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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ali Baba (ranked 1997 p4p, 1582 weight class) and Efrain Velazquez (ranked 190 p4p, 155 weight class). Ali Baba has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.
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| 160 cm
26
147
4 - 2 - 0 |
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178 cm
26
155
3 - 0 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ali Baba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Efrain Velazquez!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Shimada.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Velazquez moves away from the strike by Baba.
Velazquez is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Baba shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Velazquez is holding on to half guard well.
Velazquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Baba has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baba not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Velazquez is trying to get back to full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Baba keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Baba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Baba is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Still in half guard, Baba seems content to control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Baba throws a right hand that misses
and Velazquez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Baba won't be happy with that.
Baba tries to buck Velazquez off but Velazquez is having none of it.
Velazquez trying to control the position but Baba is working away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Baba's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Baba is not content to let Velazquez control the position.
Baba tries to bench press Velazquez off him but Velazquez keeps the position.
A lull in the action here.
Velazquez trying to control the action but Baba is working from the bottom.
Baba tries to buck Velazquez off but Velazquez is having none of it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Velazquez trying to control the position but Baba is working away.
Baba manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Velazquez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Baba gets back to full guard.
We've been informed that Velazquez has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Velazquez stops Baba from standing up.
Baba might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Velazquez wants to control from the top but Baba keeps moving.
Baba is pulling down on Velazquez's head to control his posture.
Baba working a defensive guard here.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Baba throws a leg kick that is checked
and Velazquez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Baba is staying active underneath Velazquez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Velazquez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Baba doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Velazquez.
Baba is trying to stand.
Velazquez controlling the pace.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Velazquez wants to take a breather but Baba is having none of it.
Velazquez wants to pass the guard but Baba is defending well.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez is taking a breather. Baba says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Velazquez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Velazquez works his way into side control.
Baba is trying to control Velazquez's posture but Velazquez avoids it.
Baba is not content to let Velazquez control the position.
Baba prevents Velazquez from moving into mount.
Baba is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Baba's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez advances to mount.
Baba can't escape the position.
Velazquez moves to the back position.
Velazquez struggling to land strikes to the head as Baba covers up.
Velazquez trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Velazquez is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Velazquez is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Baba is defending well though. Velazquez let's go of the attempt for now.
Baba trying to control the action but Velazquez just sinks the hooks in.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez trying to control.
Velazquez looking to hold on to the position here but Baba rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Baba looking to control.
Velazquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Baba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Baba is looking to stand up but Velazquez isn't so interested in that idea.
Baba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Baba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Velazquez wants to control from the top but Baba keeps moving.
Baba controlling the position.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baba closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Baba lands in his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Efrain Velazquez will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Baba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Velazquez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Baba somewhat.
Velazquez wants to counter the offense by Baba and move into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baba shoots for a double leg takedown but Velazquez sprawls well. He's pushed Baba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Velazquez feints the counter takedown.
Baba looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Baba looking to sit in guard and control but Velazquez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Velazquez wants to control from the top but Baba keeps moving.
Velazquez won't allow Baba to sweep him here.
Velazquez pushing down on Baba's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Efrain Velazquez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baba wants to improve his position but Velazquez is controlling well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baba is not content to let Velazquez control the position.
Baba slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Velazquez throwing strikes from guard but Baba blocks nicely.
Baba is trying to hold Velazquez in close to prevent damage but Velazquez has managed to pass into half guard.
Baba is trying to get back to full guard.
Velazquez wants to free his trapped foot but Baba is holding on for dear life with his legs.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baba is looking to improve his position.
Velazquez wants to take a breather but Baba is having none of it.
Well, if Velazquez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Velazquez trying to control from half guard but Baba is working away.
Velazquez controlling the pace.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Nice sprawl there from Velazquez as Baba shoots in.
Baba sets himself, and Velazquez steps forward looking for the clinch! Baba avoids it this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ali Baba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Velazquez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Velazquez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Baba defends it well.
Velazquez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Baba to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Velazquez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Baba trying to control but Velazquez is working from the bottom.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Baba stays in close to Velazquez's body and controls the position.
Velazquez trying to control the position.
Baba wants to control from the top but Velazquez keeps moving.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Velazquez wants to sweep here but Baba controlling him for the moment.
Baba trying to control but Velazquez is working from the bottom.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Baba misses with a takedown
and Velazquez counters by moving into the clinch.
Velazquez is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Velazquez is trying to pull guard but Baba has him pressed against the ropes.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Baba walks away with a smile on his face. Velazquez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Velazquez gets caught flat footed, as Baba shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Baba has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Baba trying to control the position from guard on top but Velazquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baba postures up in Velazquez's guard and throws a big left but Velazquez blocks it.
Baba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Baba trying to control the position from guard on top but Velazquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Baba's guard.
Baba is trying to control the position but Velazquez postures up.
Baba controlling the position.
Velazquez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Baba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Velazquez slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Velazquez wants to free his trapped foot but Baba is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Velazquez stalling.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez wants to pass the guard but Baba is defending well.
Baba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Velazquez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Velazquez's back!
Baba punches the canvas rather than the man.
Baba throwing strikes and Velazquez squirms under the pressure, ending up mounted.
Baba looking to finish Velazquez with some ground and pound. This is bad for Velazquez!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Velazquez is squirming around, avoiding Baba's attempts to control the action.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ali Baba.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Ali Baba!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Ali Baba!
Ali Baba wins by majority decision!
An out of breath Ali Baba thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
24% |
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