PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baker is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Duck Song. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Taylor
vs
Baker

209 cm
22
240 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
240 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Apocalypse Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Baker!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baker feints and as Taylor raises his hands in defense, Baker changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Baker sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Taylor trying to control the position.
Taylor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Baker is controlling him.
Taylor being controlled here, momentarily.

Baker gets to his feet. Taylor looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Baker shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Baker showed some decent athleticism there.
Baker wants to pass the guard but Taylor is defending well.

Baker is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to control Baker's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taylor avoid being mounted?
Baker stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Taylor tries to get out of the position.
Taylor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Baker controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Taylor tries to kick Baker off but Baker keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Baker is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Baker is looking for a kimura here.
Baker controlling the pace.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jake Baker just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taylor jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Taylor lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baker feints and as Taylor raises his hands in defense, Baker changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Baker won't allow Taylor to get back to his feet.
Baker passes Taylor's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Taylor looking for submissions off his back.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet.
Baker controlling the action here.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet.
Baker takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Baker decides to stand and escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baker clinches.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch but Baker keeps him there for the moment.
Baker has Taylor pushed against the cage.

Baker gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.
Taylor trying to control the position.
Baker is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Baker trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Taylor is wriggling around but Baker manages to pass to half guard.
Baker controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Baker dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Taylor throws a right and a left that Baker avoids nicely.
Taylor tries to bum rush Baker with a series of wild strikes but Baker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Baker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Taylor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rick Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baker looks to land a combination but Taylor avoids it well.
A big right from Taylor misses.
Taylor is looking to score with low kicks.
Baker misses the shot to the body.
Taylor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Baker.
Taylor throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rick Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.

Baker forces Taylor back against the cage and clinches.
Taylor stops a takedown attempt from Baker.
Baker can't get the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baker fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rick Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Baker.
Baker wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baker successfully pulls guard.
Baker seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Baker wants to sweep but no luck.
Baker is controlling Taylor's posture.
Baker wants to sweep here but Taylor controlling him for the moment.
Taylor will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Baker doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Baker looking for a sweep. Not yet Baker, not yet.
Baker has his hands on Taylor's head, controlling the position.
Taylor preventing the sweep.
Baker lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Taylor!
Baker controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker wants to control the pace but Taylor is squirming around nicely.
Taylor keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Taylor is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Baker controlling from the full mount.
Taylor wants to try and get back to his feet.
Baker cracks Taylor with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Taylor is looking to improve his position but Baker isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker controlling the position easily from mount.
Taylor stops Baker from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Taylor regains half guard.
Taylor is trying to stand.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Baker in particular looking to stall.
Taylor is looking to escape.
Still in half guard, Baker seems content to control.
Taylor punching from the bottom.

That's four 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.

Taylor manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Taylor throws a combination that misses

so Baker counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Taylor has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Baker off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Taylor waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Baker.
Taylor misses with a combination

and Baker counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker stands and throws Taylor's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Baker is looking to take a break and control but Taylor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jake Baker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baker advances nicely into full mount.
Baker sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Baker has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Taylor is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jake Baker!