PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Flynn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mijo Babic (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.

Flynn
vs
Babic

189 cm
24
178 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

183 cm
25
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nick Flynn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mijo Babic!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Babic throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Flynn moves out of range as Babic throws a body kick.

Babic shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Flynn manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Babic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Babic keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Flynn's head.
Babic sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Flynn is looking to stand up but Babic isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Flynn has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Babic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flynn is trying to control the position but Babic postures up.
Babic scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Flynn is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Babic defends well.

Babic drops back looking for a leg! Flynn is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Flynn manages to kick Babic off! Babic jumps back into Flynn's guard.
Babic is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flynn working for submissions but it's allowed Babic to get to half guard.
Babic is keen to just control but Flynn is a slippery customer.
Flynn is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Babic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Babic's back!

Flynn has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Babic has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Babic defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Babic trying to control but not successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Babic fending off the submission attempt from Flynn.
Flynn is trying to stick to Babic's back but Babic is turning into Flynn. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Flynn's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Babic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flynn can't keep his opponent in guard - Babic advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Babic is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Flynn moves into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Flynn looking for a guillotine here but Babic defends easily.
Babic wants to control from the top but Flynn keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Babic looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Babic shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Babic was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Babic goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Flynn rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Babic's guard! Nice work there by Flynn!
Babic managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Babic wants to sweep here but Flynn controlling him for the moment.

Flynn has gone for a leg lock! Babic slips out almost immediately though and dives into Flynn's guard.
Babic working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babic engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Babic lands a couple of elbows.
Flynn trying to keep a closed guard but Babic is proving a slippery customer.
Flynn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Flynn is trying to keep Babic in close.
Babic content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Babic closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Flynn trying to hold on to Babic's head to control him but Babic postures up.
Babic uses his free foot to push down on Flynn's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Flynn.
Flynn tries to hold on but Babic pushes him away.
Flynn is trying to reverse the position but instead Babic has taken his back - oops!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Babic controlling the positon.
Babic's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flynn manages to reverse the position and now he's in Babic's guard. Nice work there by Flynn.
Babic working a defensive guard here.
Babic wants to stand up but Flynn is controlling him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Flynn postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mijo Babic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Babic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Babic preventing the sweep.
Flynn keeping moving, preventing Babic from controlling successfully.

Babic is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Flynn is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Flynn has escaped and now he's on top!

Babic is looking for a triangle here but Flynn uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Flynn tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babic tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Babic manages to work his way to half guard, despite Flynn's best efforts.
Babic is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Babic trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Babic is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Flynn has latched onto it... Big trouble! Flynn pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Babic is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Flynn!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nick Flynn!