PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Babakov (ranked 2039 p4p, 221 weight class) and Roger Dawson (ranked 940 p4p, 111 weight class). Roger Dawson acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Babakov
vs
Dawson

176 cm
27
154 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

179 cm
23
159 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Dauntless

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sergei Babakov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roger Dawson!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Topper Green and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A lazy left from Babakov finds it's target.
Babakov misses with a wild combination.
Babakov takes one on the button.

It looks like Sergei Babakov has been cut.
Dawson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dawson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dawson misses with a looping right.
Sloppy strikes from Babakov. Those never looked like landing.
Babakov throws a lazy uppercut
and Babakov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Babakov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Babakov misses with an uppercut. Dawson saw that one coming.
Dawson lunges at Babakov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Babakov's hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters circling - Dawson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dawson looks to land a right hand but Babakov moved out of range.
Babakov tries to clinch up but Dawson circles away and keeps his distance.
Dawson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Babakov closes the distance and clinches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Dawson tries to throw a body punch but Babakov avoids it by throwing Dawson back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Babakov as Dawson tries to tie him up.
Dawson blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Babakov fails to land.
Babakov struggles to land a body shot inside as Dawson controls his hands.
Babakov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dawson tries a body shot but Babakov blocks it.
Dawson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Dawson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Babakov working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Babakov fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Babakov.
Dawson lands a right hand.
Babakov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dawson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Dawson fails to land.
Dawson tries to throw a body punch but Babakov avoids it by throwing Dawson back against the ropes.
Babakov goes for a takedown attempt but Dawson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawson throws a hook to the side of Babakov's head but Babakov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Babakov tries to counter by clinching up but Dawson breaks away and moves out of range.
Babakov scores with a hook.
Dawson throws the left hand but Babakov avoids the punch easily.
Babakov tries to clinch but Dawson is having none of it.
Babakov throws the left hand but Dawson avoids the punch easily.
Dawson slips a straight right by Babakov.
Dawson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Dawson forces Babakov back against the ropes and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Babakov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dawson backwards.
Dawson can't find room to land a body shot as Babakov controls the action.
A short right from Babakov.
A body shot lands from Babakov.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dawson.
Dawson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Dawson misses with the head strike.
The referee is keeping an eye on Dawson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A body shot lands from Babakov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babakov keeps control of Dawson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Dawson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Babakov blocks a body shot from Dawson.
Babakov working aggressively here.
Babakov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Babakov lands a body punch in the clinch.
Babakov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dawson backwards.
Dawson tries to work over Babakov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Babakov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Babakov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Babakov misses with a body punch.
Babakov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Babakov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Babakov misses with a punch to the body.
Dawson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Babakov.
Dawson gets through Babakov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Babakov blocks a body shot from Dawson.
Dawson looking to slow down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Dawson as the two fighters clinch.
Dawson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Dawson is working Babakov over against the ropes.
Dawson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Babakov.
Babakov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Babakov prevents a body shot from Dawson.
Dawson has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Babakov seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Dawson can turn it around.
Dawson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Dawson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Dawson struggles to land a body shot inside as Babakov controls his hands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Babakov swings wildly with an uppercut but Dawson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dawson tries to work over Babakov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Babakov.
Dawson stalling the fight.
Babakov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dawson's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roger Dawson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sergei Babakov's cut.
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.

Babakov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Dawson looks to land a left hand but Babakov moved out of range nicely.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Dawson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Dawson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Babakov tries to clinch there but Dawson circles away.
Babakov blocks a jab.
Dawson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Babakov under the eye.

Babakov has managed to clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Babakov fails to land.
Babakov swings wildly with an uppercut but Dawson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dawson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Dawson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babakov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dawson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Babakov misses with a punch on the inside.

