PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Lawrence (ranked 1205 p4p, 971 weight class) and Balthazar Baker (ranked 164 p4p, 135 weight class). Lawrence comes to the cage accompanied by No Surrender. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Lawrence
vs
Baker

180 cm
36
195
27 - 24 - 1

195 cm
31
190
14 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
PWNAGE™

Fantasy Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 27 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Lawrence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Balthazar Baker!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Topper Green and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawrence tries to land a leg kick but Baker saw it coming and moves away.
A countering left hand to the body from Baker misses.
Baker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A head kick by Lawrence misses
enabling Baker to counter with a crisp jab.
Baker wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lawrence misses with a leg kick.
Baker checks the leg kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Baker misses.
Baker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawrence wants to clinch up but Baker keeps it at a distance.
Baker let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lawrence.
Baker let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence connects with a single shot there.
Lawrence digs a good hook to Baker's body.
Lawrence throws a hook but Baker blocks it.
Lawrence uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Baker.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lawrence. Baker does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lawrence scores with a jab to the body.

Lawrence closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker pushes Lawrence away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Lawrence gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Baker is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Baker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lawrence working the head with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawrence working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Lawrence goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Baker rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Lawrence's guard! Nice work there by Baker!

Lawrence has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Baker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Baker lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker stands up over Lawrence, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lawrence looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lawrence seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Baker working some strikes from top position.
Lawrence preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Baker content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Lawrence is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lawrence looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Baker puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Baker landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Baker is nestled in close to Lawrence, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Baker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lawrence's head.
Baker looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Lawrence on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Baker lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lawrence wants to improve his position but Baker is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Lawrence looking for submissions off his back.
Lawrence tries to get to full guard but Baker has control of the leg.
Lawrence moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Lawrence has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Baker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Lawrence working for a triangle but Baker defends it easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Baker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Balthazar Baker will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lawrence shoots in but Baker avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lawrence swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Baker counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lawrence misses with a hook.
Baker looks to land a combination but Lawrence avoids it well.
Lawrence lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baker circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawrence misses with a combination
and Baker counters with a nice body shot.
Baker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Baker throws a body punch but Lawrence moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence misses with a hook
and Baker counters with a left and a right that stings Lawrence.
Lawrence misses with an uppercut
and Baker counters with a straight that turns Lawrence's legs to rubber! Baker pushes forward with more strikes and Lawrence goes down, battered and bloody! That's a wrap folks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:14 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Balthazar Baker!
A relieved looking Balthazar Baker thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
The defeated John Lawrence had this to say: 'Cobra Kai Rules!! Ill be back. No retreat! No surrender! Strike First! Strike Hard!'.