PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mitch Babaloli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Saraiva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Babaloli comes to the cage accompanied by Wu Tang Clan - Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Babaloli
vs
Saraiva

188 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Future Pharmaceuticals (144 for $10)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mitch Babaloli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Arthur Saraiva!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Saam Ante and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Babaloli throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saraiva.
Babaloli wants to clinch up but Saraiva keeps it at a distance.

Saraiva throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Babaloli was covering up waiting for the punch and Saraiva finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Saraiva postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Babaloli is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Saraiva, into his guard.
Saraiva controls Babaloli momentarily but Babaloli frees himself.
Babaloli postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Babaloli trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Babaloli throwing strikes but missing.
Babaloli trying to control but Saraiva is working from the bottom.

Saraiva has his foot on Babaloli's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Babaloli works his way back into a safe position though.
Babaloli trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saraiva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Babaloli avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Babaloli has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Babaloli lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Babaloli working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Babaloli is in close to Saraiva's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Babaloli landing some decent shots from guard.

Saraiva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Babaloli chips away with some ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Saraiva can do anything to dispel that myth.

Saraiva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Babaloli can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Saraiva looks gassed!
Saraiva has momentary wrist control but Babaloli slips an elbow through the middle.
Babaloli scoring with some ground and pound.
Babaloli wants to pass the guard but Saraiva is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saraiva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Babaloli slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Saraiva drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Babaloli manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Saraiva has Babaloli in his guard.
Babaloli distracts Saraiva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Babaloli with a flurry of punches that miss.
Babaloli won't allow Saraiva to sweep him here.
Babaloli distracts Saraiva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Babaloli working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Saraiva's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli scoring with some ground and pound.
Babaloli working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Saraiva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Saraiva looking for a guillotine here but Babaloli defends easily.
Babaloli works over Saraiva with some ground and pound from guard.
Babaloli keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Saraiva's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saraiva seems keen to control Babaloli's posture.
Babaloli throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Babaloli postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Babaloli content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Babaloli scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Babaloli thows a big elbow that misses.

Saraiva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Babaloli can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Saraiva has momentary wrist control but Babaloli slips an elbow through the middle.
Babaloli is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Saraiva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Saraiva is looking for a triangle but Babaloli pushes his legs off easily.
Babaloli postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Babaloli throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saraiva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Babaloli is in close to Saraiva's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Saraiva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Babaloli lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitch Babaloli dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Babaloli fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Saraiva on the side of the head.
Saraiva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Babaloli but Babaloli pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Babaloli scores a takedown into full mount!
Saraiva taking shots to the head.
Babaloli scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Babaloli lands a heavy elbow.
Babaloli is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Babaloli working the ground and pound effectively.
Babaloli scoring with strikes but Saraiva is staying in there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Babaloli with a couple of short strikes.
Mitch Babaloli overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Saraiva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Babaloli is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babaloli lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Babaloli landing shots from mount.
Saraiva is in all sorts of trouble here.
Babaloli avoids the attempt from Saraiva to control.
Babaloli breaks from Saraiva's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Babaloli punishing his opponent with strikes.
Saraiva is in all sorts of trouble here.
Saraiva wants to hold on but Babaloli pushes him away.
Babaloli looking to finish Saraiva with some ground and pound. This is bad for Saraiva!
Saraiva tries to hold on but Babaloli pushes him away.
Babaloli cracks Saraiva with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Saraiva is bucking up trying to escape but Babaloli cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Babaloli is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Saraiva is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Saraiva is looking to get to half guard.
Babaloli lands a heavy elbow.
BOOM! Babaloli connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Babaloli scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Saraiva taking shots to the head.
Babaloli prevents Saraiva from getting the reversal.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Babaloli cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Saraiva is looking to improve his position but Babaloli isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Babaloli cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saraiva is working to get back to half guard.
Babaloli working Saraiva over with strikes here.
Babaloli pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Saraiva is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
BOOM! Babaloli connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Saraiva tries to hold on but Babaloli postures up.
Saraiva is in a horrible position here. Babaloli smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Babaloli lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Saraiva hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Saraiva is trying desperately to improve position.
Babaloli connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Babaloli with good strikes from the mount here!
Saraiva is in a horrible position here. Babaloli smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Babaloli is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Babaloli landing strikes from the mount.
Saraiva tries to reverse the position but Babaloli maintains control.
A nice elbow there by Babaloli.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saraiva really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Babaloli connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitch Babaloli dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Babaloli scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Saraiva tries for a takedown but Babaloli circles away easily
and Babaloli counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Babaloli lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Babaloli swinging wildly here.
Mitch Babaloli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Babaloli gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Saraiva counters with a nice double leg into side control. Babaloli won't be happy with that.

Saraiva is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Babaloli knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Saraiva goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Babaloli has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Saraiva but great work by Babaloli.
Saraiva tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saraiva is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saraiva is trying to control but can't.
Babaloli looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Saraiva has hold of Babaloli's hands but Babaloli slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Saraiva actively working from the bottom here.
Saraiva is trying to control but can't.
Saraiva is in trouble now - Babaloli has advanced to mount!
Saraiva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Saraiva takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Saraiva is working to get back to half guard.
Saraiva is bucking up trying to escape but Babaloli cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli lands a heavy elbow.
Saraiva slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Babaloli slips a nice elbow through Saraiva's hands, connecting with Saraiva's forehead.
Saraiva is looking to improve his position.
Babaloli looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Saraiva with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Babaloli throwing shots but Saraiva is blocking nicely.

Saraiva looking for submissions off his back.
Saraiva moves into full guard.

Saraiva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Saraiva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babaloli distracts Saraiva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Saraiva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Babaloli is aware though and is defending well.
Babaloli with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Babaloli is working Saraiva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Babaloli loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Babaloli throwing strikes from guard but Saraiva blocks nicely.

Saraiva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Babaloli with a flurry of punches that miss.

Saraiva is looking to sinch up a triangle. Babaloli throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Saraiva's body to avoid the submission. Saraiva has instead reached around Babaloli's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Saraiva arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Arthur Saraiva!