PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tiago Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Deon Babbetti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Silva
vs
Babbetti

179 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
19
179 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tiago Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Deon Babbetti!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Babbetti closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.
Babbetti closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.
Babbetti pushes Silva away with a front kick.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva is looking to clinch.

Babbetti darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Babbetti tries to pass to full mount but Silva defends it.
Babbetti stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babbetti throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Babbetti content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Babbetti content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
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.
Silva is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to improve his position.
Babbetti trying to control the pace.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Babbetti is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Babbetti is pressing down on Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. Silva is holding on for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva tries for a takedown but Babbetti circles away easily

and Babbetti counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Babbetti controlling the action here.

Babbetti stands up and beckons Silva to join him on the feet.
Babbetti shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Babbetti counters with a shoot takedown into half guard. Silva trying to control here.
Babbetti is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is positioning himself well to prevent Babbetti advancing to mount.
Silva won't allow Babbetti to pass to mount.
Silva is looking to get back to full guard here but Babbetti has managed to pass to side control instead.
Babbetti working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Silva is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Babbetti fails to move to back control.
Babbetti sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Silva takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Babbetti content just 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.
Silva wants to hold on but Babbetti pushes him away.
Babbetti controlling his opponent.
Babbetti lands a big elbow.
Babbetti controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deon Babbetti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Silva tries to clinch there but Babbetti circles away.
Silva dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Babbetti. That did some damage!
Babbetti misses with a takedown attempt - Silva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Babbetti changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silva looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Babbetti in the domination position with Silva hanging on.
Silva tries to improve position but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Babbetti decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to clinch up but Babbetti keeps it at a distance.
Silva connects with a high kick.
Silva tries to clinch up.
Babbetti is looking to slow Silva down with leg kicks.
Silva throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Babbetti.

Babbetti rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
Babbetti letting Silva take a breather here.

Babbetti turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Babbetti manages to end up in side control.
Silva struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Babbetti decides to stand up, so the ref orders Silva to his feet.
Babbetti throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Babbetti decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Deon Babbetti has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Babbetti performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babbetti wants to stand up but Silva is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Silva punching from the bottom.
Silva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silva.
Babbetti stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Babbetti advances position into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Deon Babbetti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Babbetti winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Deon Babbetti!