PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juan Carlos Alvez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Namba Babakla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Carlos Alvez
vs
Babakla

185 cm
20
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

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 Rio de Janeiro, Juan Carlos Alvez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Namba Babakla!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Mauricio Rocha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alvez instigates a clinch.
Babakla goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Babakla struggles to land a body shot inside as Alvez controls his hands.
Babakla misses with an elbow over the top.
Babakla misses with some punches.
Babakla throws a punch but it's blocked by Alvez.
Babakla misses with a hook from the clinch.
Alvez scores with a knee to the head.
Alvez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Babakla gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Babakla misses with some punches.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Alvez obliges.
Babakla misses with a punch to the body.
Alvez prevents Babakla from breaking the clinch.
Babakla misses with a punch on the inside.
Babakla misses with an elbow over the top.

Alvez pulls guard.
Alvez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babakla controls from within his opponent's guard.
Let's hope that Babakla has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
It looks like Babakla might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Namba Babakla has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Babakla keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvez tries to clinch but Babakla is having none of it.
Alvez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Babakla paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alvez shoots in and drives through. Babakla sprawls well.
A punch combination from Babakla misses.
Alvez fails with the takedown

and Babakla counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Carlos Alvez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Babakla sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Alvez defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvez trying to hold on to Babakla's head to control him but Babakla postures up.
Babakla sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Alvez defending well though.

Babakla wants to work for an arm triangle but Alvez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Babakla passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Alvez!
Babakla looking to finish with strikes here!
Babakla controlling from mount.
Babakla's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Babakla looking for a guillotine from mount but Alvez is having none of it.
Babakla thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Babakla looking to ground and pound but Alvez is blocking nicely.
Babakla looking to finish with strikes here!
Babakla landing shots from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Babakla pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Alvez tries to hold on but Babakla postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Namba Babakla dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Babakla drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Alvez being controlled for a moment.

Babakla decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Alvez leaves Babakla 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.

Babakla closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Alvez did well to prevent Babakla getting side control.
Babakla looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Babakla drops an elbow to the side of Alvez's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Well, if Babakla is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Babakla throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Alvez wants to improve his position but Babakla is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babakla seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Namba Babakla was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Alvez closes the distance but Babakla moves to the side

and Babakla counters with a single leg into guard. Alvez didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Babakla slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Babakla in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvez is trying to escape the position but Babakla is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Babakla is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Alvez has escaped the position, nice work there.
Babakla controls the position.
Babakla landing strikes.
Babakla has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babakla in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Babakla misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Babakla tries to score with some ground and pound. Alvez controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Babakla controlling the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alvez defending against the ground and pound.
Babakla throwing shots but missing, from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Namba Babakla showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Babakla shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Alvez defends it nicely.
Alvez tries to clinch up.

Alvez moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babakla misses with a hook from the clinch.
Babakla throws an elbow that misses.

Babakla gets control of Alvez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Babakla will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Alvez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Babakla pulls Alvez in close to his closed guard and prevents Alvez from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babakla trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Babakla lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alvez!
Babakla putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Babakla throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Babakla swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Namba Babakla!