PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daquan Bowman (ranked 3025 p4p, 277 weight class) and Jonny Baker (ranked 3723 p4p, 317 weight class). Daquan Bowman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bowman
vs
Baker

172 cm
23
147 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

174 cm
31
157 lbs
8 - 9 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Daquan Bowman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jonny Baker!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker tries to work over Bowman's front leg with a kick but Bowman checks it.
Baker moves out of range of the strikes.
Bowman throws a hook but Baker avoids it easily.
Bowman scores with a punch to the head.

It looks like Jonny Baker has been cut.
Baker scores with a push kick.
Bowman bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Baker's head.
Baker moves out of range as Bowman strikes.
Baker blocks a jab.
Baker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bowman misses with an uppercut.
Bowman chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Baker can pounce on him.
Baker misses with a body kick.
Baker slips under a jab from Bowman.
Bowman moves out of range of the body kick.
A right-left combo lands from Baker.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baker moves away from the strike by Bowman.
Bowman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Baker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bowman throws out the jab.
Baker on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker looks to land a combination but Bowman avoids it well.
Baker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Baker looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bowman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Baker sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Bowman misses the target.
Bowman misses with a looping left.
The fighters circling - Bowman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bowman misses with a straight left.
As Bowman backs off Baker throws a huge counter combo but Bowman manages to avoid it all.
Bowman misses with a looping right.
Baker lands a front kick.
Bowman is breathing heavily.
Nice defenses there by Baker.
Nice cross by Baker.
We've been informed that Baker 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.
Bowman getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bowman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Baker.
A big left from Bowman misses.
Baker throws a low kick, looking for Bowman's leg but Bowman calmly moves out of range.
Bowman blocks a head kick by Baker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Baker throws out a leg kick but Bowman moves out of range and Baker only half commits.
We've been hearing reports that Bowman has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Baker swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baker moves out of range of the strikes.

Baker throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bowman was covering up waiting for the punch and Baker finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Baker is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Baker sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bowman's guard.
Baker looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bowman with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bowman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Bowman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Baker passes to side control.
Baker controls the position.
Bowman tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Baker wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bowman regains half guard.
Baker is trying to control the action in half guard but Bowman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Baker landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Bowman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bowman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Baker pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Bowman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Baker is taking a breather. Bowman 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.
Baker is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bowman!
Bowman is looking to improve his position but Baker isn't that keen on the idea.
Baker looking to control but Bowman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Baker takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Baker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jonny Baker's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bowman throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.
Baker counters with a body kick.
Bowman is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Baker throws a right and a left that both miss.
A little feinted left hand from Bowman on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Bowman misses the jab.
Baker steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bowman.
Baker throws a half hearted mid kick.
A slow jab from Baker misses its intended target.
Baker throws a body punch but Bowman moves out of range.
Bowman is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A combination from Baker does no damage.
Bowman throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Baker on the side of the head.
Baker throws a push kick but Bowman slaps the foot to one side.
Bowman misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Bowman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bowman looks to land a right hand but Baker moved out of range.
Baker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bowman throws out the jab.
Bowman throws a good cross that connects.
Bowman misses with an uppercut. Baker saw that one coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baker uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bowman.
Jonny Baker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker needs to keep his hands up - Bowman had a free shot at his head there.
Baker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Baker thuds his shin into the meat of Bowman's side.
Baker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bowman.
Nice defenses there by Baker.
Bowman misses with a hook. Baker ducked under it nicely.
Baker takes a swing at Bowman's ribcage but misses.
Baker looks for the body kick but Bowman saw that one coming.
Bowman clobbers Baker with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Baker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bowman.
Bowman throws a lazy right hand but Baker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Baker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bowman was well out of range. Poor timing from Baker.
Bowman throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bowman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Baker.

Baker gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The referee calls for Baker to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bowman.
Bowman throws a head punch that misses.
Bowman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bowman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baker tries to work over Bowman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Baker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baker just misses with a punch to the body.
A slow jab from Bowman misses its intended target.
Bowman takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nice uppercut there from Bowman.
Baker slips a jab from Bowman.
A leg kick checked by Bowman.
Bowman looks to land a left hand but Baker moved out of range nicely.
Baker ducks under a wild hook from Bowman.
Baker thinks about the counter body kick.
Baker ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker throws the kick towards the body but Bowman avoids it.
Bowman throws a poor cross that misses
and Baker makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Bowman fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Baker on the side of the head.

