PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Afeef Isa Baba (ranked 75 p4p, 222 weight class) and Farboleous Ricard (ranked 7 p4p, 33 weight class). Baba comes to the cage accompanied by Nation Arabic Orchestra. Ricard is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Vibe Killer. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baba
vs
Ricard

181 cm
43
172
30 - 14 - 2

172 cm
39
170
40 - 22 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Altitude Clothing

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 30 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Afeef Isa Baba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Farboleous Ricard!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baba slaps away a takedown attempt from Ricard, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've been told by Baba's head coaches at Ryōzanpaku Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Ricard scores with a shot to the body.
Baba moves away from the strike by Ricard.
A jab from Ricard misses.
Baba walks into a stiff left hand from Ricard.
Ricard pivots, looking for a leg kick but Baba is out of range and Ricard settles back down.
Baba misses the shot to the body.
We've been informed that Ricard has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Baba bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ricard's head.
Ricard looks for the body kick but Baba saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ricard throws a looping overhand right but Baba ducks down to avoid it.
Ricard just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromBaba.
Nice shot by Ricard.
Baba takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ricard scores with a jab. Baba acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A nice inside leg kick there by Baba. That's going to slow Ricard down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Baba moves out of range as Ricard strikes.
Ricard throws a hook to the side of Baba's head but Baba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ricard lands with a shot to the body.
Ricard lands a leg kick that knocks Baba off balance momentarily.
Ricard connects with a leg kick.
Baba avoids the body shot from Ricard.
Ricard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baba lunges at Ricard with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ricard's hand.
Ricard avoids the body shot from Baba.
Ricard misses with a right hand
and Baba counters with a nice kick to the body.
Baba scores with a push kick.
Baba blocks a jab.
Ricard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Baba counters with an inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ricard moves away.
Ricard only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricard throws a hook to the side of Baba's head but Baba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Farboleous Ricard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ricard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Afeef Isa Baba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Baba slips under a jab.
Baba throws a big counter combination but Ricard scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A low kick from Ricard misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Baba throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ricard on the side of the head.
A jab from Baba finds it's way through Ricard's defenses.
Ricard pivots, looking for a leg kick but Baba is out of range and Ricard settles back down.
Baba appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Baba fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ricard is out of range.
The crowd cheers as Baba lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ricard doesn't seem phased though.
Baba bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Baba throws a front kick that sends Ricard stumbling back into the cage.
Ricard looks winded!
Ricard swings widly with a right hand
and Baba counters with a straight right hand.
Baba throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ricard.
Ricard swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricard misses with a left hand
and Baba counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ricard thinking.
Ricard scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ricard throws a hook to the side of Baba's head but Baba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Baba misses the shot to the body.
Baba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ricard manages to avoid it.
Baba misses with a kick to the body.
Baba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Baba throws a wild body kick that Ricard sees coming a mile off.
Ricard lunges at Baba with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Baba's hand.
Baba throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Baba throws a lazy head kick
and Ricard counters with a nice uppercut.
Ricard lands a leg kick that knocks Baba off balance momentarily.
Ricard lands with an overhand left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick lands for Ricard.
Baba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baba lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ricard cracks Baba with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ricard misses with a straight right.
Nice uppercut there from Ricard.
Ricard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ricard throws a low kick but it's checked well by Baba.
Baba swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Baba throws a leg kick
letting Ricard counter with a right hand.
Ricard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baba appears to be looking for a big counter.
Ricard scores with a sloppy right hand. Baba should have avoided that one.
Baba avoids a kick to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Farboleous Ricard will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A solid leg kick lands there for Baba.
Ricard checks a low kick from Baba.
Ricard throws a head kick but Baba moves out of range.
Baba misses with a straight left.
Baba is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Ricard gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Baba counters with a one-two to the body.
Ricard throws a jab when Baba was well out of range.
Ricard cracks a nice hook into Baba's ribs.
Ricard misses with a takedown
and Baba counters with an outside leg kick.
Ricard throws a low kick but Baba avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick lands from Baba.

Ricard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ricard wants to pass the guard but Baba is keeping the position.
Baba has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricard content to stall in guard here.
Ricard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baba is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baba pulls Ricard in to control the position.
Baba keeping full guard, as Ricard tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Baba being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Baba's corner calls for a 1-2. Baba obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Baba takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Baba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ricard throws out the jab.
As Ricard backs away, Baba returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Afeef Isa Baba is winning the standup battle so far.
Baba throws a hook but Ricard blocks it.
Ricard throws a body kick that misses
and Baba counters with a leg kick.
Ricard throws a jab but it's blocked by Baba.
Baba checks a low kick from Ricard.
Baba thinks about countering with a body kick.
Ricard scores with a crisp jab that stopped Baba in his tracks.
Ricard avoids the body shot from Baba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baba throws the kick towards the body but Ricard avoids it.
Baba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ricard thumps Baba with a low kick.
Baba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ricard throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ricard shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Baba fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ricard has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ricard connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ricard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Baba. That did some damage!
Baba defending well as Ricard loads up on a big left hand.
Ricard misses with a body kick.
Baba is looking for a counter combo.

Ricard feints and as Baba raises his hands in defense, Ricard changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ricard trying to control but Baba is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ricard is pushing down on Baba's leg trying to pass to half guard. Baba is fighting to maintain full guard but Ricard has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ricard is trying to control. Baba wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Baba trying to control here.

Baba is defending against the submission attempts here by Ricard.
Ricard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baba keeps working.
Baba trying to control here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Farboleous Ricard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ricard stuns Baba with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Baba checks the leg kick.
Baba throwing a counter right hand but Ricard manages to avoid it.
Baba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baba connects with a solid leg kick.
Ricard lands a leg kick that knocks Baba off balance momentarily.
Ricard scores with a crisp jab that stopped Baba in his tracks.
A telegraphed right hand from Ricard misses the target.
Baba waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ricard.
Baba throws a sloppy body shot
and Ricard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ricard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ricard's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Baba jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ricard lands a really nice looking cross but Baba seems unphased.
Ricard takes a swing at Baba's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baba moves out of range of the strikes.
Baba throws a counter high kick but Ricard was just alert enough to avoid it.
Ricard finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ricard uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Baba has time to react.
Ricard is looking to slow Baba down with leg kicks.
Ricard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baba manages to avoid it.
Ricard will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Baba swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A shot to the liver by Ricard. Beautiful body shot.
Ricard throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Baba stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Baba throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Baba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ricard.
Baba pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ricard is out of range and Baba settles back down.
Baba misses with a low kick.
Baba lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Baba avoids a kick to the body.
Afeef Isa Baba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricard takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Baba misses with the body kick
and Ricard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jab, jab by Ricard - just one landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ricard shoots in and bounces Baba off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ricard stays in close to Baba's body and controls the position.
Ricard being controlled here momentarily.
Ricard forces his way into half guard.
Farboleous Ricard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ricard wants to control but Baba is keeping him busy.
Ricard performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Baba keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Ricard is working for a kimura but Baba is defending it quite comfortably.
Ricard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ricard wants to control but Baba is keeping him busy.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baba fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ricard.
Baba moves out of range of the body kick from Ricard.
Ricard connects with an inside leg kick.
Ricard tries to land a front kick but Baba steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

And that's the end of the fight!
Farboleous Ricard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ricard 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Farboleous Ricard!
Farboleous Ricard thanked the fans post fight for their support.