PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Timothy Wilkinson (ranked 2811 p4p, 295 weight class) and Afeef Isa Baba (ranked 2890 p4p, 301 weight class). Baba has chosen Nation Arabic Orchestra as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be a great matchup!

Wilkinson
vs
Isa Baba

175 cm
29
169 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

181 cm
32
172 lbs
8 - 1 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Timothy Wilkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Afeef Isa Baba!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilkinson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Baba looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Baba has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Wilkinson is landing a low percentage of strikes.
A low kick from Wilkinson misses
and Baba counters with a low kick, right behind Wilkinson 's knee.
Wilkinson tries to clinch but Baba is having none of it.
Wilkinson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Baba connects with a right hand. Wilkinson shakes it off.
Wilkinson has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Baba swats away the attempt to clinch by Wilkinson.
Baba swats away the attempt to clinch by Wilkinson.
Wilkinson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wilkinson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Baba can pounce on him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good shot there by Baba.
Baba keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wilkinson.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Baba.
Wilkinson throws a front kick aimed at Baba's knee but Baba avoids it well.
Baba with a nice cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wilkinson moves into the clinch successfully.

Wilkinson breaks from the clinch.
Baba attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Wilkinson tries to clinch up
and Baba counters with a left to the body.
Jab, jab by Baba - just one landing.
Wilkinson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Baba connects with a body shot that sends Wilkinson's belly button to the back.
Wilkinson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Baba throws a low kick, looking for Wilkinson's leg but Wilkinson calmly moves out of range.
Baba throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Wilkinson throws a combination that misses
and Baba counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Baba looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Wilkinson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Baba.
Wilkinson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Baba misses with a low kick.
Baba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wilkinson moves away.
Wilkinson tries to counter by clinching up but Baba breaks away and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baba keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Wilkinson tries to clinch there but Baba circles away.

Wilkinson has Baba up against the cage in a clinch.
Baba digs a right hand into Wilkinson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Wilkinson's gas tank.

Wilkinson pulls guard effortlessly.
Baba must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wilkinson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Wilkinson being controlled here, momentarily.
Wilkinson wants to sweep here but Baba controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baba is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Let's hope that Baba 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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Wilkinson tries to clinch but Baba is having none of it.
A leg kick checked by Wilkinson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Wilkinson pushes Baba up against the cage in a clinch.
Wilkinson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Baba backwards.
Baba scores with a shot to the side of Wilkinson's head.

Wilkinson manages to break the clinch.
Wilkinson is looking to clinch.
Wilkinson wants to clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Baba, right into the meat.
Baba thuds his shin into the meat of Wilkinson's side.
Baba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wilkinson moves away.
Baba tries to work over Wilkinson's front leg with a kick but Wilkinson checks it.
Baba feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Wilkinson's calf.
Baba looks to land a combination but Wilkinson avoids it well.
Baba checks a leg kick nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Afeef Isa Baba dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Wilkinson is looking to clinch but Baba is avoiding it.
Baba swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Wilkinson tries to clinch there but Baba circles away.
Wilkinson tries to clinch up.
Baba now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Baba scores with a nice body kick.
Baba wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Wilkinson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wilkinson tries to clinch but Baba moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Baba.
Baba motions for Wilkinson to come forward. Baba throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Wilkinson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Baba scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Crunch! Baba slams his shin into Wilkinson's torso.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilkinson lands a nice shot that snaps Baba's head back.
Wilkinson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Baba throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Wilkinson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Baba buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
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!
Baba scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Wilkinson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Baba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkinson misses with a wild body shot.
Wilkinson misses with a shot to the body
and Baba counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Baba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wilkinson tries to close the distance and clinch but Baba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wilkinson misses with a hook.
Wilkinson stuns Baba with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Wilkinson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Baba.
Wilkinson is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Baba.
Baba wants to slow Wilkinson down by chopping away at his legs.

Wilkinson clinches up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Baba.
Wilkinson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Baba's elbow.
Baba misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Baba.
Wilkinson scores with a shoulder strike.
Wilkinson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Baba has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Baba wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Baba tries to break free but Wilkinson pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilkinson can't find room to land a body shot as Baba controls the action.
Wilkinson prevents a body shot from Baba.
Wilkinson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Baba swings wildly with an uppercut but Wilkinson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baba misses with a punch on the inside.
Baba is leaning against Wilkinson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Wilkinson tries to throw a body punch but Baba avoids it by throwing Wilkinson back against the cage.
Baba tries a body shot but Wilkinson blocks it.
Wilkinson struggles to land a body shot inside as Baba controls his hands.
A short right from Wilkinson.
Wilkinson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Wilkinson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Baba takes a shot to the head.
Baba wants to get back to striking at distance but Wilkinson won't allow it.
Timothy Wilkinson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Baba misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wilkinson misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkinson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Wilkinson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Wilkinson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Wilkinson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Baba tries to work over Wilkinson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Wilkinson.
Wilkinson presses Baba against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Wilkinson working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Baba fails to land.
Wilkinson tries a body shot but Baba blocks it.

