PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gosho Fotef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Namba Babakla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Gosho Fotef has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Fotef
vs
Babakla

180 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
30
170 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gosho Fotef!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Namba Babakla!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Felipe Paraventi and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fotef shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Babakla is trying to defend but Fotef finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Fotef wants to lay and pray for a moment but Babakla keeps working.
Babakla punching from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Babakla manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Fotef has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Babakla trying to control the position.
Fotef trying to control the position from guard on top but Babakla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Babakla trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Babakla is on top in guard.
Fotef looking to hit a scissor sweep but Babakla is one step ahead there.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babakla thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Fotef throws a big right hand that misses.
Fotef trying to control but Babakla is working from the bottom.
Fotef forces his way into half guard.
Babakla works his way to full guard. Good work.
Fotef working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fotef wants to control from the top but Babakla keeps moving.
Fotef loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Babakla kicks Fotef off and gets to his feet.
Babakla avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fotef throws a looping overhand right but Babakla ducks down to avoid it.
Fotef misses with a takedown attempt - Babakla sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fotef staying out of range there.

Fotef throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Babakla was covering up waiting for the punch and Fotef finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fotef trying to control the position from guard on top but Babakla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Babakla throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Fotef trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Babakla will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Babakla throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fotef throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Babakla wants to get back to his feet but Fotef is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Babakla avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Babakla manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fotef manages to get himself to full guard.

Babakla drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Babakla jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fotef is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fotef managing to control the position.
Fotef utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fotef trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Gosho Fotef just wasn't active enough.

Fotef moves into the clinch successfully.
Fotef is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Babakla is defending well.
Fotef trying to control the position but instead, Babakla has worked for underhooks and has pushed Fotef into the cage.
Babakla tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Fotef blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Babakla misses with a short punch on the inside.
Fotef goes for a takedown in the clinch but Babakla prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gosho Fotef. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Babakla struggles to land a body shot inside as Fotef controls his hands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Babakla creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Fotef tightens his grip and picks Babakla up, before dumping him to the ground. Babakla manages to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gosho Fotef dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Fotef throws a series of punches but Babakla moves out of range.

Fotef forces Babakla back against the cage and clinches.
Fotef has Babakla pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Babakla manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Babakla throws a punch but it's blocked by Fotef.
Babakla stalling in the clinch but Fotef improves position.
Fotef goes for a takedown attempt but Babakla pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Babakla stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Babakla wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gosho Fotef. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fotef shoots for a double leg takedown but Babakla sprawls well. He's pushed Fotef's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Babakla stuffs the takedown attempt from Fotef. Fotef gets slowly back to his feet.
Babakla stuffs the takedown attempt from Fotef. Fotef gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fotef misses with a takedown attempt

and Babakla counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Babakla.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Babakla accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Babakla controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Babakla passes into half guard.
Fotef is looking to escape.
Babakla looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Babakla missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Babakla is trying to work for a kimura but Fotef is defending well.
Babakla sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Babakla throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Fotef is looking for a sweep. Babakla is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Babakla is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Fotef!

Babakla with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Babakla controlling from mount.
Fotef wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Babakla.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Babakla with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Babakla misses with a head shot.
Poor strikes thrown by Babakla there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Fotef tries to hold on but Babakla pushes him away.
Babakla content just to control the position here.
Let's hope that Babakla 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.
Babakla looking to finish with strikes here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babakla content just to control the position here.
Fotef avoids a series of strikes thrown by Babakla.
Babakla avoids the attempt from Fotef to control.
Babakla controlling the position easily from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fotef wants to control but Babakla is having none of it.
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.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Babakla shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fotef being controlled here, momentarily.
Fotef is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Babakla is trying to get back to full guard.
Fotef working over Babakla with some ground and pound. Babakla looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fotef prevents Babakla from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babakla tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Fotef passes to full mount!
Babakla manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Fotef moves nicely into side control.
Babakla sneaks back into half guard.
Babakla missing with punches from the bottom.
Babakla has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fotef is working away from the top position though.
Fotef working over Babakla with some ground and pound. Babakla looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Babakla tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Fotef lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fotef throwing shots but Babakla is blocking nicely.

Fotef is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Babakla sees it coming and defends easily.
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!
Fotef blocks the strikes from Babakla.
Babakla is looking for a sweep. Fotef is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Babakla missing with punches from the bottom.
Fotef trying to control the action but Babakla is working from the bottom.
Babakla wants to get back to full guard.

Fotef is working for a kimura but Babakla is defending it quite comfortably.
Babakla is trying to control but can't.
Babakla looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fotef thows a huge punch but Babakla dodges it nicely.
Namba Babakla has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fotef is trying to control. Babakla wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fotef blocks the strikes from Babakla.
Babakla wants to get back to full guard.
Babakla pushes Fotef off looking to stand but Fotef dives back in and keeps control.
Fotef slows the pace down in half guard.
Babakla wants to control but Fotef is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Babakla avoids the body shot from Fotef.
Fotef shoots in for a takedown but Babakla shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fotef doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Babakla counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fotef wants to get back to his feet.
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 throwing shots but Fotef is blocking nicely.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Fotef is defending against the submission attempts here by Babakla.
Fotef has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Babakla is working away from the top position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fotef is looking to improve his position.

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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

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