock is in close to Dares's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dares is controlling Babcock's posture.
Babcock trying to control but Dares is working from the bottom.
Dares controls Babcock momentarily but Babcock frees himself.
Babcock preventing the sweep.
Babcock is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Babcock works over Dares with some ground and pound from guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Babcock's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Babcock throwing strikes from guard but Dares blocks nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Thomas Babcock dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Dares misses with a low kick.
Dares fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Babcock.
Dares lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Babcock misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dares connects with an inside leg kick.
Liko Dares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Babcock throws a body shot but no joy.
Dares throws a nice head kick!
Dares pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Babcock gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dares is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dares manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babcock keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dares's head.
Babcock with a nice head shot there.
Dares trying to control the position.
Dares looking to hit a scissor sweep but Babcock is one step ahead there.
Dares keeps trying to improve his position.
Babcock postures up and lands a big shot to Dares's brow.
Babcock scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Babcock scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Jesse Thomas Babcock overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Babcock preventing the sweep.
Babcock landing some decent shots from guard.
Dares can't keep his opponent in guard - Babcock advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Liko Dares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babcock slips a nice elbow through Dares's hands, connecting with Dares's forehead.
Babcock is nestled in close to Dares, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Dares trying to hold on to Babcock's head to control him but Babcock postures up.
Babcock is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Dares wants to get back to full guard.
Babcock working over Dares with some ground and pound. Dares looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Dares won't allow Babcock to pass to mount.
Babcock is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dares can do to turn this around?
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Babcock connects with a nice short shot to Dares's temple.
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!
Dares wants to improve his position but Babcock is controlling well.
Babcock landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babcock is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Babcock lands strikes from half guard.
Babcock is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Babcock trying to control from half guard but Dares is working away.
Babcock takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Dares on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Babcock is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Babcock wants to pass the guard but Dares is defending well.
Dares is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nice strikes from Babcock there.
Dares on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dares is looking to control Babcock's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dares avoid being mounted?
Babcock is looking to advance position but Dares won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Babcock.
Dares has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Babcock is working away from the top position though.
Babcock seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Babcock trying to mount his opponent but Dares defends it.
Babcock is nestled in close to Dares, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Babcock wants to free his trapped foot but Dares is holding on for dear life with his legs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Babcock working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Dares works his way to full guard. Good work.

Dares working for a triangle but Babcock defends it easily.
Babcock trying to control the position from guard on top but Dares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse Thomas Babcock showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Babcock, 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

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