PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nino Babel (ranked 930 p4p, 366 weight class) and Isaac Newton (ranked 109 p4p, 53 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Babel
vs
Newton

195 cm
24
265
6 - 1 - 0

189 cm
30
280
15 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

FUClothing
Shadow Realm NYC

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nino Babel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Isaac Newton!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, John Roberts and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Babel blocks a jab.
Babel tries to counter with a takedown but Newton is quick to defend against it.
Babel is looking to clinch but Newton is avoiding it.
Newton just misses with a punch to the body.
Babel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Newton. No joy for Babel on that attempt.
Babel swinging wildly here.

Babel has closed the distance and engaged Newton in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Babel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Babel controls Newton momentarily but Newton frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babel seems keen to control Newton's posture.

Babel working for a triangle but Newton defends it easily.
Newton pushing down on Babel's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Newton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Babel defending well though.
Babel has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Newton looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Newton tries to pass the half guard into mount. Babel knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Newton seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Babel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Babel actively working from the bottom here.
Babel trying to control here.
Newton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Babel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton is keen to just control but Babel is a slippery customer.
Babel trying to control but Newton postures up.
Newton looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Newton wants to control but Babel is keeping him busy.
Babel is looking to control Newton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Babel avoid being mounted?
Newton throwing shots but Babel is blocking nicely.

Babel looking for submissions off his back.

Babel is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Newton pulls his head out easily.

Babel actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Newton is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Babel doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Newton.
Newton winds up and cracks Babel with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Babel looking for submissions off his back.
Babel trying to control from the bottom.

Babel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Babel trying to control here.
Newton trying to control from half guard but Babel is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Babel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Babel trying to hold on to Newton's head to control him but Newton postures up.
Newton working Babel over with strikes.
Newton is looking to advance position but Babel won't allow it.

Babel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Newton is just content to waste time from the top position. Babel takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Newton advances position into side control!
Newton throws an elbow but Babel slips to the side and avoids it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Isaac Newton dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Babel clinches up with Newton and pushes him back against the cage.
Newton throws a punch but it's blocked by Babel.
Newton is trying to push Babel away but Babel has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Babel tries to pull guard but Newton won't allow it.
Babel jumps guard but Newton stands there with Babel around his waist. Babel gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Babel is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Newton to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nino Babel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Newton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Babel's brow.
Babel fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Newton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Newton. Babel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Babel appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Newton. Babel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Newton cracks Babel with an open hand slap.

Babel closes the distance and clinches.
Newton stalling.

Newton breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Newton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nino Babel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Babel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Newton circles away.
Babel takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Newton just misses with a punch to the body.
Newton waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Babel.
Babel tries to counter with a takedown but Newton is quick to defend against it.
Babel avoids the body shot from Newton.
Isaac Newton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Babel is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Babel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Newton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Newton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Babel moves away.
Babel on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Newton scores with a nice strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Babel.
Newton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Babel manages to avoid it.
Isaac Newton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Babel lands an overhand right.
Newton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Babel gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Newton.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Newton swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Babel closes the distance and pushes Newton back into the cage.
Babel tries to pull guard but Newton won't allow it.
Babel is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Newton to keep the fight standing.
Babel is trying to pull guard but Newton has him pressed against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Newton.
Newton stalling.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Newton to work.
Babel is trying to pull guard but Newton turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Babel jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Newton walks away with a smile on his face. Babel gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Newton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Babel manages to avoid it.
Babel feinted with a counter takedown.
Newton throws a big shot that misses.
Newton misses with a wild body shot.

Babel scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Isaac Newton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Newton tries to bench press Babel off him but Babel keeps the position.

Babel looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Babel tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babel is looking to take a break and control but Newton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Babel taking a breather here.
Newton is trying to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Isaac Newton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Newton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Newton scores with a sloppy right hand. Babel should have avoided that one.
Isaac Newton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Babel slips under a jab from Newton.
Babel shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Newton pinned against the cage. Newton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Newton swings for the body but Babel moves out of range.
Babel attempts a counter takedown but Newton avoids it well and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Newton misses its intended target.
Newton takes a swing at Babel's ribcage but misses.
Newton swings for the body but Babel moves out of range.
Babel feinted with a counter takedown.
Newton swats away the attempt to clinch by Babel.
A little jabbing left from Newton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Newton as he avoids it easily.
Newton appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Babel avoids the body shot from Newton.

