PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodger Lapedis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Rodger Lapedis has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Lapedis
vs
Baker

190 cm
23
220 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

188 cm
25
215 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rodger Lapedis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Frank Baker!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Steve Erwin and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lapedis fails with the takedown.
Lapedis avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lapedis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Baker misses with a takedown attempt
and Baker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lapedis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baker circles away quickly and effectively.

Baker feints and as Lapedis raises his hands in defense, Baker changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Baker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lapedis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lapedis 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.
Baker postures up.

Lapedis is looking for a triangle here but Baker uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
A lull in the action here as Baker stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapedis manages to get back to half guard.
Baker is pressing down on Lapedis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lapedis is holding on for now.
Lapedis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Lapedis 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.
Lapedis wants to sweep but no luck.
Lapedis working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Baker content to stall in guard here.
Baker pushing down on Lapedis's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lapedis tries to roll over but Baker keeps him under control.

Lapedis actively working from the bottom here.
Lapedis wants to control but Baker is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Lapedis is breathing heavily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Baker is controlling the pace.
Baker takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Baker trying to control from half guard but Lapedis is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lapedis looking for submissions off his back.

Lapedis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Baker trying to pass the guard but Lapedis defending well.
Baker trying to control from half guard but Lapedis is working away.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Baker connects with a nice short shot to Lapedis's temple.
Lapedis is looking to improve his position.
Baker moves into full mount! Lapedis won't be happy about that!
Lapedis is trying to escape the mount.

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.
Lapedis tries to hold on but Baker pushes him away.
Baker trying to control but Lapedis is having none of it.
Baker controlling the position easily from mount.
Lapedis is desperately trying to improve his position but Baker has a good base and remains in mount.
Baker scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Lapedis is in a horrible position here. Baker smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Baker is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Lapedis can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Baker controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Baker dominated that round.
That's time! Lapedis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Baker shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lapedis napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lapedis wants to control but Baker postures up.
Lapedis is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Baker is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Lapedis tries to improve position but can't.
Baker lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Lapedis down.
Lapedis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Baker wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Baker is looking to take a break and control but Lapedis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lapedis is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Baker off and has taken his back!
Lapedis tries to keep control of the position but Baker is staying busy.

Baker preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Lapedis.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Baker is in a bad position with Lapedis working for a choke. Baker manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker content to stall in guard here.
Baker forces his way into half guard.
Baker wants to control but Lapedis is keeping him busy.
Baker is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Lapedis!
Baker looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 is landing with some decent strikes but Lapedis is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Lapedis tries to lock up and control but Baker gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Baker looking to finish Lapedis with some ground and pound. This is bad for Lapedis!

Baker looking to secure an arm triangle but Lapedis defends it well.
Baker lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Lapedis is looking to improve his position but Baker isn't that keen on the idea.
Lapedis sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker controlling the pace.
Baker frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Lapedis is looking to improve his position but Baker isn't that keen on the idea.
Lapedis bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Baker trying to control the position.

Lapedis drops back, looking for a kneebar! Baker looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Baker looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Baker!

Baker tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Baker has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapedis wants to control but Baker postures up.
Baker controls the position.
Lapedis is trying to get back to half guard.
Baker controls the position from side control.
Baker scores with punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Baker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Baker shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Baker showed some decent athleticism there.
Baker is trying to control. Lapedis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lapedis moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Baker wants to control from the top but Lapedis keeps moving.

Lapedis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Baker gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Baker tries to free his leg and advance position but Lapedis is retaining full guard.

Lapedis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Baker defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baker trying to control but Lapedis is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapedis trying to keep a closed guard but Baker is proving a slippery customer.

Lapedis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Baker advances to half guard.
Baker trying to control the action but Lapedis is working from the bottom.
Baker performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Despite being in the dominant position, Frank Baker just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baker throws a jab but it's blocked by Lapedis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Baker throws a jab when Lapedis was well out of range.
Lapedis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Baker counters with a takedown into side control.
Lapedis struggling a bit here.
Frank Baker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lapedis is looking to regain half guard here but Baker keeps moving and retains side control.
Lapedis can't do much from the bottom here.
Baker takes a little break here. Lapedis wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Lapedis is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker scoring with punches from side control.
Lapedis is looking for a sweep.
Lapedis is letting Baker control him for a moment.
Baker scores with a couple of short elbows.
Baker is looking to take a break and control but Lapedis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lapedis wants to control but Baker postures up.
Baker landing a few strikes.
Lapedis seems a little lost for a moment, as Baker dominates the positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapedis is trying to control Baker's posture but Baker avoids it.
Baker is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Lapedis will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Rodger Lapedis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baker trying to control the position but Lapedis is working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Baker looks to throw the jab but Lapedis is out of range.

Baker scores with a takedown into Lapedis's guard.

Lapedis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Baker scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Frank Baker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lapedis keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Baker!