PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mitch Babaloli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Babaloli comes to the ring accompanied by Wu Tang Clan - Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'. 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.

Babaloli
vs
Silva

188 cm
23
192 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
184 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Future Pharmaceuticals-Time Slip Protection 150

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mitch Babaloli!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Silva!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva is looking to clinch.
Silva tries to clinch there but Babaloli circles away.
Babaloli blocks a head kick by Silva.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Babaloli pushes him off.
Babaloli swinging wildly here.
Tony Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Babaloli.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Babaloli drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silva gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Babaloli takes an elbow to the temple.
Babaloli takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva working Babaloli over with knees to the body.
Silva creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Babaloli is blocking nicely.
Silva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Babaloli gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Babaloli has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Babaloli looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Babaloli there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Babaloli looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Silva wants to control but Babaloli is having none of it.
Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Babaloli. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Poor strikes thrown by Babaloli there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Silva tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Babaloli breaks from Silva's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva is squirming around, avoiding Babaloli's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Poor strikes thrown by Babaloli there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Babaloli with shots to the head and body - Silva looks very uncomfortable down there.
Silva is trying to escape the mount.
Babaloli avoids the attempt from Silva to control.
Silva avoids a series of strikes thrown by Babaloli.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Babaloli cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Babaloli sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli looking to finish Silva with some ground and pound. This is bad for Silva!
Silva tries to lock up and control but Babaloli gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Babaloli controlling from mount.
Babaloli looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Babaloli in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Babaloli lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Babaloli has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Babaloli tries to control but Silva wriggling away.
Babaloli landing strikes from the mount.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Silva's face.
Silva tries to hold on but Babaloli postures up.
Babaloli lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Silva hang on?
Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Babaloli punishing his opponent with strikes.
Babaloli with good strikes from the mount here!
Silva is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Babaloli landing strikes, looking to finish!
Babaloli connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Silva can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Silva really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Silva tries to lock up and control but Babaloli gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Silva taking shots to the head.
Silva wants to control but Babaloli is having none of it.
Silva is bucking up trying to escape but Babaloli cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Babaloli postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Silva looks a forlorn figure.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Babaloli connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli unloading with bombs!
Babaloli lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Silva tries to reverse the position but Babaloli maintains control.
Babaloli throwing strikes here but Silva is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Babaloli landing strikes, looking to finish!
Silva is bucking up trying to escape but Babaloli cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Babaloli throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Babaloli working Silva over with strikes here.
Babaloli lands with some strikes.
Silva working to try and regain half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli landing strikes from the mount.
Silva is in a horrible position here. Babaloli smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Babaloli scoring with strikes but Silva is staying in there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva tries to lock up and control but Babaloli gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Babaloli with shots to the head and body - Silva looks very uncomfortable down there.
Silva taking shots to the head.
Silva looks gassed!
The referee warns Silva that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Babaloli fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Silva hang on?
Babaloli wants to control the pace but Silva is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Babaloli landing strikes from the mount.
Babaloli lands a nice shot to the head.
A nice elbow there by Babaloli.
Silva is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Babaloli looking to finish Silva with some ground and pound. This is bad for Silva!
Babaloli landing strikes, looking to finish!
Babaloli looking to finish Silva with some ground and pound. This is bad for Silva!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitch Babaloli dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Babaloli shoots in but no luck this time.
Babaloli misses with a takedown attempt - Silva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Silva moves into the clinch successfully.
Babaloli blocks an elbow strike from Silva.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babaloli avoids the elbow strike from Silva, against the ropes.
Silva throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Babaloli's face.
Babaloli goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silva prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mitch Babaloli. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Silva.
Babaloli tries for a takedown. No joy.
Silva lands an elbow that stopped Babaloli in his tracks for a moment.
Knees to the body from Silva.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva is pushing Babaloli up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Babaloli blocks the elbow strike.
Babaloli takes an elbow to the forehead.

Babaloli tightens his grip and picks Silva up, before dumping him to the ground. Silva manages to land in guard.
Babaloli trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Babaloli trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to stand up but Babaloli isn't so interested in that idea.

