PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Edmonds (ranked 598 p4p, 1530 weight class) and Balthazar Baker (ranked 88 p4p, 202 weight class). Edmonds's entrance music is Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus. A fine choice. Balthazar Baker has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Edmonds
vs
Baker

185 cm
37
190
35 - 23 - 2

195 cm
33
190
15 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 35 - 23 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Edmonds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Balthazar Baker!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Skip Squint and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Edmonds.
Edmonds throws a left and a right that both miss
and Baker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Edmonds lands a glancing blow to the side of Baker's head.
Edmonds lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Baker backs up against the cage.
Baker moves away from the strike by Edmonds.
Baker is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Edmonds with a body shot.
Baker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Edmonds closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Baker did well to prevent Edmonds getting side control.
Baker wants to improve his position but Edmonds is controlling well.

Edmonds looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Edmonds blocks the strikes from Baker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edmonds uses his free foot to push down on Baker's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Baker.
Edmonds takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

Edmonds is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Edmonds working for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Edmonds looking for the choke but no joy.
Baker turns into Edmonds and is now in his guard.
Baker lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Baker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Baker scoring with punches to the head and body.
Edmonds controls Baker momentarily but Baker frees himself.
Baker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edmonds seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker postures up in Edmonds's guard and throws a big left but Edmonds blocks it.
Baker preventing the sweep.
Baker distracts Edmonds with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Baker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Edmonds working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Baker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Baker manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Baker is in close to Edmonds's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Edmonds seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Edmonds had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Baker defends it easily.
Baker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker is looking to work some ground and pound but Edmonds has wrist control.
Baker trying to control but Edmonds is working from the bottom.
Baker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Baker throws a big right hand that misses.
Baker won't allow Edmonds to sweep him here.
Edmonds is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Baker stopping the sweep attempt from Edmonds.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Baker trying to control but Edmonds is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baker wants to pass the guard but Edmonds is keeping the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Baker with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that John Edmonds will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Baker misses with a hook to the body
and Edmonds counters with a nice uppercut.
A big left from Baker misses.
Edmonds throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Baker is looking for the big counter here.
Baker gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Edmonds is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Baker can do to turn this around?
Edmonds misses with a right hand
and Baker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Baker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Edmonds throws out the jab.
Edmonds swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baker doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Edmonds swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Edmonds throws a hook to the side of Baker's head but Baker sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Edmonds lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baker circles away quickly and effectively.
Baker appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Edmonds scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker slips a jab from Edmonds.
Baker throws a body shot but no joy.
John Edmonds is winning the standup battle so far.
Edmonds uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Baker.
Edmonds bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Nice combo by Baker! Oh, that's hurt him - Edmonds falls to the canvas and Baker follows him into side control.

Edmonds is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Edmonds is trying to improve his position.
Oh Edmonds is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Baker scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Edmonds is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Baker can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:52 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.