Dawson breaks the clinch.
Babakov tries to clinch but Dawson is having none of it.
Babakov connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babakov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dawson.
Dawson swings for the body but Babakov moves out of range.
Dawson throws the left hand but Babakov avoids the punch easily.
Dawson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Babakov tries to close the distance and clinch but Dawson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Babakov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Babakov pushes Dawson up against the ropes in a clinch.
Babakov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Dawson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Babakov has a couple of punches blocked by Dawson.
Babakov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dawson.
Good body shot from Babakov.
Babakov has a couple of punches blocked by Dawson.
Babakov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Babakov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Babakov lands a body punch.
Dawson trying to stall but Babakov improves his position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Babakov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dawson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Babakov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A hook to the body from Babakov.
Babakov has a couple of punches blocked by Dawson.
Babakov throws a head punch that misses.
Dawson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dawson trying to control the position but instead, Babakov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Dawson into the ropes.
Babakov has a couple of punches blocked by Dawson.
Dawson can't find room to land a body shot as Babakov controls the action.
Dawson lands a body shot.
Babakov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dawson working hard to break the clinch.
Babakov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Babakov lands a nice uppercut.
Dawson misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Babakov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Babakov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Dawson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Babakov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Dawson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dawson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dawson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dawson can't find room to land a body shot as Babakov controls the action.
Dawson is trying to maintain a safe position but Babakov gets an underhook and turns Dawson into the ropes.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Babakov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Dawson misses with the head strike.
Babakov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dawson tries to stall but Babakov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dawson.
Sergei Babakov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Babakov tries to work over Dawson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dawson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dawson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Babakov's elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dawson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Babakov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Dawson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A punch combination from Babakov misses.
It looks like Babakov has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Dawson slips a jab and a cross from Babakov.
Dawson misses with a straight right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Babakov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Dawson throws a looping overhand right but Babakov ducks down to avoid it.
As Dawson tries to get set, Babakov tries to push him back and clinch up but Dawson manages to avoid the attempt.
Babakov blocks a jab.
Babakov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Dawson has time to react.
Babakov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dawson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Babakov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dawson.
Dawson jabs Babakov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Babakov throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Dawson to counter with a crisp jab.
Dawson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Dawson lands a slapping body shot.
Babakov lands a jab to the nose.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sergei Babakov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sergei Babakov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Babakov tries to clinch
and Dawson counters with a straight right hand.
Dawson lands with a hook. Babakov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Dawson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Roger Dawson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dawson looks to land a combination but Babakov avoids it well.
Babakov tries to clinch up but Dawson circles away and keeps his distance.
Dawson throws a hook but Babakov blocks it.
Babakov ducks under a wild hook from Dawson.
Dawson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Babakov tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Dawson manages to circle out of the way.
Babakov lands a head shot.
Babakov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Dawson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Dawson swats away the attempt to clinch by Babakov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babakov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Babakov wants to clinch up but Dawson keeps it at a distance.
Dawson throws a jab when Babakov was well out of range.
Dawson throws a jab but it's blocked by Babakov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson keeps the fight on the outside.
Dawson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Babakov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Babakov is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Dawson.
Dawson digs a good body shot into Babakov's ribs.
Babakov misses with a body shot.
Dawson missing with a left hand there. Babakov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dawson keeps the fight on the outside.
Babakov needs to keep his hands up - Dawson had a free shot at his head there.
Babakov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Dawson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dawson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dawson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dawson tries to stall but Babakov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nice body punch from Dawson - that landed with a thud.
Babakov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Babakov fails to land.
Dawson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Babakov backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawson tries to throw a body punch but Babakov avoids it by throwing Dawson back against the ropes.
Babakov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dawson struggles to land a body shot inside as Babakov controls his hands.
Babakov misses with the head strike.
Babakov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dawson struggles to land a body shot inside as Babakov controls his hands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Babakov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dawson works on Babakov's body with a couple of short punches.
Babakov blocks a body shot from Dawson.
Dawson wants to stall.
Dawson tries a body shot but Babakov blocks it.
Dawson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Babakov.
Babakov lands a body punch.
Dawson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Babakov can't find room to land a body shot as Dawson controls the action.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babakov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dawson tries to work over Babakov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dawson tries a body shot but Babakov blocks it.
Dawson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Babakov has a couple of punches blocked by Dawson.
Dawson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Babakov on the inside.
Babakov swings wildly with an uppercut but Dawson uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Babakov.
Dawson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dawson is leaning against Babakov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Dawson tries to stall but Babakov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A head punch on the inside from Babakov fails to land.
Dawson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Babakov prevents a body shot from Dawson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babakov throws a head punch that misses.
Dawson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nice body punch from Babakov.
Dawson scores with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Babakov.

Dawson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dawson keeps the fight on the outside.
Babakov wants to clinch but Dawson slips to the side
and Dawson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Babakov moves out of range of the strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dawson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Decent striking displayed by Dawson there.
Dawson throws out a loose jab but Babakov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Babakov misses with a wild body shot.
Babakov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dawson.
Dawson looks to throw the jab but Babakov is out of range.
Babakov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Dawson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Babakov thinking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Dawson really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sergei Babakov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A right-left combo lands from Babakov.

