PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mounir Ayari (ranked 34 p4p, 313 weight class) and Jesse Thomas Babcock (ranked 5 p4p, 44 weight class). Ayari comes into the arena with Sara Al Zakaria - Ekht Rjal blaring out of the sound system. Babcock is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 70. On his way into the cage it seems that Mounir Ayari has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Mounir Ayari seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Ayari
vs
Babcock

185 cm
30
170
23 - 8 - 0

177 cm
34
183
24 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Mounir Ayari!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jesse Thomas Babcock!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Eddie Farnsworth and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ayari turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ayari throws a jab when Babcock was well out of range.
Ayari throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Babcock uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ayari.

Babcock closes the distance and clinches.
Babcock misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Babcock fails to land.
Ayari definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ayari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Babcock scores with a hook to the body.
Ayari misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ayari lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Babcock tries to work over Ayari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Babcock tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ayari's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ayari prevents a body shot from Babcock.

Ayari manages to break the clinch.
A slow jab from Ayari misses its intended target.
Ayari lands a head shot.
Ayari misses with a left hand

and Babcock counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Ayari pushes Babcock off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ayari looks to score with a jab to the body but Babcock is just out of range.

Babcock closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ayari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ayari misses with a punch to the body.
Babcock looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ayari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Babcock tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Babcock - that landed with a thud.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ayari.
Babcock tries a body shot but Ayari blocks it.
A right hand to the body from Ayari.
Babcock wants a takedown.
Babcock misses with a punch to the body.
A short right from Ayari on the inside.
Babcock throws a head punch that misses.
Ayari blocks a body shot from Babcock.
Ayari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Babcock stalling against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babcock prevents a body shot from Ayari.
Ayari misses with a short punch on the inside.
Babcock misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Babcock tries to work over Ayari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ayari blocks a body shot from Babcock.
Ayari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Babcock blocks an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Babcock prevents a body shot from Ayari.
Babcock lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ayari struggles to land a body shot inside as Babcock controls his hands.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Babcock.
Ayari lands an uppercut.
Babcock's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Babcock cracks Ayari with a nice body shot.

Babcock pulls guard successfully.
Babcock wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babcock keeping full guard, as Ayari tries to pass.
Ayari seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Babcock looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ayari trying to control but Babcock is working from the bottom.
Ayari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Babcock pulls Ayari in to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ayari sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ayari!
Ayari lands an overhand right.
Babcock's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Babcock duly obliges.

It looks like Mounir Ayari has been cut.

Babcock clinches with his opponent.
Babcock struggles to land a body shot inside as Ayari controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Ayari fails to land.
Babcock blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Ayari pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Babcock ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Babcock drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ayari scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ayari chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mounir Ayari dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mounir Ayari's cut.
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.

Babcock rushes Ayari and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ayari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Babcock can't get the takedown.
Babcock has Ayari pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ayari manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Babcock tries to throw a body punch but Ayari avoids it by throwing Babcock back against the cage.
Babcock is looking to take this one to the mat.
Mounir Ayari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Thomas Babcock.
Ayari working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Jesse Thomas Babcock seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Ayari pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ayari misses with a wild body shot.
Babcock clobbers Ayari with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Babcock steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ayari.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babcock lands a right hook to the body.
Mounir Ayari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ayari tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Babcock was well out of range. Poor timing from Ayari.
Babcock is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ayari walks into a jab.
Babcock lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ayari at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babcock blocks a head kick by Ayari.

Ayari tries to keep at a distance but Babcock has taken the fight into the clinch.
Babcock can't find room to land a body shot as Ayari controls the action.
Babcock drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ayari gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ayari has a couple of punches blocked by Babcock.
Ayari lands a shot to the body.
Ayari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ayari blocks a body shot from Babcock.
Babcock tries to work over Ayari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Babcock misses with a body punch.
Babcock lands a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Ayari scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ayari tries to work over Babcock's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Babcock struggles to land a body shot inside as Ayari controls his hands.
Babcock is looking to control Ayari's arms but Ayari gets an underhook and turns him. Now Babcock has his back to the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ayari blocks a body shot from Babcock.
Babcock lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Babcock is trying to pull guard but Ayari has him pressed against the cage.
Ayari misses with a punch to the body.
Ayari prevents a body shot from Babcock.
Ayari struggles to land a body shot inside as Babcock controls his hands.
Ayari missing with knees to the body.
Babcock can't find room to land a body shot as Ayari controls the action.
Ayari tries to throw a body punch but Babcock avoids it by throwing Ayari back against the cage.
Ayari blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Babcock can't find room to land a body shot as Ayari controls the action.

