PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nord Licht (ranked 232 p4p, 413 weight class) and Nino Babel (ranked 38 p4p, 55 weight class). Nord Licht has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Licht
vs
Babel

206 cm
30
235
10 - 7 - 0

195 cm
26
265
10 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel
Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

FUClothing
Shadow Realm Apparel

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nord Licht!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nino Babel!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Licht slips under a jab.
Babel fails with a takedown attempt.
Licht throwing a counter right hand but Babel manages to avoid it.

Babel darts in and clinches Licht up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Babel gets control of Licht's arms and successfully pulls guard. Babel will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Babel looking to control.
Licht is looking to stand up but Babel won't let him.
Licht has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Babel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Licht can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babel trying to keep a closed guard but Licht is proving a slippery customer.

Babel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Licht defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Licht has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Babel is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Licht stands up and waves to Babel to follow him.
Nino Babel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Babel rushes Licht and presses him up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Licht creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Babel is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Licht to keep the fight standing.
Babel tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Licht just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nord Licht has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nino Babel.
Licht lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Licht working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Babel tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Licht just stands there and leans against the cage.
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 Licht walks away with a smile on his face. Babel gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Babel lands with an uppercut that bounces Licht off the cage and back into range.
Licht scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Babel pushes Licht up against the cage in a clinch.
Licht tries to throw a body punch but Babel avoids it by throwing Licht back against the cage.
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 Licht walks away with a smile on his face. Babel gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Babel tries to clinch up but Licht circles away and keeps his distance.
A quick step to the side and Licht tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Babel slips a jab from Licht.
Babel shoots and misses
and Licht cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Babel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Licht was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Babel shoots in looking for a takedown but Licht manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Babel's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nord Licht is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Babel slips a jab and a cross from Licht.
Babel is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Licht throws the left hand but Babel avoids the punch easily.
Licht fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Babel manages to avoid it.
Licht fails to land with a series of punches.
Babel feints the counter takedown.
A head kick by Licht misses

and Babel counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Licht keeping moving, preventing Babel from controlling successfully.
Babel tries to free his leg and advance position but Licht is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Babel wants to control from the top but Licht keeps moving.
Babel wants to pass the guard but Licht is keeping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nord Licht dominated that round.
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.

Nice shot lands for Licht.
Babel falls off balance throwing a combination
and Licht counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Licht connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Licht defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Babel.
Licht quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babel tries for a takedown but Licht sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Licht looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Licht ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Babel moves away.
Babel misses with a takedown attempt - Licht sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Licht misses the target.
Nord Licht has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nino Babel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babel on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Babel dodges the punch combination from Licht.
Licht is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Babel.
Licht stuffs the takedown.
Babel changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Licht tries to avoid it but Babel manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Licht to the ground. Licht escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Babel shoots in and gets a takedown into Licht's guard.

Licht is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Babel presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Licht breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Babel throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Licht's waist but Licht gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Babel off to one side.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Babel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Babel tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Licht counters with an inside leg kick.
Babel shoots in but no luck this time.
Babel is looking to clinch.
Nord Licht is winning the standup battle so far.
Licht clobbers Babel with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Babel shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Babel prevents Licht from standing back up.
Babel trying to control the pace.

Babel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babel prevents Licht from standing back up.
Nino Babel has got the better of the ground game so far.

Licht has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Babel is on him like a limpet, forcing Licht back against the cage.
Babel fails to pull guard.
Licht lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Babel backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Licht.
Licht struggles to land a body shot inside as Babel controls his hands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nord Licht dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Babel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Babel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Babel manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Licht on his heels. He'll look to pass Licht's guard now, I'm sure.

Licht pushes Babel off and scrambles back to his feet.
Babel doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Licht counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babel tries to clinch up.

Babel clinches up with Licht and pushes him back against the cage.
Licht is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Babel can do to turn this around?
Licht lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Licht misses with a body punch.
Licht is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Licht lands with a left to the head.
Licht is stalling here.
Babel is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Licht to keep the fight standing.
Nord Licht has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Babel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Babel tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Licht smiles and moves away.
Nord Licht has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nino Babel.
Licht scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Babel gets a double leg takedown into Licht's guard.

Licht has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Babel off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Licht avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And Licht counters with a quick kick to the body but Babel blocks it.

Babel instigates a clinch.
Licht tries a body shot but Babel blocks it.
Babel tries to pull guard but Licht won't allow it.
Babel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A nice left hand lands by Licht.
Licht scores with a nice hook to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Licht's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Babel ducks under a wild hook from Licht.
And Babel tries to counter it with a takedown but Licht pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babel tries to clinch up but Licht circles away and keeps his distance.
Babel tries to clinch but Licht moves out of range.
Licht is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Babel closes the distance and clinches.
Licht misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Licht goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Licht trying to stall but Babel improves his position.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Licht creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Babel tries to pull guard but Licht holds him up against the cage and eventually Babel drops back down to his feet.
Babel fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nice body punch from Licht.

Licht breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Licht connects with a crisp jab.
Licht swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Babel tries to clinch there but Licht circles away.
Babel shoots in for a double leg but Licht sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Babel tries to close the distance and clinch but Licht swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Licht lands a nice looking body kick.
Licht tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Licht throws a wild body kick that Babel sees coming a mile off.
Babel tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nord Licht clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Licht tries to land a front kick but Babel steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Babel doesn't manage to clinch there - Licht circles away.
Babel tries to clinch but Licht is having none of it.
Babel moves to clinch but Licht breaks away
letting Licht counter with a right hand.
Babel wants to clinch
and Licht counters with a two punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babel fails with a takedown attempt.
Licht is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Babel drives through with a takedown into guard.
Licht wants to get back to his feet but Babel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Licht has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Babel is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Babel tries to pull guard but Licht holds him up against the cage and eventually Babel drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Licht lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Babel prevents a body shot from Licht.
Babel is trying to pull guard but Licht turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nord Licht has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nino Babel.
Licht trying to control the position but instead, Babel has worked for underhooks and has pushed Licht into the cage.
Babel jumps guard but Licht turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Licht lands a shot to the body.
Babel tries to pull guard but Licht forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Licht makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Babel jumps guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Babel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Babel is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Licht stands up and waves to Babel to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Licht misses with a two punch combination.
Licht tries to land a body kick

and Babel counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Licht!
Licht wants to get back to his feet but Babel is dominant here and he's now got Licht's back!
Licht is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Licht showing good submission defense here.
Well, with Babel on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Licht is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Licht is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Babel is looking for the choke from the back position but Licht is controlling his hands well.

Babel is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Licht knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Licht for a finish.
Licht trying to get back to his feet but Babel is in full control for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nord Licht had his way with Nino Babel in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! 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.

Babel closes the distance but Licht moves to the side
and Licht counters with a nice uppercut.
Licht connects with an inside leg kick.
Babel lands a two punch combo.
Babel fails with the takedown
and Babel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Licht throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Babel takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babel with a lazy takedown attempt
and Licht counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Babel is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

Licht drops Babel with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Babel looks back up at him and smiles so Licht waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Babel is rocked!
Licht flashes Babel a smile before throwing a beast of a right hand, straight down the pipe. Babel's eyes follow the hand right onto his nose, taking in it's full glory... and then darkness. Babel crumples to the floor! He's out cold! Licht punches the air and yells at the top of his lungs - yeeeeeeeeeeah!!!! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 5, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Nord Licht!
Nord Licht retains his heavyweight title!
Nord Licht decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.