Babaloli drops back looking for a leg! Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silva manages to kick Babaloli off! Babaloli jumps back into Silva's guard.
Babaloli stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Babaloli thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva wants to clinch

and Babaloli counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Babaloli.
Babaloli in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Babaloli from controlling successfully.
Babaloli tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Babaloli trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Babaloli from controlling successfully.
Babaloli with a nice head shot there.
Babaloli postures up and lands a big shot to Silva's brow.
Babaloli looking to pass the guard.
Babaloli stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Babaloli pushes down on Silva's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Silva is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Babaloli scores with a couple of nice shots.
Babaloli wants to take a breather but Silva is having none of it.
Silva wants to improve his position but Babaloli is controlling well.
Mitch Babaloli overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Silva desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Babaloli missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Babaloli dodges the punch combination from Silva.
Silva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.

Babaloli shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Silva is trying to defend but Babaloli finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nice strikes from Babaloli there.
Babaloli winds up and cracks Silva with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Babaloli is controlling the pace.
Silva is trying to control but can't.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Silva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Babaloli throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Babaloli is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Silva can do to turn this around?
Babaloli throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Babaloli.
Babaloli works his foot free and advances to mount.
Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Silva hang on?
Babaloli with shots to the head and body - Silva looks very uncomfortable down there.
Babaloli lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Babaloli connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Babaloli cracks Silva with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Silva is bucking up trying to escape but Babaloli cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Babaloli raining down shots from the mount!
Babaloli dominating with strikes here.
Silva is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitch Babaloli dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Babaloli swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Babaloli shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silva sprawls well. Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Babaloli gets slowly back to his feet.
A right-left combo lands from Babaloli.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Babaloli keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva misses with a combination

and Babaloli counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Babaloli working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Silva is controlling Babaloli's posture.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Babaloli is controlling him.
Babaloli is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Babaloli lands a couple of elbows.
Babaloli postures up and lands a big shot to Silva's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Babaloli won't allow Silva to get back to his feet.
Babaloli wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Silva misses with a head shot. Babaloli uses the momentum to regain guard.
Silva looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli trying to control the position.
Silva landing some decent shots from guard.
Silva trying to control but Babaloli is working from the bottom.
Silva stays in close to Babaloli's body and controls the position.
Silva wants to control from the top but Babaloli keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Babaloli lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Silva!
Babaloli landing strikes from the mount and Silva is in trouble!
Babaloli thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Babaloli lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Silva is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Babaloli.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli landing punches.
Babaloli is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Silva in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Silva can do anything to dispel that myth.
Babaloli landing shots from mount.
Babaloli postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Silva looks a forlorn figure.
Silva is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli wants to control the pace but Silva is squirming around nicely.
Babaloli lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Babaloli trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Babaloli throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Silva because Babaloli loaded up on that one.
Babaloli tries to control but Silva wriggling away.
Silva tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to hold on but Babaloli pushes him away.
Babaloli lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Babaloli scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Silva?
Silva gets back to half guard.
Babaloli is trying to control the action in half guard but Silva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Silva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Silva is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Babaloli scores with a couple of nice shots.
Babaloli sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Babaloli is trying to control the action in half guard but Silva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Silva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Babaloli lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Babaloli trying to control from half guard but Silva is working away.
Babaloli throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Silva throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Silva wants to improve his position but Babaloli is controlling well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Babaloli counters with a series of strikes. Silva will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mitch Babaloli is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
Tony Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Silva throws an overhand right that lands on Babaloli's shoulder, as Babaloli tries to avoid the shot.

Babaloli tries to keep at a distance but Silva has taken the fight into the clinch.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Babaloli avoids the damage to the body.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Babaloli's face.
Silva lands a nice elbow.
Tony Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Babaloli blocks it with crossed arms.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mitch Babaloli showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Babaloli, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Gold scores the fight for Mitch Babaloli!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Mitch Babaloli!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Mitch Babaloli!

Mitch Babaloli wins by unanimous decision!
Mitch Babaloli retains his middleweight title!