PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gerald Babatunde (ranked 3775 p4p, 3936 weight class) and Shamus McSorley (ranked 406 p4p, 420 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Babatunde
vs
McSorley

188 cm
18
195
4 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
192
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gerald Babatunde!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shamus McSorley!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McSorley misses with a jab, cross combination.
McSorley's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on McSorley's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
McSorley lets loose with a powerful body kick. Babatunde will feel that in the morning.

Babatunde gets tackled into the cage by McSorley. McSorley maintains the clinch.
Babatunde can't break the clinch.

McSorley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Babatunde on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
McSorley jabs at Babatunde's body.
Babatunde moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Some wild striking there from Babatunde.
Sloppy strikes from McSorley. Those never looked like landing.
That kick from McSorley tenderised Babatunde's leg. Babatunde is trying to keep his angry face on.
McSorley thuds his shin into the meat of Babatunde's side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McSorley connects with an inside leg kick.
A nice leg kick from McSorley, right into the meat of the thigh.
Babatunde throws a leg kick but McSorley sees it coming and moves out of range.
Babatunde on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Babatunde lands a nice looking body shot.
Shamus McSorley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McSorley misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Babatunde.
McSorley bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
McSorley throws a nice looking combination but Babatunde bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Babatunde swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
McSorley throws a head kick that Babatunde semi-blocks.
Babatunde pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

McSorley instigates a clinch.

McSorley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McSorley lands with a kick to the temple. Babatunde shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

McSorley has closed the distance and engaged Babatunde in a clinch.
McSorley digs a right hand into Babatunde's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Babatunde's gas tank.

McSorley breaks the clinch.
Babatunde throws a body punch but McSorley moves out of range.
Babatunde chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before McSorley can pounce on him.

McSorley has managed to clinch.
Babatunde can't break the clinch.

McSorley breaks from the clinch.
Babatunde misses the shot to the body.
McSorley is looking for the big counter here.
McSorley lands a body shot.
Babatunde throws a body punch but McSorley moves out of range.
McSorley feints and then cracks Babatunde's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Babatunde down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babatunde ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McSorley moves away.

McSorley gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

McSorley breaks from the clinch.
Babatunde looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
McSorley bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Babatunde has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from McSorley.
A low kick lands for McSorley.
McSorley buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
McSorley throws a one two combo.

McSorley moves into the clinch successfully.
McSorley keeps control of Babatunde as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

McSorley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Babatunde throws a body punch but McSorley moves out of range.
McSorley follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babatunde throws a big shot that misses.
McSorley throws a nice outside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Babatunde swinging wildly here.
Babatunde ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
McSorley lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
McSorley misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Babatunde.
Babatunde swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Babatunde looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McSorley scores with a push kick.
Babatunde is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
McSorley fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shamus McSorley dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Babatunde tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Babatunde with a lazy takedown attempt
and McSorley counters with a slapping leg kick.
McSorley has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McSorley connects with a solid leg kick.
Babatunde has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by McSorley.
McSorley scores with a shot to the body.
Babatunde is looking to wear down McSorley with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
McSorley punishes Babatunde's body with a nice straight punch.
McSorley looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
McSorley lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Babatunde circles away quickly and effectively.
Babatunde seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Shamus McSorley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping body kick lands there for McSorley.
McSorley scores with a jab to the body.
Babatunde fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McSorley manages to avoid it.
Babatunde doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McSorley throws a shot to the body.
McSorley scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Babatunde doesn't seem bothered though.
Babatunde throws a big shot that misses.
Nice body kick there by McSorley.
Babatunde tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gerald Babatunde is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Babatunde 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.
McSorley ducks under a wild hook from Babatunde.

McSorley pushes Babatunde up against the cage in a clinch.
McSorley is struggling to control the position.
McSorley is looking for a takedown.
McSorley has Babatunde pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McSorley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McSorley lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Babatunde chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before McSorley can pounce on him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Babatunde misses the shot to the body.
Babatunde misses with an uppercut
and McSorley counters with a nice low kick that buckles Babatunde's knee momentarily.
Babatunde takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Babatunde will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
McSorley delivers a nice body kick.
A shot to the liver by McSorley. Beautiful body shot.

McSorley drives through and clinches with Babatunde against the cage.
McSorley stalling in the clinch.
A short left from McSorley.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McSorley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Babatunde ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McSorley moves away.
McSorley feints a counter leg kick.
Babatunde throws a body shot but no joy.
And McSorley tries to counter it with a takedown but Babatunde pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Babatunde throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McSorley swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Babatunde takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Some wild striking there from Babatunde.

McSorley rushes Babatunde and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Babatunde has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. McSorley is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
McSorley misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babatunde is trying to pull guard but McSorley turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerald Babatunde. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McSorley stalling against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from McSorley.
The crowd are getting on McSorley's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Babatunde wants to break the clinch but can't.

McSorley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McSorley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Babatunde manages to avoid it.

McSorley closes the distance and pushes Babatunde back into the cage.
Babatunde tries to circle away but McSorley has him pinned against the cage.
McSorley prevents Babatunde from breaking the clinch.

McSorley manages to break the clinch.
Babatunde misses with a double jab
and McSorley counters with a three punch combo that has Babatunde backing up. Babatunde nods at McSorley to acknowledge the strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shamus McSorley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Babatunde takes a swing at McSorley's ribcage but misses.
McSorley is looking for the big counter here.

McSorley gets in close and instigates a clinch.

McSorley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McSorley lands a jab-cross combination.
Babatunde misses with a body punch
and McSorley counters with an outside leg kick.
Babatunde changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
No joy there for Babatunde, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
No joy there for McSorley, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McSorley fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Babatunde has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Babatunde swinging wildly here.
McSorley throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Babatunde.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McSorley takes a body punch but keeps moving.
McSorley misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McSorley throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McSorley lands a jab to the head.

McSorley gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Babatunde's face as he tries to break the clinch.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
McSorley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McSorley throws a nice outside leg kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from McSorley - that will leave a mark!
Babatunde fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babatunde throws a body shot but no joy.
That kick from McSorley tenderised Babatunde's leg. Babatunde is trying to keep his angry face on.
Babatunde looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

McSorley has managed to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Babatunde wants to break the clinch but can't.

McSorley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McSorley avoids the body shot from Babatunde.
Babatunde takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
McSorley throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Babatunde.
McSorley will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Babatunde fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babatunde showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McSorley.
McSorley lands a right hook to the body.
McSorley moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
McSorley takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

McSorley clinches up against the cage.
McSorley lands a body shot in the clinch.

McSorley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McSorley fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babatunde throws a looping overhand right but McSorley ducks down to avoid it.
McSorley tries a quick counter leg kick but Babatunde is wise to it.
Shamus McSorley seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McSorley misses with a wild body shot.
Babatunde fails in his attempt to clinch.
McSorley misses with a wild combination.

McSorley has taken the fight to the clinch.
McSorley tries a body shot but Babatunde blocks it.

McSorley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes from McSorley. Those never looked like landing.
Gerald Babatunde has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shamus McSorley is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Babatunde takes a kick to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shamus McSorley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McSorley has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shamus McSorley!