PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jake Snake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitch Babaloli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Babaloli has chosen Wu Tang Clan - Da Mystery Of Chessboxin' as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Snake
vs
Babaloli

179 cm
20
192 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

188 cm
23
192 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Future Pharmaceuticals-Time Slip Protection

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Jake Snake!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mitch Babaloli!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Donald Grub and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Snake tries to clinch but Babaloli moves out of range.

Snake instigates a clinch.
Snake tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Babaloli's elbow.
Snake is pressed up against the ropes. Babaloli has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Snake down to the mat. Snake avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Snake leaves Babaloli with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Babaloli smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Babaloli is defended easily by Snake.
Jake Snake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mitch Babaloli.

Babaloli closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Snake tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Babaloli throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Babaloli working the ground and pound from side control.
Snake is not content to let Babaloli control the position.
Snake is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Babaloli has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snake is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Babaloli's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Babaloli's back!

Snake patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Snake missing with strikes.
Babaloli manages to reverse the position and now he's in Snake's guard. Nice work there by Babaloli.
Snake manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Babaloli manages to get himself to full guard.
Babaloli tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Babaloli keeping full guard, as Snake tries to pass.
Snake with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Snake wants to get up but he can't break Babaloli's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Snake with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Babaloli looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Snake trying to control the position from guard on top but Babaloli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Snake throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Snake gets a clinch.

Snake pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Babaloli shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Snake sprawls well. Snake wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Babaloli gets slowly back to his feet.
Snake tries to close the distance and clinch up but Babaloli swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snake looks to land a combination but Babaloli avoids it well.
Babaloli on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Babaloli slips a jab from Snake.

Babaloli looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Snake trying to control the position here.
Babaloli throws a big right hand that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Babaloli's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Snake utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Snake 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Snake lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Babaloli!
Snake with the ground and pound from mount.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Snake lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Babaloli hang on?
Snake throwing strikes but Babaloli uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Babaloli blocking the ground and pound attempt from Snake.
Babaloli makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Babaloli.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Snake chips away with some ground and pound.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Snake stands up and waves to Babaloli to follow him.
Babaloli blocks a jab.
Snake circles away from the clinch attempt.
Babaloli throws a solid leg kick but Snake takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Babaloli.
Babaloli works over Snake's head and body with a nice combination.
Babaloli shoots in but Snake avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Snake throws out a loose jab but Babaloli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Snake throws a hook but Babaloli avoids it easily.
Babaloli shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Snake as he avoids it easily.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Snake misses the jab.
Babaloli throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Babaloli uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Snake.

Babaloli closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Babaloli is looking to advance position but Snake won't allow it.
Babaloli with the ground and pound but Snake uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Snake working a defensive guard here.
Babaloli is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Snake is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Snake wants to sweep here but Babaloli controlling him for the moment.
Babaloli trying to control the position from guard on top but Snake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli throws a strike but Snake rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Snake is working Babaloli over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Babaloli keeping moving, preventing Snake from controlling successfully.
Snake wants to stand and escape but instead Babaloli has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Snake working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Babaloli.
Babaloli lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Snake escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Babaloli gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Snake is breathing heavily.
Babaloli content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Babaloli working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Babaloli with a flurry of punches that miss.
Babaloli won't allow Snake to sweep him here.
Babaloli trying to control but Snake is working from the bottom.

Snake looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Snake has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Babaloli is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Snake.

Babaloli is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Snake is trying to escape and Babaloli transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Snake is forced to tap! Nice work there by Babaloli! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:04 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mitch Babaloli!
Mitch Babaloli is the new middleweight champion!