PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Esta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Namba Babakla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esta kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Glebstar Dubstep. Pablo Esta has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Esta
vs
Babakla

185 cm
28
183 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

170 cm
26
170 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ace of Spades Clothing

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pablo Esta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Namba Babakla!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esta misses with a takedown attempt

and Babakla counters with a single leg into guard. Esta didn't expect that.
Babakla throws a strike but Esta rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Esta wants to control from the top but Babakla keeps moving.
Esta preventing the sweep.
Babakla trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Babakla trying to control the position.
Esta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Babakla swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Esta wants to control from the top but Babakla keeps moving.
Esta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Babakla is keeping the position for now.
Babakla has a closed guard, preventing Esta from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Esta misses with a series of wild punches.

Esta closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Babakla's guard.
Babakla 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.
Esta wants to control from the top but Babakla keeps moving.
Esta slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Babakla.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babakla won't allow Esta to pass to mount.
Babakla trying to control but Esta postures up.
Babakla missing with punches from the bottom.

Esta is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Babakla doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Esta.
Esta wants to take a breather but Babakla is having none of it.

Esta seems to be looking for submissions.
Babakla is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Esta controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babakla is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Babakla is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Esta wants to finish this one by submission but Babakla is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Esta.
Babakla gets back to half guard.
Babakla wants to get back to his feet.
Esta wants to control but Babakla is keeping him busy.
Babakla wants to improve his position but Esta is controlling well.
Babakla trying to control but Esta postures up.
Esta throwing shots but Babakla is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esta wants to take a breather but Babakla is having none of it.
Babakla is trying to get back to full guard.

Esta is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Esta is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Babakla is just riding it out for now. Esta eventually gives up the hold.
Babakla pushes Esta off but Esta dives into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Esta has knee on belly and moves into mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Esta wants to finish this one by submission but Babakla is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Esta.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Esta dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Esta gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Babakla decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Esta's guard.

Esta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Babakla showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Esta looking to hit a scissor sweep but Babakla is one step ahead there.

Esta escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Babakla gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Babakla accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babakla engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Esta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Esta looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Babakla looking to pass the guard.
Esta looking for a sweep. Not yet Esta, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Esta is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Esta controls Babakla momentarily but Babakla frees himself.
Esta wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esta preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Esta keeping moving, preventing Babakla from controlling successfully.

Babakla avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Babakla drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Esta manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Babakla has Esta in his guard.
Babakla wants to sweep here but Esta controlling him for the moment.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Babakla thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Babakla tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Esta drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Babakla manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Esta has Babakla in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babakla passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sloppy strikes there by Babakla.
The ground and pound from Babakla seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Babakla is trying to ground and pound but Esta uses the momentary lack of control by Babakla to regain half guard.
Esta wants to improve his position but Babakla is controlling well.
Babakla wants to control but Esta is keeping him busy.
Babakla is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esta is not content to let Babakla control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Esta is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Babakla pulls his head out easily.
Babakla is controlling the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Namba Babakla.
Babakla stuffs the takedown attempt from Esta. Esta gets slowly back to his feet.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Babakla with a poor takedown
and Esta counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Esta throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Babakla's waist but Babakla gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Esta off to one side.
Esta shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Babakla defends it nicely.

Babakla closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Babakla tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Esta is not content to let Babakla control the position.
Esta prevents Babakla from improving position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esta regains half guard.
Esta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Esta is staying active underneath Babakla, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Babakla stalling away here and it's allowed Esta to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Babakla got a little sloppy there for a moment and Esta has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Babakla has managed to get both his arms back between Esta's legs - danger averted.

Esta throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Esta looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Babakla showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babakla throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Esta looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Esta wants to sweep but no luck.
Babakla cracks Esta with a solid left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esta keeping moving, preventing Babakla from controlling successfully.
Esta can't keep his opponent in guard - Babakla advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Babakla missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Babakla is trying to control the action in half guard but Esta is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Babakla missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Babakla misses with a head shot. Esta uses the momentum to regain guard.
Esta will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babakla is in close to Esta's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Namba Babakla has got the better of the ground game so far.
Babakla trying to control the position from guard on top but Esta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Esta working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Babakla doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Babakla manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Esta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Esta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Babakla must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babakla trying to control the position from guard on top but Esta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Babakla preventing the sweep.
Babakla content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Babakla scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Babakla pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Esta is keeping the position for now.
Babakla trying to control but Esta is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Babakla accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Esta utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Esta working for a triangle but Babakla defends it easily.
Esta can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Babakla controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Namba Babakla comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Babakla has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Namba Babakla!