PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Volmar Wikstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andro Babic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Babic has chosen Boom - P.O.D. as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Wikstrom
vs
Babic

191 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Improved boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Volmar Wikstrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andro Babic!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Babic feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Babic stands up from Wikstrom's guard - Babic perhaps looking for a knockout.

Babic has managed to clinch.

Babic has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Wikstrom uses from the top position.
Wikstrom stopping the sweep attempt from Babic.

Babic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wikstrom gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Babic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wikstrom has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Babic is proving hard to escape from.
Wikstrom postures up.

Babic is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Babic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wikstrom gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Wikstrom gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Babic counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wikstrom won't be happy with that.

Babic stands up.
Babic looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babic doesn't manage to clinch there - Wikstrom circles away.
Wikstrom throws a leg kick but Babic sees it coming and moves out of range.
Wikstrom circles away from the clinch attempt.

Wikstrom shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wikstrom is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Babic is trying to stand up here but Wikstrom is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babic tries to roll over but Wikstrom keeps him under control.
Babic trying to control but Wikstrom postures up.

Babic actively working from the bottom here.
Wikstrom wants to stand up but Babic has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Wikstrom shoots in and bounces Babic off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wikstrom is looking to stand up but Babic won't let him.
Babic thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Babic had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Wikstrom is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Babic Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Wikstrom's back instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andro Babic dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Wikstrom darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wikstrom is thwarting Babic's attempts to control the position.
Babic is trying to stand back up but Wikstrom is controlling him
Babic is looking to improve his position.
Babic is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wikstrom is thwarting Babic's attempts to control the position.
Babic tries to roll over but Wikstrom keeps him under control.
Babic trying to control here.
Wikstrom wants to stand up but Babic is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Wikstrom fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Babic sprawls well initially but Wikstrom persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wikstrom prevents Babic from standing back up.
Babic slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Babic wants to stand and escape but Wikstrom is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wikstrom wanted to stand there but Babic had control of the position.
Babic looking for a sweep. Not yet Babic, not yet.
Wikstrom wanted to stand there but Babic had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Babic gets caught flat footed, as Wikstrom shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Wikstrom wants to stand but Babic is controlling his posture from full guard.
Babic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Wikstrom's guard.

Babic decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Volmar Wikstrom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Babic closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Babic lands in his opponent's guard.
Wikstrom keeping full guard, as Babic tries to pass.

Babic is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Volmar Wikstrom dominated that second round.
That's time! Wikstrom's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Wikstrom has his takedown stuffed

and Babic counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Wikstrom!

Babic gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Babic tries to clinch but Wikstrom moves out of range.
Wikstrom tries for a takedown but Babic circles away easily

and Babic counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Wikstrom!
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!

Babic working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Babic throwing strikes here but Wikstrom is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Babic looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Babic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wikstrom wants to get back to his feet.
Wikstrom prevents Babic from taking his back.
Wikstrom is squirming around, avoiding Babic's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Babic is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Wikstrom tries for a takedown but Babic circles away easily

and Babic counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wikstrom won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Volmar Wikstrom. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Babic looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Wikstrom wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Babic decides to stand back up.

Babic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Wikstrom sprawls well initially but Babic persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Babic is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Wikstrom is just riding it out for now. Babic eventually gives up the hold.
Babic is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wikstrom is looking to escape.
Babic is trying to control the action in half guard but Wikstrom is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Wikstrom is looking to escape.

Babic is looking for a kimura here.

Babic is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andro Babic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Babic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andro Babic!