Dawson closes the distance and clinches.
Dawson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dawson digs a right hand underneath Babakov's ribcage. Babakov let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Dawson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dawson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Babakov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dawson manages to avoid it.
Dawson misses with a wild combination.
Babakov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dawson misses the shot to the body.
Babakov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Babakov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dawson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Babakov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dawson.
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!
Dawson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Babakov tries to clinch but Dawson is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babakov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Dawson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A big right from Dawson misses.
Babakov seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Dawson misses with a hook. Babakov ducked under it nicely.
Babakov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Dawson counters with a straight right hand.
Dawson walks into a left hand.
Babakov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Babakov moves into the clinch.
Dawson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Babakov has a couple of punches blocked by Dawson.
Dawson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Babakov's elbow.
Babakov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Dawson lands a body shot.
Babakov prevents a body shot from Dawson.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Babakov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babakov misses with a body punch.
Dawson prevents a body shot from Babakov.
Dawson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dawson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Babakov on the inside.
Babakov misses with a body punch.
Dawson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Babakov prevents a body shot from Dawson.
Dawson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Babakov blocks a body shot from Dawson.
Babakov lands a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dawson pushes Babakov back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dawson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Babakov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Babakov blocks a body shot from Dawson.
Babakov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dawson just leaning against Babakov, taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babakov being controlled against the ropes.
Dawson receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Babakov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dawson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Babakov backwards.
Dawson misses with a punch to the body.
Babakov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dawson backwards.
Dawson tries to throw a body punch but Babakov avoids it by throwing Dawson back against the ropes.
Babakov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Babakov lands a body punch in the clinch.
Dawson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Dawson struggles to land a body shot inside as Babakov controls his hands.
Dawson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dawson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Babakov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dawson looking to stall.
Babakov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawson struggles to land a body shot inside as Babakov controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Dawson fails to land.
Dawson misses with a body punch.
Dawson tries to work over Babakov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dawson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Babakov lands a body punch in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Babakov fails to land.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dawson.
Dawson blocks an uppercut.
Babakov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Dawson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dawson can't find room to land a body shot as Babakov controls the action.
Babakov prevents a body shot from Dawson.
Dawson tries to throw a body punch but Babakov avoids it by throwing Dawson back against the ropes.
Dawson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Babakov's elbow.
Babakov is leaning against Dawson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Roger Dawson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sergei Babakov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Babakov is looking to clinch.
Babakov is looking to clinch but Dawson is avoiding it.
Babakov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Babakov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice jab there from Dawson.
Dawson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Babakov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Babakov misses with a straight left.
Babakov slips a straight right by Dawson.
Babakov misses with a hook. Dawson ducked under it nicely.
Dawson looks to score with a jab to the body but Babakov is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dawson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Dawson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Babakov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dawson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dawson just misses with a punch to the body.
Babakov tries to clinch but Dawson moves out of range.

Dawson closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Babakov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Dawson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Dawson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dawson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Babakov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Babakov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Babakov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Babakov wants to stall.
Babakov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dawson blocks a body shot from Babakov.
Babakov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dawson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Babakov's elbow.
Dawson tries to throw a body punch but Babakov avoids it by throwing Dawson back against the ropes.
Babakov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sergei Babakov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawson scores with a hook to the body.
Dawson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Babakov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dawson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Babakov tries to work over Dawson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dawson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Babakov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Babakov throws a head punch that misses.
Babakov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Babakov tries to throw a body punch but Dawson avoids it by throwing Babakov back against the ropes.
Babakov tries to throw a body punch but Dawson avoids it by throwing Babakov back against the ropes.
A head punch on the inside from Babakov fails to land.
Dawson digs a right hand underneath Babakov's ribcage. Babakov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Babakov has a couple of punches blocked by Dawson.
Dawson pushes Babakov back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Babakov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dawson tries to work over Babakov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Babakov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Babakov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dawson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dawson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Babakov tries to throw a body punch but Dawson avoids it by throwing Babakov back against the ropes.
Babakov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Babakov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dawson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Babakov blocks a body shot from Dawson.
Good body shot from Dawson.
Dawson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Dawson.
Dawson tries to throw a body punch but Babakov avoids it by throwing Dawson back against the ropes.
Babakov takes a shot to the head.
Babakov struggles to land a body shot inside as Dawson controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Babakov.
Babakov swings wildly with an uppercut but Dawson uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Dawson is struggling to control the position.
Dawson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Babakov or not.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Dawson stalling.
Dawson leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Babakov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Dawson prevents a body shot from Babakov.
Dawson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Babakov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Babakov misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dawson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dawson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Roger Dawson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Babakov as Dawson tries to tie him up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Roger Dawson.
I think Dawson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 46:50
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 47:49
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 49:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Roger Dawson!
Roger Dawson is the new featherweight champion!
Roger Dawson thanked the fans post fight for their support.