Ayari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ayari takes a shot right to the bread basket.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Babcock takes a swing at Ayari's ribcage but misses.
Ayari misses with a body shot.
Babcock just misses with a punch to the body.
Ayari lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babcock lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Babcock cracks Ayari with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ayari misses with a straight left.
And Babcock tries to counter it with a takedown but Ayari pushes his down on his head and steps out.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ayari darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ayari throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ayari is looking to score with low kicks.
And Babcock tries to counter it with a takedown but Ayari pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Babcock avoids the body shot from Ayari.
Babcock smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Mounir Ayari is winning the standup battle so far.
Ayari misses with a looping right.
Ayari scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ayari fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Babcock manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ayari throws a hook but Babcock blocks it.
Babcock is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Babcock throws a series of punches but Ayari moves out of range.
Ayari falls off balance throwing a combination

and Babcock counters with a single leg into guard. Ayari didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Babcock throws an elbow that misses. Ayari uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Babcock's guard. Nice move by Ayari!

Babcock 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.
Ayari wants to control from the top but Babcock keeps moving.
Babcock seems keen to control Ayari's posture.
Ayari controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jesse Thomas Babcock will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mounir Ayari's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ayari uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Babcock.
Babcock looks to land a left hand but Ayari moved out of range nicely.

Babcock rushes Ayari and presses him up against the cage.
Ayari wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Babcock has him pressed against the cage.
Babcock goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Ayari pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Donk. Ayari catches Babcock right on the button with a cross.
Ayari feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Babcocks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Ayari throws a body punch but Babcock moves out of range.
And Babcock tries to counter it with a takedown but Ayari pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Babcock misses with a shot to the body
and Ayari counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Babcock thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babcock has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Babcock there as he acknowledges the shot.

Babcock is rocked!
Ayari misses with a looping right.
Babcock is still on wobbly legs! Can Ayari finish him?
Babcock tries to clinch there but Ayari circles away.
Ayari throwing a counter right hand but Babcock manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ayari lands a jab to the head.
Babcock misses with a body shot.
Babcock is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ayari rather than just go for the knockout.
Ayari looks to throw the jab but Babcock is out of range.
Ayari motions for Babcock to come forward. Ayari throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Babcock is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ayari throws a jab when Babcock was well out of range.
Babcock seems to have recovered his senses.
Babcock uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ayari.
Babcock feints the counter takedown.
Ayari displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Babcock throws out the jab.
Ayari looks to land a left hand but Babcock moved out of range nicely.
Babcock feints the counter takedown.
Babcock lands a nice hook to Ayari's body. Ayari takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ayari swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Babcock has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Babcock there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ayari jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ayari keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Babcock defending well as Ayari loads up on a big left hand.
Ayari throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Some wild striking there from Ayari.
Babcock is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Ayari throws a hook to the side of Babcock's head but Babcock sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ayari lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Babcock circles away quickly and effectively.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ayari takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ayari throws a half hearted mid kick.
Babcock feints the counter takedown.
Babcock needs to keep his hands up - Ayari had a free shot at his head there.
Ayari looks to land a left hand but Babcock moved out of range nicely.
Babcock changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ayari stuns Babcock with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ayari throws a looping overhand right but Babcock ducks down to avoid it.
Babcock is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Babcock throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ayari misses with a straight right.
Babcock with the counter takedown but Ayari avoids it easily.
Babcock scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Babcock defending well as Ayari loads up on a big left hand.
Babcock tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ayari misses with a left hand

and Babcock holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ayari prevents a body shot from Babcock.

Ayari breaks the clinch.
Ayari throws a hook but Babcock blocks it.
Babcock moves in looking to clinch but Ayari pushes him off.
Sloppy strikes from Ayari. Those never looked like landing.
Ayari misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babcock uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ayari.
Babcock lands the left hand.
Babcock uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ayari.
Babcock is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ayari is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Babcock.

Babcock moves into range and clinches up with Ayari.