Babel clinches up with Newton and pushes him back against the cage.

Newton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Newton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Newton lands with a nice body punch.
Babel shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Newton eats them both and turns towards Babel to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Babel moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Newton misses with a body shot.
Babel drops down looking for a counter takedown but Newton sprawls and moves away.
Newton misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton misses the shot to the body.

Babel drives through with a takedown into guard.
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!
Newton wants to sweep but no luck.
Newton is trying to keep Babel in close.
Newton wants to sweep but no luck.
Babel trying to control but Newton is working from the bottom.
Newton looking for a sweep. Not yet Newton, not yet.

Babel drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Newton manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Babel has Newton in his guard.

Babel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Babel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Newton trying to control the position from guard on top but Babel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Babel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Newton defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Newton passes Babel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Newton seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Babel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Babel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Babel trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Newton looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Newton working over Babel with some ground and pound. Babel looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Newton is pressing down on Babel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Babel is holding on for now.
Newton wants to take a breather but Babel is having none of it.
Newton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Babel defending well though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Isaac Newton really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Babel scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Babel working away.
Newton manages to get back to half guard.
Newton holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Babel looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Newton is refusing to be controlled, as Babel sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newton is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Babel's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Babel's back!
Newton avoiding Babel 's attempts to control his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babel takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Babel trying to control the action but Newton just sinks the hooks in.
Newton is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Newton has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Babel.

Babel defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Newton is looking to control Babel but Babel is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Newton throwing damaging strikes from the back! Babel could be in trouble here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Newton lands with a hammerfist to the side of Babel's head.
Newton has good solid back control here.
Babel trying to control the action but Newton just sinks the hooks in.
Newton is punishing Babel with some ground and pound.
Newton is trying to stick to Babel's back but Babel is turning into Newton. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Newton's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Babel.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Babel won't allow Newton to sweep him here.
Newton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Babel's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babel has his hands on Newton's head, controlling the position.

Babel is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Babel pulls Newton in close to his closed guard and prevents Newton from doing any damage or advancing position.
Newton wants to control from the top but Babel keeps moving.
Babel keeping full guard, as Newton tries to pass.
Babel keeping moving, preventing Newton from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Newton tries to free his leg and advance position but Babel is retaining full guard.

Newton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Babel has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Newton has managed to get both his arms back between Babel's legs - danger averted.
Newton is working Babel over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Newton trying to control the position from guard on top but Babel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Newton is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Babel trying to keep a closed guard but Newton is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Newton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Babel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Babel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Isaac Newton dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Newton throws an overhand right that lands on Babel's shoulder, as Babel tries to avoid the shot.
Newton works Babel's body with a nice hook.
Newton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Babel moves away.
Newton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Babel manages to avoid it.
Newton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Babel moves away.
Babel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Newton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Babel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newton misses with a shot to the body

and Babel decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Newton's guard.
Babel preventing the sweep.
Newton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Babel won't allow Newton to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Newton is keeping the position for now.
Newton 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.
Newton is trying to keep Babel in close.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Babel avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Newton trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nino Babel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Newton looks to score with a jab to the body but Babel is just out of range.
Newton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Babel.
Babel tries for a takedown but Newton circles away easily
and Newton counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Babel doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Newton listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Babel is looking to clinch.
Newton cracks a nice hook into Babel's ribs.
A cross from Newton lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Newton misses.
Newton misses with a straight left.

Babel closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Babel seems to be working for a kimura but Newton defends the submission attempt.
Newton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Babel drops an elbow to the side of Newton's head.
Isaac Newton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Newton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Newton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Babel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Newton is just riding it out for now. Babel eventually gives up the hold.

Babel is trying to work for a kimura but Newton is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Isaac Newton.
I've got Newton winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 45:50
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 45:50
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 46:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Isaac Newton!
Isaac Newton is the new heavyweight champion!
Isaac Newton thanked the fans post fight for their support.