PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Baker (ranked 1055 p4p, 997 weight class) and Thomas Hearn (ranked 142 p4p, 153 weight class). Baker comes to the cage accompanied by When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin. Hearn has chosen Professor X - Dave as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baker
vs
Hearn

179 cm
35
180
20 - 18 - 0

185 cm
31
180
18 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

PWNAGE™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeff Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Hearn!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Francis DeMontford and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker lands with a kick to the temple. Hearn shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Thomas Hearn has been cut.
Hearn lands a nice leg kick that just misses Baker's sensitive parts.
Baker misses with a left hand
and Hearn counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Baker throws a lazy head kick
and Hearn counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hearn moves out of range of the body kick from Baker.
Baker misses with a hook.
Hearn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baker.
Baker lands a nice hook to Hearn's body. Hearn takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Baker looks to score with a jab to the body but Hearn is just out of range.
Baker misses with an uppercut
and Hearn counters with a thumping low kick.
Hearn takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hearn looking to land some kicks to the body here.
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 a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hearn makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hearn wants to slow Baker down by chopping away at his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearn throws a leg kick
and Baker counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hearn thinking.
Baker just misses with a punch to the body.
Baker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Baker throws a looping overhand right but Hearn ducks down to avoid it.
Hearn looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hearn blocks a jab.
Baker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hearn moves away.
Hearn now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hearn avoids the body shot from Baker.
Baker misses the jab.
Hearn let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Hearn explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Baker has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Chikara MMA Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Baker misses with a shot to the body
and Hearn counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Baker lands a high kick!
Hearn lands a nice hook to Baker's body. Baker takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Baker uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hearn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker misses with a left hand
and Hearn counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baker throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hearn counters with a nice body kick.
Hearn throws a leg kick which misses Baker's front leg but catches the back leg as Baker tries to avoid it.
Hearn paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hearn connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Baker momentarily.
A jab from Baker finds it's way through Hearn's defenses.
Baker lands a slapping body shot.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baker throws a sloppy head kick
and Hearn counters with a slapping leg kick.
Hearn lands with a hook. Baker tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hearn lands a head shot.
Baker connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker misses with a hook
and Hearn counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Baker throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hearn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Baker cracks Hearn with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Baker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hearn looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Baker misses with a body punch
and Hearn counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Baker throws a sloppy body shot
letting Hearn counter with a right hand.
Hearn scores with a jab to the body.
Baker misses with a body punch
and Hearn counters with a stiff right hand.
A shot to the body from Baker misses
enabling Hearn to counter with a crisp jab.
A big left from Baker misses.
Baker swings for the body but Hearn moves out of range.
Baker throws an off balance right hand
and Hearn counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hearn jabs Baker to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Baker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hearn.
Hearn is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Baker had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Baker swings for the body but Hearn moves out of range.
Baker misses with an uppercut
letting Hearn counter with a right hand.
Baker scores with a nice right hand.
Baker takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Baker loads up on a big right hand but Hearn slips the punch.
Hearn flicks out a counter leg kick but Baker steps away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hearn.
Baker pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hearn thuds his right hand into Baker's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Baker throws a head kick that misses
enabling Hearn to counter with a crisp jab.
Baker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Hearn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thomas Hearn's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Baker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A countering left hand to the body from Hearn misses.
Baker bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hearn takes a swing at Baker's ribcage but misses.
Hearn chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Baker can pounce on him.
Baker listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A swing and a miss from Baker.
Baker lands with a hook. Hearn tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Baker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hearn was well out of range. Poor timing from Baker.
Hearn scores with a jab to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hearn takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Baker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hearn.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baker misses with an uppercut
and Hearn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker blocks a low kick nicely.
Hearn connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hearn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Baker throws a right hand that misses
and Hearn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The fighters circling - Baker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Baker rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hearn counters with a nice low kick that buckles Baker's knee momentarily.
Baker throws a body punch but Hearn moves out of range.
Baker backing away here, and Hearn unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Baker looks to score with a jab to the body but Hearn is just out of range.