Babcock has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ayari regains guard immediately.
Babcock is looking to work some ground and pound but Ayari has wrist control.
Babcock wants to pass the guard but Ayari is keeping the position.
Babcock content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Babcock distracts Ayari with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mounir Ayari clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Mounir Ayari's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ayari jabs Babcock right on the nose. Babcock blinks but takes it well.
Ayari's jab looks to have found its range, popping Babcock under the eye.
Babcock throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ayari works Babcock's body with a nice hook.
Babcock lands a nice hook to Ayari's body. Ayari takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ayari tried to score with a low kick but Babcock checks it.
Babcock takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ayari swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Babcock drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ayari defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ayari throws out a loose jab but Babcock uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ayari doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Ayari takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Babcock takes a swing at Ayari's ribcage but misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Ayari misses its target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babcock ducks under a wild hook from Ayari.
Babcock steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ayari.
Mounir Ayari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ayari scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Babcock moves out of range of the strikes.
Babcock feints the counter takedown.
Ayari misses the shot to the body.
Ayari fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ayari fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Babcock throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ayari was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Ayari misses with a looping right.
Babcock slips under a jab.
Babcock lands a glancing blow to the side of Ayari's head.
Ayari jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ayari loads up on a big right hand but Babcock slips the punch.
Babcock feints the counter takedown.
A swing and a miss from Ayari.
Babcock with the counter takedown but Ayari avoids it easily.
A big left from Ayari misses.
Babcock swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ayari makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ayari staying out of range there.
Ayari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Babcock can do to turn this around?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Babcock lands a nice hook to Ayari's body. Ayari takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ayari throws a shot from downtown. Babcock moves away and avoids it.
Ayari throws a shot from downtown. Babcock moves away and avoids it.
Decent striking displayed by Ayari there.
Ayari lands an overhand right.
Ayari misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ayari scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Babcock doesn't seem bothered though.
Babcock tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ayari was well out of range. Poor timing from Babcock.
Ayari rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Babcock moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Babcock changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Ayari throws out a loose jab but Babcock uses good head movement to avoid it.
Babcock slips under a jab.
Babcock avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Babcock with the counter takedown but Ayari avoids it easily.
Babcock scores with a jab to the body.
Ayari throws a body shot but no joy.

Babcock has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ayari is trying to break free.
Babcock misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ayari.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ayari lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Babcock or not.
Babcock lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ayari backwards.
Ayari has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Babcock blocks an uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ayari as Babcock tries to tie him up.
Ayari is looking to break free of the clinch but Babcock has double underhooks.
Babcock misses with a hook to the ribs.

Ayari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ayari misses with a straight left.
Ayari lands a nice hook to Babcock's body. Babcock takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Babcock scores with a hook to the body. Ayari takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Babcock takes the fight into the clinch.
Babcock has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Babcock drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ayari pulls his leg out and moves away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mounir Ayari had his way with Jesse Thomas Babcock in that round.
The cut man is working on Mounir Ayari's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Ayari cracks Babcock with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Jesse Thomas Babcock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Babcock misses with a looping right.
Ayari throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ayari throws the left hand but Babcock avoids the punch easily.
Babcock misses with a body shot.
Ayari scores with a punch to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babcock throws a lazy right hand but Ayari sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Babcock tries to clinch but Ayari is having none of it.
As Babcock backs away, Ayari returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Ayari gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Babcock.
Babcock tries to clinch but Ayari moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ayari throws a leg kick but Babcock sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Ayari gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Babcock missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ayari trying to control the position here.
Ayari wants to sweep here but Babcock controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ayari preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Babcock controlling from the top position.
Mounir Ayari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babcock throws a strike but Ayari rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Babcock looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Babcock keeping moving, preventing Ayari from controlling successfully.
Ayari is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ayari being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babcock 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 is still trying to improve position.
Babcock managing to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Babcock looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ayari tries to land a leg kick but Babcock saw it coming and moves away.
Babcock with the counter takedown but Ayari avoids it easily.
Babcock tries to clinch
and Ayari counters with a stiff right hand.
Ayari scores with a three punch combo!
Babcock keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Babcock feints the counter takedown.
Babcock throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ayari counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ayari moves out of range as Babcock strikes.
Babcock will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ayari jabs at Babcock's body.
Ayari lunges at Babcock with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Babcock's hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ayari swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ayari scores with a decent looking hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mounir Ayari showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ayari 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 49:46
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 49:46
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mounir Ayari!
Mounir Ayari retains his welterweight title!
An out of breath Mounir Ayari thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.