PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mason Storm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Namba Babakla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Storm
vs
Babakla

179 cm
27
185 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

170 cm
29
170 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mason Storm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Namba Babakla!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Storm shoots in looking for a takedown but Babakla manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Storm's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Storm thows a body shot but no joy.
Storm will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Babakla fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Storm drives through and clinches with Babakla against the cage.
Babakla fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Storm breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice sprawl there from Babakla as Storm shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mason Storm. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Babakla shoots in and gets a takedown into Storm's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Babakla postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Babakla trying to control but Storm is working from the bottom.
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.
Storm looking to control.
Storm wants to sweep but no luck.
Babakla is looking to work some ground and pound but Storm has wrist control.
Babakla postures up in Storm's guard and throws a big left but Storm blocks it.
Storm wants to stand up but Babakla is controlling him.
Babakla trying to control the position from guard on top but Storm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Storm looking to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Babakla blocks a head kick by Storm.
Babakla slips under a jab.
Storm tries a low kick but Babakla avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Babakla with that takedown attempt.
Storm wants to clinch.
Babakla fails with the takedown

and Storm counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Storm wants to lay and pray for a moment but Babakla keeps working.
Babakla throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Storm in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Storm looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Babakla is avoiding damage well.
Babakla gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babakla is refusing to be controlled, as Storm sits in half guard.
Babakla tries to get to full guard but Storm has control of the leg.
Babakla throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Storm manages to pass to side control.

Storm working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Storm wants to stand but Babakla has his arm trapped.
Babakla sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babakla missing with punches from the bottom.
Babakla wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Babakla wants to control but Storm is keeping busy.
Storm wants to stand up but Babakla is controlling the position.
Babakla regains full guard. Nicely done.
Storm forces his way into half guard.
Babakla keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Babakla looks winded!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Storm throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mason Storm will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Babakla throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Storm's waist but Storm gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Babakla off to one side.
Mason Storm is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Storm pushes Babakla up against the cage in a clinch.

Storm jumps guard.
Babakla throws a big right hand that misses.
Storm wants to get back to his feet but Babakla is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Storm keeping moving, preventing Babakla from controlling successfully.
Babakla preventing the sweep.
Babakla throws an elbow that misses. Storm uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Babakla's guard. Nice move by Storm!
Storm is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Babakla is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Babakla bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Storm's guard.
Storm not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Babakla working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Storm is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Babakla controlling from the top position.
Babakla with a flurry of punches that miss.
Storm is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babakla trying to hold on to Storm's head to control him but Storm postures up.
Storm has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Babakla is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mason Storm overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Babakla is breathing heavily.
Babakla looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Storm has the hooks in. Babakla is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Babakla has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Storm has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Babakla tries to escape but Storm has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babakla keeps trying to improve his position.
Babakla covering up well under a series of strikes from Storm.
Storm trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Storm is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Babakla defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
I really don't envy Babakla right now.
Babakla prevents Storm from getting a body triangle.
Storm is not going to allow Babakla to sit and survive in this position.

Babakla is looking to escape here. Oh dear - Storm has locked on a rear naked choke here! Babakla is tapping out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mason Storm!