PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joeli Babitu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bransen Garibold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Babitu
vs
Garibold

188 cm
27
180 lbs
17 - 3 - 0

179 cm
28
185 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

BeastMode

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 17 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joeli Babitu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bransen Garibold!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Columbo Gatti and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Babitu connects with the punch.
Garibold ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Babitu darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Babitu ducks under a wild hook from Garibold.
Babitu throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Garibold on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Babitu. Babitu obviously looking to wear him down.
Babitu throws a head kick but Garibold moves out of range.
Garibold swings for the body but Babitu moves out of range.
Babitu tried to score with a low kick but Garibold checks it.
Babitu throws a solid leg kick but Garibold takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Babitu.
Babitu has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Mello MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Garibold throws a head kick that misses.
Babitu moves forwards but Garibold connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Garibold scores with a hook to the body. Babitu takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garibold connects with a good right hand that stumbles Babitu. Babitu circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Garibold with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Babitu to score with a decent uppercut.
Nice jab there from Garibold.
Garibold throws a head kick that misses.
Garibold misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Babitu.
Babitu loads up on a big right hand but Garibold slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Babitu.
Babitu looks to land a right hand but Garibold moved out of range.
Babitu throws a low kick but Garibold avoids it.
Babitu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Babitu connects with a solid leg kick.
Garibold changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Babitu tries to avoid it but Garibold manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Babitu to the ground. Babitu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Babitu throws a sloppy head kick and Garibold moves out of range easily.
Babitu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Garibold slips a jab and a cross from Babitu.
Babitu lands a head shot.
Babitu thows a leg kick but Garibold checks it
and Garibold counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Garibold wants to clinch up but Babitu keeps it at a distance.
Babitu cracks the inside of Garibold's front leg.

Garibold looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Garibold decides to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Babitu scoring well with a low kick there.
Garibold throws a hook but Babitu blocks it.
Babitu blocks a head kick by Garibold.
Babitu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Garibold.
Garibold misses with a hook.
Garibold turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Garibold slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Garibold.
Babitu throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Garibold avoids the head kick by Babitu.
Garibold throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Babitu stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Garibold has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Garibold takes a swing at Babitu's ribcage but misses.
Garibold shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Babitu lands a right hook to the body.
Babitu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Babitu throws a chopping leg kick but Garibold manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garibold fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Babitu tried to score with a low kick but Garibold checks it.
Babitu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Garibold slips under a jab.
Garibold has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Babitu.
Babitu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Garibold's sensitive parts.
Babitu feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Garibold's calf.
Garibold takes a swing at Babitu's ribcage but misses.
Babitu throws a wild body kick that Garibold sees coming a mile off.
A chopping leg kick lands by Garibold.

Garibold looking to score a takedown here. Babitu is defending well but Garibold drives through and ends up in Babitu's guard.
Garibold with a flurry of punches that miss.
Garibold has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Garibold throws a strike but Babitu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garibold wants to stand up but Babitu is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garibold being controlled here, momentarily.
Babitu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Garibold is looking to stand up but Babitu isn't so interested in that idea.

Garibold pushes Babitu off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A head kick misses from Babitu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joeli Babitu will probably get the nod.
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.

Garibold fakes the leg kick and cracks Babitu in the body.
Garibold takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Garibold lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Babitu tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Babitu misses.
Garibold goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Garibold. Babitu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Babitu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Garibold is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Babitu.
Garibold shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Garibold throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Babitu swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Babitu thows a body kick. Garibold tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Garibold lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Babitu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Garibold.
Garibold lands with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garibold throws a looping overhand right but Babitu ducks down to avoid it.
Garibold throws a body punch but Babitu moves out of range.
Garibold misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Babitu.
Babitu slips a straight right by Garibold.
A nice leg kick lands there from Babitu.
Babitu cracks Garibold with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Babitu thumps Garibold with a low kick.
Garibold throws a good cross that connects.

Garibold gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Babitu has had enough of the clinch but Garibold keeps him there for the moment.