Hearn connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hearn scores with a leg kick.
Thomas Hearn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hearn on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hearn is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Baker is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hearn fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Baker.
Baker throws a head kick but Hearn moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baker falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hearn counters with a nice body shot.
Baker throws a lazy head kick
and Hearn counters with an inside leg kick.
Baker throws a head kick that misses.
Baker misses with an uppercut
and Hearn counters with a nice kick to the body.
Hearn lands a jab.
Baker throws a head kick that misses
and Hearn counters with a nice kick to the body.
Hearn pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Baker back to the cage. Hearn follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Hearn lands a slapping body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hearn dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Baker. That did some damage!
Hearn walks into a stiff left hand from Baker.
Baker moves out of range of the body kick from Hearn.
A looping hook to the body misses from Baker. Hearn does a little dance to reset his feet.
And Hearn responds with a good body kick, but Baker manages to step out the way in time.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Baker might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Baker throws a sloppy head kick and Hearn moves out of range easily.
A combination from Baker does no damage.
Baker throws a lazy uppercut
and Hearn makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hearn.
Baker looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hearn tries a quick counter leg kick but Baker is wise to it.
Baker misses with a left hand
and Hearn counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hearn lands with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Baker 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Baker walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A swing and a miss from Baker.
Baker stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hearn.
Hearn looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Baker stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hearn.
Baker looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Baker thuds his right hand into Hearn's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Jeff Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baker throws a big shot that misses.
Baker loads up on a big right hand but Hearn slips the punch.
Hearn uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Baker.
Baker throws a jab when Hearn was well out of range.
Baker jabs Hearn right on the nose. Hearn blinks but takes it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Hearn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thomas Hearn's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Baker throws a leg kick that misses.
Hearn doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Hearn misses the jab.
It looked like Baker wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Baker misses with a left hand
and Hearn makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hearn comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Baker takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Hearn blocks a jab.
Hearn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Baker.
Baker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hearn.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker misses with a body shot.
Hearn looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice cross by Baker.
Hearn lands a leg kick that knocks Baker off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hearn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice body punch from Hearn.
Baker lands with a right hand.
Baker throws a jab but it's blocked by Hearn.
Hearn blocks a head kick by Baker.
Hearn connects with a body shot that sends Baker's belly button to the back.
Baker throws a looping overhand right but Hearn ducks down to avoid it.
A countering left hand to the body from Hearn misses.
Hearn staying out of range there.
Baker throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hearn counters with a nice uppercut.
Hearn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Baker misses with a body punch
and Hearn counters with a straight right hand.
Jeff Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hearn throws a nice inside leg kick.
Baker misses with a body shot
enabling Hearn to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baker throws a hook but Hearn blocks it.
Hearn lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Baker tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Baker takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Baker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hearn flicks out a counter leg kick but Baker steps away.
Baker ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Baker lands a nice shot to the body.
Baker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hearn avoids the body shot from Baker.
Hearn's corner calls for a 1-2. Hearn obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hearn looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hearn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Baker throws a head kick but Hearn moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baker looks to throw the jab but Hearn is out of range.
Thomas Hearn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Baker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baker throws a jab but it's blocked by Hearn.
Hearn lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hearn. That's going to slow Baker down.
Hearn cracks Baker with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Baker cracks Hearn with a good jab.
Baker misses with a left hand
and Hearn counters with a good low kick that Baker was not able to check.
Baker pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hearn doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker throws a sloppy head kick
and Hearn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hearn is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice defenses there by Hearn.
Nice uppercut there from Hearn.
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 lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hearn cracks Baker with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hearn tries to land a front kick but Baker steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Baker lands a body shot.
Baker throws a lazy uppercut
and Baker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Baker takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Baker misses with a body shot
enabling Hearn to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Hearn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hearn 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Hearn!
A relieved looking Thomas Hearn thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, Jeff Baker stepped up to the mic, saying 'Thank you all for your support over the years. I'm not saying it's for sure, but I'm really going to consider what's next for me. If this is the end, it's been a great ride.'.