PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Babcock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago de Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying de Souza's choice of entrance music: Dry County. Thiago de Souza has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Bruce Babcock's chin.

Babcock
vs
de Souza

180 cm
24
170 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

183 cm
22
177 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bruce Babcock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thiago de Souza!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
de Souza tries a low kick but Babcock avoids it.
de Souza thumps Babcock with a low kick.
Babcock misses with a wild combination.
Bruce Babcock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Babcock bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Babcock cracks de Souza with a big elbow.
de Souza is looking for a sweep.
de Souza is working to avoid the ground and pound but Babcock connects with a decent elbow.
de Souza manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Babcock wants to get back to full guard.
Babcock has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
de Souza wants to control but Babcock is keeping him busy.
de Souza throwing shots but Babcock is blocking nicely.

Babcock actively working from the bottom here.
de Souza works his way into side control.
de Souza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Babcock keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

de Souza tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no de Souza has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
de Souza tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Babcock tries to buck de Souza off but de Souza is having none of it.
Babcock takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Babcock tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but de Souza wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Babcock regains half guard.

de Souza is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Babcock is looking to control de Souza's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Babcock avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Babcock regains full guard. Nicely done.
de Souza is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
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.
de Souza wants to control from the top but Babcock keeps moving.
de Souza looking to sit in guard and control but Babcock gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Babcock postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Babcock avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
de Souza has momentary wrist control but Babcock slips an elbow through the middle.
Babcock pushing down on de Souza's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
de Souza is trying to get back to full guard.
Babcock working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babcock drops an elbow to the side of de Souza's head.
de Souza tries to roll over but Babcock keeps him under control.
Babcock trying to control from half guard but de Souza is working away.
Babcock is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Babcock looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Babcock thows a huge punch but de Souza dodges it nicely.

de Souza is defending against the submission attempts here by Babcock.
Babcock is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for de Souza!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
de Souza bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
de Souza pushes down on Babcock's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babcock gets full guard.

Babcock looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
de Souza looking to pass the guard.
Babcock keeping moving, preventing de Souza from controlling successfully.
de Souza trying to move into half guard but instead Babcock has managed to sweep!
de Souza will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Babcock trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
de Souza manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
de Souza has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Babcock's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Babcock dominated that round.
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.

Babcock lands a slapping body shot.
de Souza throws a low kick, looking for Babcock's leg but Babcock calmly moves out of range.
de Souza is looking to clinch.
Babcock misses with a wild body shot.
Babcock lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Babcock misses with a looping left.
Babcock throws an uppercut from half a mile away. de Souza sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Babcock keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Babcock scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Babcock throws a series of punches but de Souza avoids them all with ease.
de Souza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Babcock paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Babcock throws an overhand right that lands on de Souza's shoulder, as de Souza tries to avoid the shot.
de Souza throws a chopping leg kick but Babcock manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Babcock blocks a head kick by de Souza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babcock misses with a two punch combination.
Babcock throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
de Souza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Babcock.
de Souza motions for Babcock to come forward. de Souza throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Babcock throws a sloppy head kick
and de Souza counters with a thumping low kick.
Babcock on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by de Souza. de Souza obviously looking to wear him down.
Babcock pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Babcock swats away the attempt to clinch by de Souza.
Babcock shoots in for a double leg but de Souza sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
de Souza fails in his attempt to clinch.
Babcock throws a hook to the side of de Souza's head but de Souza sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Babcock throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babcock misses with a double jab.
de Souza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Babcock paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Babcock throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
de Souza throws a head kick but Babcock moves out of range.
de Souza blocks a jab.
Babcock will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Babcock with a lazy takedown attempt

and de Souza counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Babcock. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Babcock is trying to force a seperation but de Souza has the dominant position.
A short body shot lands from de Souza as the two fighters clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
de Souza tries to land a knee to the head but Babcock blocks with his arms.
Babcock fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from de Souza.
Babcock has a couple of punches blocked by de Souza.
de Souza using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Babcock scores with a hook to the body.
de Souza lands an elbow that stopped Babcock in his tracks for a moment.
Babcock takes a knee to the side of the body.
de Souza lands an elbow just above Babcock 's eye.
de Souza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Souza lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
de Souza creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Babcock's defenses.
de Souza lands an elbow that stopped Babcock in his tracks for a moment.
Babcock takes an elbow to the temple.
Babcock swings away with an uppercut that misses.
de Souza unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Babcock tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A frustrated look appears on Babcock's face as he tries to break the clinch.
de Souza lands a body shot in the clinch.
de Souza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
de Souza misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Babcock.
de Souza lands an elbow that stopped Babcock in his tracks for a moment.

Babcock works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

de Souza is looking for a triangle here but Babcock uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Babcock lands an elbow.
Babcock wants to control but de Souza is keeping him busy.
de Souza is looking to regain half guard here but Babcock keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de Souza looks to move to half guard but instead Babcock has passed into mount! Damn!
Babcock scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish de Souza?
de Souza working to try and regain half guard.
Babcock landing punches.
Babcock landing strikes from the mount.
de Souza is desperately trying to improve his position but Babcock has a good base and remains in mount.
A nice elbow there by Babcock.
de Souza sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
de Souza is looking for a sweep. Babcock is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
de Souza tries to kick Babcock off but Babcock keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
de Souza wants to get back to full guard.
de Souza has hold of Babcock's hands but Babcock slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Babcock working over de Souza with some ground and pound. de Souza looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Babcock dominated that second round.
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!

de Souza ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Babcock misses with an uppercut. de Souza saw that one coming.
Babcock works de Souza's body with a nice hook.
Babcock fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Babcock connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Babcock misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bruce Babcock is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Babcock fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Babcock gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and de Souza counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Babcock wants to improve his position but de Souza is controlling well.
de Souza trying to control from half guard but Babcock is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
de Souza works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babcock tries to reverse the position but de Souza maintains control.
A nice elbow there by de Souza.
Babcock is looking to improve his position but de Souza isn't that keen on the idea.
Bruce Babcock overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

de Souza is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Babcock to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Babcock shrugs it off.
Babcock is looking to get to half guard.

de Souza is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Babcock to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Babcock shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
de Souza sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Babcock tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Babcock is working hard here to advance position.
Babcock bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

de Souza working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Babcock doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Babcock manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
de Souza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Babcock is one step ahead there.
Babcock stands and throws de Souza's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Souza is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Babcock scoring with punches from side control.
Babcock scores with a couple of short elbows.
Babcock creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Babcock lands some shots froms side control.
Babcock wants to lay and pray for a moment but de Souza keeps working.
Babcock lands a few punches from side control.
de Souza is looking to regain half guard here but Babcock keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babcock gets to mount! de Souza was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Babcock lands with some strikes.
Babcock wants to control the pace but de Souza is squirming around nicely.
Babcock with shots to the head and body - de Souza looks very uncomfortable down there.
Thiago de Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Babcock is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but de Souza is surviving well by controlling Babcock's body position as best he can.
de Souza is wriggling around trying to escape.
Babcock landing punches.
Bruce Babcock is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
de Souza is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bruce Babcock.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Babcock, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Babcock!