PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tijani Babangida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Guy Tano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Babangida comes to the cage accompanied by ini - the life i live. Guy Tano comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Eye of the Tiger kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The key to victory for Tijani Babangida has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Babangida
vs
Guy Tano

190 cm
22
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tijani Babangida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ray Guy Tano!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Guy Tano gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Babangida is looking to break free of the clinch but Guy Tano has double underhooks.
Babangida is working Guy Tano over against the cage.

Guy Tano breaks the clinch.

Babangida gets caught flat footed, as Guy Tano shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Guy Tano showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Guy Tano stands up and waves to Babangida to follow him.
Babangida throws a nice looking combination but Guy Tano bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Babangida checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Babangida misses with a series of wild punches.
Babangida throws a right and a left that Guy Tano avoids nicely.
Babangida tried to score with a low kick but Guy Tano checks it.
Guy Tano fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Babangida fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babangida tries to bum rush Guy Tano with a series of wild strikes but Guy Tano uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Guy Tano slips a jab and a cross from Babangida.
Guy Tano avoids the head kick by Babangida.
Babangida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Guy Tano dodges the punch combination from Babangida.
Some wild striking there from Babangida.
Babangida lands a with a good body shot.
Babangida looks to land a combination but Guy Tano avoids it well.
Babangida misses with a body kick.
Babangida is breathing heavily.
Babangida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Babangida misses with a few strikes there.
Guy Tano goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Babangida misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Babangida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Guy Tano fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Babangida avoids it really well and circles away.

Guy Tano gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Guy Tano connects with a nice short shot to Babangida's temple.
Guy Tano frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Guy Tano controlling his opponent.
Guy Tano lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Babangida hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guy Tano trying to control but Babangida is having none of it.
Guy Tano lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Babangida hang on?
Guy Tano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Guy Tano dominating with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Guy Tano throws some wild stikes that Babangida manages to avoid easily.
Guy Tano lands a big shot there that rocks Babangida but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Guy Tano throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Guy Tano misses with a head shot.
Babangida wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Guy Tano.
Guy Tano throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Babangida is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Babangida is in a horrible position here. Guy Tano smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Guy Tano dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Babangida tries to bum rush Guy Tano with a series of wild strikes but Guy Tano uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from Babangida does no damage.
Guy Tano shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Guy Tano tries to clinch but Babangida moves out of range.
Babangida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Guy Tano showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Babangida.
Nice shot lands for Babangida.
Babangida throws a sloppy head kick

and Guy Tano counters by clinching up.
Guy Tano keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Babangida's efforts to push away.

Guy Tano escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guy Tano tries to close the distance and clinch but Babangida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Babangida misses with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Guy Tano throws a head kick that half lands.
Guy Tano fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Babangida scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guy Tano fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tijani Babangida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Guy Tano.
Babangida misses with a series of wild punches.
Tijani Babangida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown by Guy Tano or perhaps it was just good defense by Babangida which made him look bad.
Babangida falls off balance throwing a combination

and Guy Tano decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Babangida's guard.

Guy Tano gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Babangida throws a series of punches but Guy Tano moves out of range.
Tijani Babangida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Guy Tano fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Guy Tano gets a clinch.
Babangida managing to block the knees to the body from Guy Tano.
A frustrated look appears on Babangida's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Guy Tano keeps control of Babangida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Guy Tano stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babangida is looking to break free of the clinch but Guy Tano has double underhooks.
Babangida can't break the clinch.
Babangida wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Guy Tano has him pressed against the cage.
Babangida is trying to break the clinch but Guy Tano has him pressed against the cage.
Babangida swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Babangida is trying to break the clinch but Guy Tano is controlling him.
Babangida gets through Guy Tano's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Guy Tano tries to land knees in the clinch but Babangida avoids the damage to the body.
Guy Tano is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Guy Tano tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Babangida wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Babangida has had enough of the clinch but Guy Tano keeps him there for the moment.
Guy Tano lands a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guy Tano has Babangida pressed against the cage, preventing Babangida from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Babangida is trying to break the clinch but Guy Tano is controlling him.
Guy Tano stalling.
Babangida tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Guy Tano slows down the pace here.
Babangida can't break the clinch.
Babangida tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Guy Tano's elbow.
Babangida tries to break the clinch but Guy Tano is controlling the position.
Guy Tano unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Guy Tano breaks from the clinch.
Guy Tano tries to clinch but Babangida moves out of range.
A shot to de liver by Babangida. Beautiful body shot.
Guy Tano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four 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.
Babangida lands a nice shot to the body.
Babangida lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Babangida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Babangida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Guy Tano looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Guy Tano decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Babangida, up you get!
Guy Tano doesn't manage to clinch there - Babangida circles away.
Guy Tano dives in and grabs Babangida's left leg, looking for a takedown. Babangida pushes down on Guy Tano's head and hops out.
Babangida misses with a double jab

and Guy Tano counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Guy Tano.
Babangida wants to get back to striking at distance but Guy Tano won't allow it.

Guy Tano breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Guy Tano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

No joy there for Babangida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Babangida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Babangida misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Babangida does no damage.

Guy Tano scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
An elbow from Guy Tano crashes against the mat.
Guy Tano working the ground and pound.

Guy Tano stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Guy Tano takes the fight into the clinch.
Guy Tano effectively controlling the action here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Babangida lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Guy Tano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Babangida.
Babangida lands a shot to the body.
Babangida is trying to break the clinch but Guy Tano is controlling him.

Guy Tano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Babangida lands a jab to the head.
Babangida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Guy Tano circles away quickly and effectively.
Babangida pivots, looking for a leg kick but Guy Tano is out of range and Babangida settles back down.
Babangida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Babangida throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Guy Tano counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Babangida!
Guy Tano wants to control the pace but Babangida is squirming around nicely.
Guy Tano sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guy Tano wants to control the pace but Babangida is squirming around nicely.
Babangida is in a horrible position here. Guy Tano smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Guy Tano moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Babangida has worked his arm free - good work by Babangida!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Guy Tano stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Guy Tano doesn't manage to clinch there - Babangida circles away.
Babangida connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Guy Tano shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Babangida digs a good body shot into Guy Tano's ribs.
Babangida looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Guy Tano has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Babangida throws a solid leg kick but Guy Tano takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Babangida.
Babangida throws a sloppy head kick
letting Guy Tano counter with a right hand.
Babangida fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Guy Tano looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Guy Tano moves into the clinch.

Babangida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Babangida misses with a series of wild punches.
Babangida misses with a double jab

and Guy Tano holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Babangida is looking to break free of the clinch but Guy Tano has double underhooks.
Babangida is trying to break the clinch but Guy Tano has him pressed against the cage.
Babangida wants to break the clinch but can't.
Guy Tano controlling the action here for a moment.
Babangida tries to break free but Guy Tano pushes him back against the cage.
Guy Tano content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Babangida.
Tijani Babangida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ray Guy Tano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Babangida lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Guy Tano.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Guy Tano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Guy Tano 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Guy Tano!