PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Omid Babak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chip Hazard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hazard comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Chip Hazard Speech kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Chip Hazard told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Babak
vs
Hazard

168 cm
25
145 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

169 cm
25
142 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Omid Babak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chip Hazard!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Hazard. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hazard.
Babak shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hazard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Babak darts in looking for a takedown but Hazard gets double underhooks and turns Babak into the cage.
A countering left hand to the body from Hazard misses.

Hazard tries to sprawl but Babak drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Babak is taking a breather. Hazard says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Babak thows a huge punch but Hazard dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hazard wants to improve his position but Babak is controlling well.
Hazard is trying to control but Babak passes into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazard dodges the ground and pound from Babak.
Babak controlling the position from side mount.
Babak throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Babak dives in for a single leg takedown but Hazard sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Omid Babak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hazard lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hazard lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babak takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hazard slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hazard throws a poor cross that misses
and Babak counters with a left and a right that stings Hazard.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Babak is defended easily by Hazard.
Babak shoots in but no luck this time.
Hazard jabs Babak right on the nose. Babak blinks but takes it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hazard fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Babak has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hazard.
Nice takedown defense from Hazard. No joy for Babak on that attempt.
Hazard looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babak shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hazard pinned against the cage. Hazard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Babak tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hazard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Babak somewhat.
A solid body kick from Hazard.
We've been informed that Hazard has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Babak shoots and misses
and Hazard counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Babak shoots for a double leg takedown but Hazard sprawls well. He's pushed Babak's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babak fails with the takedown
and Hazard counters with a nice uppercut.
Babak has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Babak there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hazard throws an overhand right that lands on Babak's shoulder, as Babak tries to avoid the shot.

Babak moves into the clinch.
Babak lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Babak - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hazard taking a breather.
Babak is trying to force a seperation but Hazard has the dominant position.
Babak tries a body shot but Hazard blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chip Hazard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Babak shoots in for a double leg but Hazard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
We've been told by Babak's head coaches at Holding Cell that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Hazard lands the left hand.
Babak takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Babak shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hazard counters with a stiff right hand.
Hazard lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hazard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Babak takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hazard lands with a straight right. Babak didn't see that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babak closes the distance and clinches up with Hazard, looking for a takedown. Babak pushes Hazard against the cage but Hazard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hazard looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Omid Babak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Babak shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hazard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Babak is defended easily by Hazard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hazard with a nice cross.
Babak fails with the takedown
enabling Hazard to counter with a crisp jab.
Hazard ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hazard keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Babak shoots in for a takedown but Hazard shows good takedown defense.
Babak backing away here, and Hazard unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Hazard throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Babak stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Babak shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hazard eats them both and turns towards Babak to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Babak forces Hazard back against the cage and clinches.

Hazard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hazard connects with an inside leg kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Babak or perhaps it was just good defense by Hazard, which made it look bad.
Chip Hazard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Babak gets a clinch.
Babak gets through Hazard's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A frustrated look appears on Hazard's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Babak has Hazard pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Babak pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hazard tumbling to the mat - Babak dives into Hazard's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babak sitting in guard here, content to control.
Babak throws a big right hand that misses.
Hazard looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Babak puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Babak controlling the pace.
Hazard is looking to control Babak's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hazard avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hazard is trying is best to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Babak controlling the action here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice uppercut there from Hazard.
Chip Hazard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hazard lands a leg kick that knocks Babak off balance momentarily.
Babak shoots in and drives through. Hazard sprawls well.
Babak shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hazard scores with a decent looking hook.
Omid Babak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Babak misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chip Hazard 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. This is the final round!

Babak has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hazard keeps control of Babak as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Babak tries to pull guard but Hazard forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hazard taking a breather.

Babak jumps into guard, dragging Hazard to the mat.

Babak is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hazard looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Babak holds on and takes a little breather.
Hazard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Babak. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Babak striking off his back but it's not causing Hazard any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Babak pulls Hazard in close to his closed guard and prevents Hazard from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hazard misses with a straight left.
Babak is looking to counter the offense by Hazard and move into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hazard circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hazard counters with a nice leg kick.
Babak misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Babak pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hazard is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Omid Babak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hazard lands a really nice looking cross but Babak seems unphased.
Babak shoots in and drives through. Hazard sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Omid Babak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Babak misses with a two punch combination.
Babak slips under a jab from Hazard.
Nice takedown defense from Hazard. No joy for Babak on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazard smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hazard stuffs the takedown.
Hazard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Babak looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
No luck for Babak with that takedown attempt.
Babak moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromHazard.
Hazard turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hazard lands a body shot.

Babak scores with a takedown into Hazard's guard.
Babak passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hazard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Babak.
Babak lands with a punch from half guard.
Babak content to control rather than advance.
Hazard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hazard is defending against the submission attempts here by Babak.
Hazard taking some punishment here, with Babak in his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Omid Babak.
I think Hazard 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chip Hazard!
During a confident post fight interview, Chip Hazard thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.