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 has chosen The Duck Song as his entrance music. 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 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
240 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 2 - 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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Baker!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor lands a lovely overhand right.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Baker as he jumps to the side.
Taylor swinging wilding here.
Taylor misses with a few strikes there.

Baker gets a clinch.
Taylor is looking to break free of the clinch but Baker has double underhooks.
Taylor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taylor wants to get back to striking at distance but Baker won't allow it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Baker.
Baker wants a takedown.
Baker prevents Taylor from breaking the clinch.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch but Baker keeps him there for the moment.
The referee calls for Baker to work.
Baker goes for a takedown attempt but Taylor pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Baker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Taylor as he avoids it easily.
Rick Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Baker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Baker counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Baker decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Baker bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Baker taking a breather here.
Taylor regains half guard.

Taylor has one foot on Baker's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Rick Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Taylor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taylor falls off balance throwing a combination

and Baker counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Taylor's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baker works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Baker postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Taylor to stand up.

Taylor gets a clinch.

Taylor breaks the clinch.
Taylor throws a lazy right hand but Baker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taylor gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Baker counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Baker wants to pass the guard but Taylor is keeping the position.
Taylor has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Taylor uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Taylor tries to bum rush Baker with a series of wild strikes but Baker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Baker shoots for a double leg takedown but Taylor sprawls well. He's pushed Baker's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Baker closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taylor circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Baker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taylor.
Taylor closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Baker darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Baker is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Taylor has managed to free his arm - good work.
Taylor has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Baker is working away from the top position though.
Taylor misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Taylor is trying to stand back up but Baker is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker wants to free his trapped foot but Taylor is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Well, if Baker is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker wants to take a breather but Taylor is having none of it.
Taylor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taylor goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Baker darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Taylor tries to kick Baker off but Baker keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Taylor is trying to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Baker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Baker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jake Baker's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taylor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Baker drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.
Taylor is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Taylor wants to stand up but Baker is controlling him.
Taylor will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Baker not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
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.
Baker wanted to stand there but Taylor had control of the position.
Baker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Baker is breathing heavily.
Baker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet but Baker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Taylor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taylor throws a leg kick that is checked

and Baker counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Baker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Taylor pushes Baker off and gets back to his feet.
Taylor misses with a straight right.
Taylor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Baker.

Baker drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Taylor pushes Baker off and scrambles back to his feet.
Taylor throws a combination that misses

and Baker counters with a nice double leg into side control. Taylor won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baker trying to control the action but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Taylor is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Baker has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker staying calm.
Baker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.
Baker tries to advance to mount but Taylor denies him.
Taylor is trying to control Baker's posture but Baker avoids it.
Baker trying to control the position but Taylor is working away.

Baker goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Taylor has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Baker but great work by Taylor.

Taylor decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Baker gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Baker turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Baker manages to end up in side control.

Baker stands up and beckons Taylor to his feet.
Taylor tries to bum rush Baker with a series of wild strikes but Baker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taylor misses with a leg kick

and Baker counters with a shoot takedown. Taylor fights it but they end up in guard.
Taylor keeping full guard, as Baker tries to pass.
Baker slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Taylor trying to control the position.
Baker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Baker slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Baker gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baker decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
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!
Taylor gets back to full guard.
Baker wants to pass the guard but Taylor is keeping the position.
Baker trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Taylor manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Taylor trying to control but Baker is working from the bottom.

Baker manages to escape and get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor throws a combination that misses

and Baker counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Taylor is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Baker won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.
Taylor is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Baker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jake Baker's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Taylor misses with a series of wild punches.
Taylor misses with the combination.

Baker looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Baker content to control rather than advance.
Let's hope that Baker has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Baker blocks the strikes from Taylor.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker is taking a breather. Taylor 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.
Taylor slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Taylor will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Taylor being controlled here, momentarily.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jake Baker just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice cross by Taylor.
Taylor misses with a combination

and Baker counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Taylor wants to control but Baker is keeping busy.
Baker is tying to control. Taylor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Taylor missing with punches from the bottom.
Taylor pushes Baker off but Baker dives into side control.
Taylor is looking to regain half guard here but Baker keeps moving and retains side control.
Baker advances to mount.
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.
Taylor tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Baker wants to control but instead Taylor manages to regain half guard.
Baker prevents Taylor from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker trying to pass the guard but Taylor defending well.

Taylor has one foot on Baker's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Taylor with a jab.

Taylor gets caught flat footed, as Baker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Taylor being controlled here, momentarily.

Baker stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Some wild striking there from Taylor.
Taylor misses with a jab, cross combination.

Baker fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taylor, pushing him back against the cage.

Baker wants the takedown. Taylor is fighting it off but Baker persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Taylor's guard against the cage.
Baker seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor is looking for a triangle but Baker pushes his legs off easily.
Baker tries to free his leg and advance position but Taylor is retaining full guard.
Taylor wants to sweep but no luck.
Baker won't allow Taylor to get back to his feet.

Taylor pushes Baker off and gets back to his feet.
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!
A punch combination from Taylor misses.
Rick Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor throws a lazy uppercut

and Baker decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Taylor's guard.
Baker stops Taylor from standing up.

Taylor isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Baker stacks Taylor on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Baker!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Baker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Baker winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Jake Baker!
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Jake Baker!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Jake Baker!

Jake Baker wins by unanimous decision!