PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cory Fox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mato Babic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cory Fox has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Fox
vs
Babic

163 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cory Fox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mato Babic!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fox misses with the combination.
Fox lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Fox gets caught flat footed, as Babic shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Babic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Fox is looking to stand up but Babic isn't so interested in that idea.
Fox might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Fox really is a fat lump.
Babic stays in close to Fox's body and controls the position.
Fox trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mato Babic.
Fox is looking to clinch but Babic is avoiding it.
Cory Fox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox tries to clinch but Babic is having none of it.

Babic moves into the clinch.
Fox fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Babic tries a knee to the head but Fox blocks it.

Babic wants the takedown. Fox is fighting it off but Babic persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Fox's guard against the cage.
Fox working a defensive guard but Babic passes into half guard.
Babic performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Let's hope that Babic 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fox is trying to stand back up but Babic is controlling him
Babic thows a huge punch but Fox dodges it nicely.
Babic moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Fox.

Babic stands up and we're back to a striking position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Babic pushes Fox up against the cage in a clinch.

Babic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Babic rushes Fox and presses him up against the cage.
Babic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Babic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox wants to clinch up but Babic keeps it at a distance.

Babic moves into range and clinches up with Fox.
Babic's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Fox is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Babic to keep the fight standing.

Babic jumps into guard, dragging Fox to the mat.
Babic throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Fox scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Babic is controlling Fox's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fox knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Babic on the ground.
Fox throws a big elbow that misses.
Babic wants to sweep here but Fox controlling him for the moment.
Fox postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Babic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fox is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mato Babic dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A right-left combo lands from Fox.
A low kick from Babic misses
and Fox counters with a left to the body.
Babic takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Babic drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Babic is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fox knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mato Babic has got the better of the ground game so far.

Babic decides to stand up, so the ref orders Fox to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Babic drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Babic prevents Fox from getting back to his feet.

Babic stands and steps away. Fox gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Fox tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Babic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Babic keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fox looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Babic closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Babic lands in his opponent's guard.
Babic seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Babic gets to his feet - Fox follows without any prompting.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Babic changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fox looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fox tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Babic presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fox tries to hold on but Babic postures up.
Babic trying to control but Fox is having none of it.
Fox is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babic controlling the pace for now.
Fox swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Babic content just to control the position here.
Babic looking to control but Fox is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Babic wants to finish this one by submission but Fox is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Babic.
Fox is trying desperately to improve position.
Fox swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fox can't escape the position.
Babic with a couple of short strikes.
Fox gives up his back whilst trying to strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mato Babic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Fox tries to sprawl but Babic drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fox tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Babic is thwarting Fox's attempts to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Babic performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Fox is trying to stand.
Babic throwing shots but Fox is blocking nicely.
Fox is trying is best to control the position here.
Fox tries to kick Babic off in order to stand up. Babic Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fox is trying to escape the position but Babic is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox bucks up and tries to throw Babic off but instead Babic has got his back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Babic controlling from the back.
Babic somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Babic biding his time, controlling Fox.
Babic gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

Babic is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Fox has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Babic has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Fox taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Babic doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mato Babic!