PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marcelo Alencar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sinhjo Babalu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Alencar
vs
Babalu

176 cm
19
164 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
19
166 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Alencar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sinhjo Babalu!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Babalu blocks a head kick by Alencar.

Babalu drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Babalu scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Alencar to see if he's OK.
Babalu advances nicely into full mount.
Alencar is bucking up trying to escape but Babalu cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Babalu has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Alencar's face.
Babalu throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Babalu goes for an armbar but Alencar turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Alencar.
Alencar wants to control from the top but Babalu keeps moving.

Babalu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alencar can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Babalu tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alencar wants to stand but Babalu is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Babalu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Babalu looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Alencar puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Babalu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Babalu looks gassed!
Babalu is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Alencar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Alencar's back!
Babalu lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Babalu throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Well, with Babalu on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Alencar is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Babalu goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Alencar escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Babalu is looking to improve his position.

That's two 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.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alencar decides to stand and escape the position.
Babalu closes the distance and clinches up with Alencar, looking for a takedown. Babalu pushes Alencar against the cage but Alencar circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Babalu gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Babalu keeping moving, preventing Alencar from controlling successfully.

Alencar thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Babalu striking off his back but it's not causing Alencar any problems.

Babalu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alencar doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alencar manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Alencar knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Babalu on the ground.

Babalu looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Alencar passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Babalu actively working from the bottom here.
Babalu tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Babalu moves into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Babalu working for a triangle but Alencar defends it easily.
Babalu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Alencar manages to get himself to full guard.
Babalu won't allow Alencar to get back to his feet.
Babalu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Alencar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Babalu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Babalu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Babalu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Babalu should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alencar is looking to stand up but Babalu isn't so interested in that idea.

Alencar escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Babalu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Babalu advances position into side control!
Alencar is trying to get back to half guard.
Babalu working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Babalu has an Americana. Alencar didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Babalu is delighted and gyrates infront of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Babalu hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Sinhjo Babalu!