PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Alexandrov (ranked 2617 p4p, 2765 weight class) and Francisco Babyara (ranked 110 p4p, 107 weight class). Francisco Babyara will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Alexandrov
vs
Babyara

188 cm
32
205
24 - 22 - 0

208 cm
40
270
29 - 31 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Alexandrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 31 - 0, fighting out of London, Francisco Babyara!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alexandrov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Babyara throws out the jab.
Alexandrov 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.
We've been told by Alexandrov's head coaches at Punch Out Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Alexandrov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Babyara on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Babyara manages to break the clinch.
Babyara uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Alexandrov has time to react.

Alexandrov gets a clinch.
Alexandrov misses with a body punch.
Alexandrov lands an uppercut.
Babyara prevents a body shot from Alexandrov.
Babyara can't get the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexandrov stops a takedown attempt from Babyara.
Alexandrov keeps control of Babyara as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Alexandrov trying to control the position but instead, Babyara has worked for underhooks and has pushed Alexandrov into the cage.
Alexandrov cracks Babyara with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alexandrov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch but Babyara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Alexandrov clinches up against the cage.

Alexandrov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alexandrov drops his hands momentarily and Babyara takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Babyara connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
No joy there for Alexandrov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Babyara fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alexandrov manages to avoid it.

Alexandrov takes the fight into the clinch.
Babyara fails to pull guard.
Alex Alexandrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francisco Babyara.
Alexandrov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Babyara pulls guard effortlessly.
Babyara looking for a sweep. Not yet Babyara, not yet.
Alexandrov 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov stands and throws Babyara's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Alexandrov is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Babyara will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Babyara is looking to regain half guard here but Alexandrov keeps moving and retains side control.
Babyara wants to control but Alexandrov postures up.
Babyara is looking to reverse the position.
Babyara manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Babyara trying to control the action but Alexandrov is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babyara is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Alexandrov trying to control here.
Babyara stops Alexandrov from getting back to his feet.

Babyara stands up from half guard.
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.
Babyara keeps the fight on the outside.
Babyara swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Alexandrov clinches with his opponent.
Babyara tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Alexandrov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Babyara drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Babyara stalling against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov trying to land knees to the body.

Alexandrov breaks the clinch.
Babyara throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Alexandrov on the side of the head.

Alexandrov gets a clinch.

Babyara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alexandrov lands with a nice combination. Babyara backs away looking to recover.
Alexandrov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alexandrov thinks about countering with a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice uppercut lands for Babyara. That snapped Alexandrov's head back.
Alexandrov throws a head kick but Babyara moves out of range.
Despite the aggression on Babyara's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Alexandrov clinches with his opponent.
Alexandrov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Babyara is looking to break free of the clinch but Alexandrov has double underhooks.
Babyara has Alexandrov pushed against the cage.
Alexandrov tries to pull guard but Babyara won't allow it.
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 Alex Alexandrov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A nice leg kick from Alexandrov, right into the meat of the thigh.
Alexandrov tries to clinch there but Babyara circles away.
No joy there for Alexandrov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Babyara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alex Alexandrov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Babyara throws a body shot but no joy.
Babyara lands an overhand right.
Alexandrov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Babyara scores with a nice strike.

Alexandrov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Alexandrov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stalling in the clinch from Alexandrov.

Babyara gets control of Alexandrov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Babyara will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Alexandrov gets to his feet - Babyara follows without any prompting.
Alexandrov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Babyara.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babyara swats away the attempt to clinch by Alexandrov.
Babyara has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Alexandrov misses the shot to the body.
Babyara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alexandrov.
Babyara is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Alexandrov tries to clinch up but Babyara circles away and keeps his distance.
Alexandrov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Babyara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Babyara fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alexandrov manages to avoid it.
Alexandrov jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Alexandrov doesn't manage to clinch there - Babyara circles away.
Alexandrov 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.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alexandrov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Babyara staying out of range there.
Alex Alexandrov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alexandrov tries to clinch there but Babyara circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babyara fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alexandrov throws a leg kick but Babyara sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Babyara on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Babyara throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Francisco Babyara seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Alexandrov.
Alexandrov wants to clinch up but Babyara keeps it at a distance.
As Alexandrov backs off Babyara throws a huge counter combo but Alexandrov manages to avoid it all.