Babitu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Babitu slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A cross from Garibold lands.
Babitu is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Babitu wants to slow Garibold down by chopping away at his legs.
Garibold thuds his right hand into Babitu's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Babitu tries to work over Garibold's front leg with a kick but Garibold checks it.
Babitu pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garibold takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Babitu thumps Garibold with a low kick.
Babitu missing with a left hand there. Garibold was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Babitu scores with a head kick. Garibold tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Garibold keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Babitu tries a low kick but Garibold avoids it.
Garibold takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Garibold's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Babitu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Babitu swats away the attempt to clinch by Garibold.
Garibold takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Babitu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Garibold checks the leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Garibold looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Garibold misses with a head kick.
Joeli Babitu is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garibold shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Babitu misses with a leg kick.
Jab from Garibold.
Garibold lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Babitu tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Garibold tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Babitu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Babitu is looking to chop away at Garibold's legs.
A leg kick checked by Garibold.
Babitu checks a leg kick.
Garibold throws a looping overhand right but Babitu ducks down to avoid it.
Babitu is looking to slow Garibold down with leg kicks.
Babitu works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Garibold misses with a looping left.
Babitu blocks a head kick by Garibold.
Babitu lands a front kick.
Garibold moves out of range of the body kick from Babitu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babitu moves out of range as Garibold strikes.
Babitu misses with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garibold misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A slow jab from Babitu misses its intended target.
Babitu throws a head kick but Garibold moves out of range.
Babitu throws an overhand right that lands on Garibold's shoulder, as Garibold tries to avoid the shot.
Garibold jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A head kick misses from Garibold.
Nice shot lands for Garibold.
Babitu throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Garibold.
Babitu walks into a stiff left hand from Garibold.
Garibold keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Babitu lands a leg kick that knocks Garibold off balance momentarily.
Joeli Babitu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Babitu tries to land a front kick but Garibold steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Babitu misses with a leg kick
and Garibold counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Garibold takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joeli Babitu dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Garibold swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Garibold throws an overhand right that lands on Babitu's shoulder, as Babitu tries to avoid the shot.
Babitu throws a leg kick that is checked
and Garibold counters with a thumping low kick.
Babitu throws a nice inside leg kick.
Garibold uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Babitu.
Babitu throws a lazy body kick
and Garibold counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Babitu throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Garibold to counter with a crisp jab.
Garibold throws a head kick that misses.
Garibold throws a looping overhand right but Babitu ducks down to avoid it.
Garibold tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Babitu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Garibold's sensitive parts.
Garibold tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Garibold with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Garibold lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Babitu circles away quickly and effectively.
An inside leg kick lands from Babitu.
Garibold checks a low kick from Babitu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Garibold.
Babitu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Garibold misses the shot to the body.
Garibold walks into a straight right hand from Babitu.

Garibold has taken the fight to the clinch.
Garibold on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Garibold manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Babitu stops Garibold from standing up.
Garibold takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Garibold has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Babitu off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Babitu swats away the attempt to clinch by Garibold.
Babitu misses with a low kick.
Garibold looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Garibold. Babitu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Babitu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Babitu thows a leg kick but Garibold checks it
and Garibold counters with a straight right hand.
Babitu wants to slow Garibold down by chopping away at his legs.
Garibold blocks a jab.
Babitu scores with a nice right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garibold getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nice body kick from Babitu.
Garibold dives in for a single leg takedown but Babitu sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Babitu blocks the elbow strike.

Babitu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Babitu throws a head kick but Garibold moves out of range.
Babitu does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Babitu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Garibold shoots in and drives through. Babitu sprawls well.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garibold pulls guard.
Babitu won't allow Garibold to get back to his feet.
Garibold keeping moving, preventing Babitu from controlling successfully.
Garibold wants to stand and escape but Babitu is having none of it.
Babitu wants to control from the top but Garibold keeps moving.
Bransen Garibold has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Babitu looking to sit in guard and control but Garibold gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Garibold throws a strike but Babitu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garibold escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Babitu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Garibold looking for subs off his back but Babitu has passed one foot through into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garibold is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bransen Garibold.
I think Babitu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Joeli Babitu!
Joeli Babitu bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.