Baker closes the distance and pushes Bowman back into the cage.
Baker looking to slow down the pace here.

Baker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Baker throws a right and a left that Bowman avoids nicely.
Daquan Bowman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bowman walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Daquan Bowman is winning the standup battle so far.
Bowman throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.
Bowman throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Baker counters with a nice uppercut.
Baker swinging wildly here.
Baker slips under a jab from Bowman.
Bowman misses with a lunging right hand
and Baker counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Baker misses with a few strikes there.

That's four 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!
Bowman waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Baker.
Baker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baker throws an overhand right that lands on Bowman's shoulder, as Bowman tries to avoid the shot.
Bowman has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Baker.
Bowman thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bowman throws a hook to the side of Baker's head but Baker sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bowman avoids the head kick by Baker.
Bowman moves out of range of the body kick.
Baker shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Bowman fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Bowman throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.
Bowman misses with a straight left.
Bowman misses with a hook. Baker ducked under it nicely.
Baker throws a right hand that Bowman ducks under and follows up with a left that Bowman also avoids with ease.
Baker steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bowman.
Baker is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A clash of legs there as Bowman blocks the low kick.
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 Daquan Bowman will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jonny Baker's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Baker ducks under a wild hook from Bowman.
And Baker responds with a good body kick, but Bowman manages to step out the way in time.
Baker moves out of range of the strikes.
Baker throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bowman.
Bowman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bowman slips a jab from Baker.
Baker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bowman.
Bowman throws out a loose jab but Baker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Baker wants to counter with a clinch but Bowman pushes him away.
Baker misses with a few strikes there.
Baker staying out of range there.
Bowman moves out of range as Baker throws a body kick.
Bowman throws an off balance right hand
and Baker counters with a left to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker throws a jab but it's blocked by Bowman.
Bowman swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baker slips a jab from Bowman.
Bowman throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.
Baker pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bowman is out of range and Baker settles back down.
Baker swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baker tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bowman is able to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowman dodges the punch combination from Baker.
Baker slips a jab from Bowman.
Baker uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bowman.
Baker ducks under a wild hook from Bowman.
A jab from Bowman misses.
Bowman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Baker sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Baker drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Baker scores with a body shot.
Baker tries to land a front kick but Bowman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bowman was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Bowman misses with a looping left.
Baker steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Bowman.
Danga de danga de dang - Baker scores with a four punch combination!
Baker tries to land a front kick but Bowman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bowman throws a looping overhand right but Baker ducks down to avoid it.
Baker replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Bowman blocks it well.
No joy there for Baker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker just misses with a punch to the body.
Bowman throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Baker to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bowman moves out of range as Baker throws a body kick.
Bowman loads up on a big right hand but Baker slips the punch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Bowman crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Baker - the referee stops the clock and Bowman gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Baker. Bowman manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Baker clinches up against the cage.
Bowman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Baker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bowman throws a head punch that misses.
Bowman throws a punch but it's blocked by Baker.
Baker tries a body shot but Bowman blocks it.
Bowman throws a head punch that misses.
A shot in the inside from Baker.
Bowman throws a punch but it's blocked by Baker.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Baker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowman working aggressively here.
Bowman misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bowman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Baker breaks the clinch.
Baker moves away from the strike by Bowman.
Baker slips a straight right by Bowman.
Baker misses with a two punch combination.
Baker tries to bum rush Bowman with a series of wild strikes but Bowman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bowman misses with a left hand
letting Baker counter with a right hand.
Bowman connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Bowman misses with a hook.
Baker tries to clinch but Bowman is having none of it.
A punch combination from Baker misses.
Bowman throws out a loose jab but Baker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Baker tries to counter with a clinch but Bowman shakes him off and moves away.
Baker throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Baker throws the kick towards the body but Bowman avoids it.
Bowman checks a leg kick.
Bowman avoids the head kick by Baker.
Bowman throws a jab but it's blocked by Baker.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baker is looking to land body kicks.
Bowman swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Baker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bowman throws out the jab.
Bowman connects with a jab.
Baker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bowman.
Baker looks to score with a jab to the body but Bowman is just out of range.
Baker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baker lands a glancing blow to the side of Bowman's head.
Bowman misses with a hook.
Baker is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Bowman rather than just go for the knockout.
Baker swings for the body but Bowman moves out of range.
Bowman waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Baker.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonny Baker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Baker 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonny Baker!
Jonny Baker thanked the fans post fight for their support.