PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alban Babaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angus MacGyver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Babaj
vs
MacGyver

175 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
174 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 New York, Alban Babaj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Angus MacGyver!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Kavanagh and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacGyver throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
MacGyver lands a nice hook to Babaj's body. Babaj takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
MacGyver works the jab nicely.
MacGyver moves into range and connects with a jab.
MacGyver checks the leg kick.

Babaj closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. MacGyver quickly recovers to half guard.

Babaj stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Babaj drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
MacGyver is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Babaj's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Babaj keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacGyver wants to get back to full guard.
MacGyver wants to control but Babaj is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babaj prevents MacGyver from improving his position.
MacGyver moves into full guard.
MacGyver avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Babaj has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

MacGyver throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Babaj escapes and throws MacGyver's legs to the side, diving into side control!
MacGyver is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacGyver tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Babaj presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Babaj cracks MacGyver with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Babaj tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Babaj knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for MacGyver on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
MacGyver regains half guard.
Babaj stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

MacGyver looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
MacGyver has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Babaj is working away from the top position though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Babaj lands a nice short elbow.
MacGyver is trying to maintain the position but Babaj is very close to passing his half guard.
Babaj wants to pass to mount but MacGyver is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Babaj is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. MacGyver doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Babaj.
MacGyver is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alban Babaj dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Babaj moves in looking to clinch but MacGyver pushes him off.
Babaj doesn't manage to clinch there - MacGyver circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
MacGyver tries to work over Babaj's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Babaj blocking some punches.
Babaj has MacGyver pushed against the cage.
Babaj tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. MacGyver just stands there and leans against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for MacGyver.
MacGyver working aggressively here.
MacGyver misses with a body punch.
MacGyver has a couple of punches blocked by Babaj.
Babaj avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacGyver working aggressively here.
MacGyver lands a nice uppercut.
Babaj scores with a shoulder strike.
MacGyver misses with the head strike.
MacGyver misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Babaj jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as MacGyver walks away with a smile on his face. Babaj gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

MacGyver has taken the fight to the clinch.
Babaj drops down looking for an ankle pick but MacGyver pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alban Babaj. That's going to take a lot out of him.
MacGyver checks a low kick from Babaj.
MacGyver misses with a wild body shot.

Babaj clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babaj missing with knees to the body.
Babaj tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Babaj drops to a knee looking for a takedown but MacGyver gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Babaj jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as MacGyver walks away with a smile on his face. Babaj gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Babaj takes the fight into the clinch.
Babaj blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
MacGyver lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
MacGyver scores with a nice hook to the head.
MacGyver pushes Babaj back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
MacGyver throws a head punch that misses.
MacGyver lands with a left to the head.
MacGyver lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from MacGyver.
A quick uppercut on the inside from MacGyver.
Babaj will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning MacGyver up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for MacGyver.
MacGyver scores with a shot to the side of Babaj's head.
Babaj looking to stall.
MacGyver keeps control of Babaj as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
MacGyver throws a punch but it's blocked by Babaj.
Angus MacGyver seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
MacGyver misses with a punch to the body.
MacGyver lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Babaj backwards.
MacGyver pushes Babaj back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
MacGyver misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Come on Babaj - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
MacGyver misses with a hook from the clinch.

Babaj's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Angus MacGyver is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Babaj scores with a takedown into MacGyver's guard.
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!
MacGyver bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Babaj's guard.
MacGyver trying to control but Babaj is working from the bottom.

MacGyver postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Babaj is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of MacGyver, into his guard.
Alban Babaj overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

MacGyver throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Angus MacGyver 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Babaj takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Babaj forces MacGyver back against the cage and clinches.
MacGyver working aggressively here.
Babaj jumps guard but MacGyver stands there with Babaj around his waist. Babaj gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Babaj is trying to pull guard but MacGyver turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from MacGyver fails to land.
Babaj's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Babaj blocks a punch to the side of the head.
MacGyver on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
MacGyver misses with a shot to the kidneys.
MacGyver working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacGyver tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
MacGyver throws a head punch that misses.
MacGyver scores with a shoulder strike.
MacGyver misses with a punch on the inside.
Babaj looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Babaj lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
MacGyver fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
MacGyver can't find room to land a body shot as Babaj controls the action.
MacGyver lands with a right to the head.
MacGyver misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Babaj tries to land a knee to the head but MacGyver blocks with his arms.
Babaj blocking some punches.
MacGyver pushes Babaj back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
MacGyver lands a left hand that snaps the head of Babaj backwards.
MacGyver misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacGyver scores with a hook to the body.
Babaj is trying to break the clinch but MacGyver is controlling him.
Babaj blocks a body shot from MacGyver.
MacGyver doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Babaj tries to score a body lock takedown but MacGyver shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alban Babaj. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
MacGyver struggles to land a body shot inside as Babaj controls his hands.
MacGyver misses with a punch on the inside.
MacGyver scores with an uppercut up the middle.
MacGyver doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for MacGyver.
A short right from MacGyver on the inside.
MacGyver misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Babaj trying to control the position but instead, MacGyver has worked for underhooks and has pushed Babaj into the cage.
MacGyver lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, MacGyver scores with a nice short uppercut.
MacGyver tries to work over Babaj's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
MacGyver scores with an uppercut up the middle.
MacGyver swings wildly with an uppercut but Babaj uses good head movement to avoid it.
MacGyver misses with a punch to the body.
Babaj is trying to pull guard but MacGyver turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Babaj jumps guard but MacGyver turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
MacGyver swings away with an uppercut that misses.

MacGyver is fighting off a takedown attempt but Babaj is just too persistent for him and manages to trip MacGyver to the mat. MacGyver regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
MacGyver bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Babaj's guard.
MacGyver slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacGyver tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
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!
MacGyver wants to control but Babaj is keeping him busy.
MacGyver is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
MacGyver wants to control for a moment but Babaj uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
MacGyver is looking to take a break and control but Babaj is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Angus MacGyver comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think MacGyver 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Angus MacGyver!