Alexandrov has Babyara up against the cage in a clinch.
Alexandrov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Babyara.
Babyara is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Alexandrov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Alexandrov fails to pull guard.
Alexandrov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Babyara's elbow.
Alexandrov prevents a body shot from Babyara.
Alexandrov lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov is pressed up against the cage. Babyara has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Alexandrov down to the mat. Alexandrov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Alex Alexandrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francisco Babyara.
Alexandrov tries to clinch there but Babyara circles away.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch but Babyara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Babyara unleashes a big counter combination but Alexandrov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Babyara lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Babyara scores with a jab. Alexandrov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Babyara misses with the combination.
Alexandrov doesn't manage to clinch there - Babyara circles away.
We've been informed that Babyara has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Babyara looks to score with a jab to the body but Alexandrov is just out of range.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch but Babyara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alexandrov tries to clinch but Babyara is having none of it.
Babyara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alexandrov moves away from the strike by Babyara.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Babyara swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov lands with a kick to the temple. Babyara shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Francisco Babyara has been cut.
Alexandrov blocks a jab.
Alexandrov tries to clinch up.
Alexandrov is looking to clinch but Babyara is avoiding it.
Babyara misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Babyara circles away from the clinch attempt.
Babyara just misses with a punch to the body.
Babyara misses with the combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Babyara avoids the head kick by Alexandrov.

Alexandrov lands a big head kick that sends Babyara tumbling to the mat! Alexandrov takes a step backwards and waves Babyara back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Babyara is rocked!
Alexandrov with a nice calf kick.
Babyara is still on wobbly legs! Can Alexandrov finish him?
Alexandrov is looking to clinch.
Babyara misses with a body shot.
It looked like Alexandrov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Babyara.
Babyara loads up on a big right hand but Alexandrov slips the punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Francisco Babyara will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Francisco Babyara's cut.
That's time! Alexandrov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Babyara misses with a looping right.
Babyara seems to have recovered his senses.
Alexandrov looks to clinch
and Babyara counters with a three punch combo that has Alexandrov backing up. Alexandrov nods at Babyara to acknowledge the strikes.
Babyara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Alexandrov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Alexandrov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alexandrov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Babyara's elbow.
Babyara is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Alexandrov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Alexandrov misses with a body punch.
Alexandrov slowing the pace effectively.
Alexandrov keeps control of Babyara as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Babyara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Babyara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Babyara circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alexandrov ducks under a wild hook from Babyara.

Alexandrov darts in and clinches Babyara up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexandrov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Alexandrov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alex Alexandrov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Babyara jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alexandrov walks away with a smile on his face. Babyara gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alexandrov tries to clinch up.
Babyara digs a good hook to Alexandrov's body.
Babyara misses with a wild body shot.
Alexandrov tries a head kick but it misses.
Alexandrov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alexandrov tries to clinch up
and Babyara counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Alexandrov is looking to clinch but Babyara is avoiding it.
Alexandrov moves in looking to clinch but Babyara pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch but Babyara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alexandrov wants to clinch up but Babyara keeps it at a distance.
Alexandrov lands a head kick!
Babyara lands a jab to the head.

Alexandrov has managed to clinch.
Alexandrov tries to throw a body punch but Babyara avoids it by throwing Alexandrov back against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Alexandrov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Babyara has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alexandrov lands a body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Alexandrov.
Babyara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alexandrov lands a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Alexandrov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Babyara backwards.
Alexandrov misses with a body punch.
A right hook to the body lands for Alexandrov.
Alexandrov lands with a left to the head.
Alexandrov misses with a punch to the body.
Alexandrov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Alexandrov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Babyara's elbow.
Alexandrov tries to throw a body punch but Babyara avoids it by throwing Alexandrov back against the cage.
Babyara is looking to break free of the clinch but Alexandrov has double underhooks.
Babyara is trying to push Alexandrov away but Alexandrov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Alexandrov tries to throw a body punch but Babyara avoids it by throwing Alexandrov back against the cage.
Alexandrov misses with some punches.
Alexandrov struggles to land a body shot inside as Babyara controls his hands.
Babyara has Alexandrov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Alexandrov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Alex Alexandrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francisco Babyara.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov struggles to land a body shot inside as Babyara controls his hands.
Alexandrov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Babyara smiles and moves away.
Babyara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alexandrov tries to clinch but Babyara is having none of it.
Babyara looks to land a combination but Alexandrov avoids it well.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Babyara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alexandrov tries to clinch there but Babyara circles away.
Babyara is looking for the big counter here.
Alexandrov tries to clinch up.
Alexandrov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Babyara throws a looping overhand right but Alexandrov ducks down to avoid it.

Alexandrov closes the distance and clinches.

Babyara pulls Alexandrov into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alexandrov won't allow Babyara to get back to his feet.

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 Alex Alexandrov.
I think Alexandrov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Alexandrov!
Alex Alexandrov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.