PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mixa El (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tobi Bauu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

El
vs
Bauu

220 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

202 cm
21
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mixa El!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tobi Bauu!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bauu defends well against a solid takedown attempt from El.
Bauu falls off balance throwing a combination

and El counters with a head kick that drops Bauu to the mat! Bauu scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
This has been an exciting period of action!
El shoots for a takedown but Bauu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
El scores with a sloppy right hand. Bauu should have avoided that one.

Bauu is rocked!
Bauu throws a head kick that misses.
El misses with a leg kick.

El takes the fight into the clinch.
El is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bauu is defending well for now.

Bauu manages to break the clinch.
El throws a head kick that half lands.

Bauu shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. El is trying to defend but Bauu finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Bauu is keen to just control but El is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

El pushes Bauu off and gets back to his feet.

Bauu scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
El can't do much from the bottom here.
El is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
El is breathing heavily.
El can't do much from the bottom here.
Bauu moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
El on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if El tries to get out of the position.
El tries to bench press Bauu off him but Bauu keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El is not content to let Bauu control the position.
El is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bauu is controlling him well.
Bauu content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
El tries to bench press Bauu off him but Bauu keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El wants to control but Bauu postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

El successfully pulls guard.
Bauu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with El. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bauu stays in close to El's body and controls the position.
El has a closed guard, preventing Bauu from standing up.
El 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.
Bauu trying to control but El is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bauu content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bauu prevents El from getting back to his feet.
Bauu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Bauu not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Bauu gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bauu tries to clinch but El moves out of range.
El dodges the punch combination from Bauu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mixa El dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bauu getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from El.
Bauu wants to clinch.
Bauu plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Mixa El has been cut.

Bauu moves into the clinch successfully.

Bauu lands a takedown into guard.
El controls Bauu momentarily but Bauu frees himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
El wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El wants to stand but Bauu is controlling the position.
Bauu trying to control but El is working from the bottom.
Bauu chips away with some ground and pound.

El is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bauu is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bauu is stalling in the full guard.
El controls Bauu momentarily but Bauu frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bauu controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tobi Bauu has got the better of the ground game so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bauu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bauu lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bauu.

Bauu lands a big head kick that sends El tumbling to the mat! Bauu takes a step backwards and waves El back to his feet - he wants the finish!

El is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
El avoids the head kick by Bauu.
Oh El is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bauu goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Bauu shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. El is trying to defend but Bauu finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
El gets back to full guard.
El will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bauu manages to get himself to full guard.
El seems to have got his legs back now.
El has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bauu is proving hard to escape from.
Bauu keeping full guard, as El tries to pass.
El passes Bauu's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El is trying to control the action in half guard but Bauu is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bauu trying to control from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
El wants to free his trapped foot but Bauu is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
El throwing shots but Bauu is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tobi Bauu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mixa El's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bauu gets a double leg takedown into El's guard.
El working a defensive guard here.
El looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Bauu. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Bauu wants to control from the top but El keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mixa El wasn't doing enough on the ground.
El shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bauu as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bauu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Bauu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bauu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from El.
Tobi Bauu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bauu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Bauu buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Bauu throws a series of punches but El avoids them all with ease.

Bauu closes the distance and clinches.

Bauu turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bauu working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bauu stands up and beckons El to his feet.
Bauu blocks a head kick by El.

El gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bauu won't allow El to sweep him here.
Bauu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
El seems keen to control Bauu's posture.
Bauu showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bauu is looking to stand up but El won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
El tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bauu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bauu wants to clinch.
Bauu lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as El backs up against the cage.
El misses with a takedown attempt - Bauu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mixa El. That's going to take a lot out of him.
El shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bauu pinned against the cage. Bauu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bauu fakes the leg kick and cracks El in the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Bauu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bauu tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. El manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bauu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bauu misses with a low kick as El jumps back.
El throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bauu connects with a solid leg kick.

Bauu drives through and clinches with El against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
El can't get the takedown.
Bauu blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tobi Bauu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bauu has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tobi Bauu!