Baba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wilkinson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Afeef Isa Baba seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wilkinson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baba looks to score with a jab to the body but Wilkinson is just out of range.
Wilkinson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wilkinson tries to land a leg kick but Baba saw it coming and moves away.
Wilkinson is looking to wear down Baba with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Baba throws a push kick but Wilkinson slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wilkinson closes the distance and clinches.
Baba digs a right hand underneath Wilkinson's ribcage. Wilkinson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Wilkinson blocking some punches.
Baba tries to throw a body punch but Wilkinson avoids it by throwing Baba back against the cage.
Baba on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Baba lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wilkinson blocks an uppercut.
Baba can't find room to land a body shot as Wilkinson controls the action.

Wilkinson breaks the clinch.
Baba ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Wilkinson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baba clobbers Wilkinson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Baba delivers a nice body kick.
Baba keeps Wilkinson at a distance using the push kick.
Wilkinson moves in looking to clinch but Baba pushes him off.
Baba throws out a counter right but Wilkinson avoids it with no problem.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Baba lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Wilkinson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Wilkinson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Afeef Isa Baba 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!

Wilkinson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Baba.

It looks like Timothy Wilkinson has been cut.
Baba jabs Wilkinson right on the nose. Wilkinson blinks but takes it well.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Wilkinson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Baba - the referee stops the clock and Wilkinson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Baba. Wilkinson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Baba throws a leg kick which misses Wilkinson's front leg but catches the back leg as Wilkinson tries to avoid it.
Wilkinson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Baba.

Wilkinson clinches up with Baba and pushes him back against the cage.
Baba has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Wilkinson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Wilkinson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wilkinson misses with a body punch.
Wilkinson throws a punch but it's blocked by Baba.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baba is trying to break the clinch but Wilkinson is controlling him.
A hook to the body from Baba.
A shot in the inside from Wilkinson.
Baba wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Wilkinson has him pressed against the cage.
Wilkinson misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Wilkinson.
Baba blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Baba blocks a body shot from Wilkinson.
Still in the clinch, Baba scores with a nice short uppercut.

Baba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wilkinson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Baba. Baba obviously looking to wear him down.
Baba looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Baba throws a shot from downtown. Wilkinson moves away and avoids it.
Wilkinson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Baba connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Wilkinson tries to clinch up.
Baba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wilkinson tries to clinch but Baba is having none of it.
Wilkinson will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Wilkinson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Baba walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Wilkinson tries to clinch up but Baba circles away and keeps his distance.
Wilkinson backing away here, and Baba unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wilkinson moves out of range of the strikes.
Timothy Wilkinson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilkinson moves out of range as Baba throws a body kick.
Baba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wilkinson manages to avoid it.
Wilkinson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baba dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Wilkinson. That did some damage!
Baba throws a leg kick that misses.
Baba getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Baba gets tackled into the cage by Wilkinson. Wilkinson maintains the clinch.
Wilkinson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Baba lands a right hand.
Baba lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

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

Baba gets tackled into the cage by Wilkinson. Wilkinson maintains the clinch.

Baba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wilkinson tries to clinch up but Baba circles away and keeps his distance.
Baba slips a jab from Wilkinson.
Wilkinson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Baba was well out of range. Poor timing from Wilkinson.
Baba is trying to counter with his kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wilkinson has managed to clinch.
Wilkinson misses with the head strike.
Wilkinson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Wilkinson scores with a shot to the side of Baba's head.
A head punch on the inside from Baba fails to land.
Baba misses with a hook to the ribs.
Wilkinson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Baba misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wilkinson struggles to land a body shot inside as Baba controls his hands.
Wilkinson swings wildly with an uppercut but Baba uses good head movement to avoid it.
Baba lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Wilkinson misses with a body punch.
Wilkinson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Wilkinson misses with the head strike.
Baba blocking some punches.
Wilkinson keeps control of Baba as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Afeef Isa Baba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Baba.
Baba lands a hook that snaps the head of Wilkinson backwards.
A short uppercut from Wilkinson.
Baba is pressed up against the cage. Wilkinson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Baba down to the mat. Baba avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Baba misses with a looping right.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baba lands with a nice body kick.
Baba thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Wilkinson if he has to take too many more of those.
Baba swats away the attempt to clinch by Wilkinson.
Baba works the jab nicely.
Wilkinson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Wilkinson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Baba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wilkinson.
Baba throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Afeef Isa Baba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Baba 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Afeef Isa Baba!
Afeef Isa Baba thanked the fans post fight for their support.