PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Borcuha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tijani Babangida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Babangida has chosen ini - the life i live as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Borcuha
vs
Babangida

185 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
176 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Borcuha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tijani Babangida!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Borcuha fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Borcuha.
Babangida swinging wildly here.
Borcuha fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Babangida avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Borcuha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babangida misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Borcuha closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Borcuha lands in his opponent's guard.
Borcuha stays in close to Babangida's body and controls the position.
Babangida is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Borcuha is controlling him.
Babangida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Borcuha. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Borcuha is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Borcuha won't allow Babangida to get back to his feet.
Babangida keeping moving, preventing Borcuha from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Borcuha won't allow Babangida to get back to his feet.
Borcuha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Babangida is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borcuha passes Babangida's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Borcuha seems to be working for a kimura but Babangida defends the submission attempt.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Borcuha misses with a takedown attempt - Babangida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Borcuha is breathing heavily.
Borcuha on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A combination from Babangida does no damage.
Borcuha slips a jab and a cross from Babangida.
Borcuha tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Babangida lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Babangida tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alex Borcuha will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Borcuha throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Babangida's waist but Babangida gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Borcuha off to one side.
Babangida moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Babangida lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Borcuha dodges the punch combination from Babangida.
Alex Borcuha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A right-left combo lands from Babangida.
Alex Borcuha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Babangida leaves Borcuha with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babangida throws a head kick that half lands.
Borcuha fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Borcuha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Borcuha dodges the punch combination from Babangida.
Borcuha shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Babangida scores with a one two! Borcuha had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babangida lands a jab-cross combination.
Babangida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No joy there for Babangida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice takedown defense from Babangida. No joy for Borcuha on that attempt.
Borcuha looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Babangida looks to land a combination but Borcuha avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Babangida misses.
Babangida connects with a looping right hand.
Borcuha fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Babangida lands a high kick!
Babangida lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Babangida lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babangida moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A combination from Babangida does no damage.
Babangida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Babangida throws a one two combo.
Borcuha walks forward, straight into a front kick from Babangida.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tijani Babangida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

No joy there for Babangida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Babangida throws a series of punches but Borcuha moves out of range.
The fighters circle, before Babangida throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Borcuha's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! Babangida lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). Tijani Babangida!