PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Teddy Baxter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Gunn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Teddy Baxter has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Baxter
vs
Gunn

186 cm
21
200 lbs
4 - 5 - 1

210 cm
22
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

EFC Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Teddy Baxter!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Gunn!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baxter takes the fight into the clinch.
Baxter is breathing heavily.
Baxter tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gunn avoids it.
Baxter stalling.
Baxter keeps control of Gunn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Baxter throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gunn stops a takedown attempt from Baxter.
Baxter has had enough of the clinch but Gunn keeps him there for the moment.
Gunn gets through Baxter's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

It looks like Teddy Baxter has been cut.
Gunn is looking to break free of the clinch but Baxter has double underhooks.
Gunn lands a right hand that snaps the head of Baxter backwards.
Gunn looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Baxter swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Gunn.
Gunn is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter tries to land a knee to the head but Gunn blocks with his arms.
Gunn stalling in the clinch but Baxter improves position.
Baxter wants to get back to striking at distance but Gunn won't allow it.
Baxter misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gunn.
Gunn tries to break free but Baxter pushes him back against the cage.
Gunn can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Baxter wants a takedown but no success here.
Baxter misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gunn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Baxter tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gunn avoids it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Baxter missing with knees to the body.
Baxter keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gunn's efforts to push away.
A short right from Gunn on the inside.
Baxter tries to land a knee to the head but Gunn blocks with his arms.
Gunn wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Baxter has him pressed against the cage.
Baxter is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gunn pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Teddy Baxter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gunn takes a knee to the side of the body.
Baxter unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gunn lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Baxter tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Baxter taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Baxter tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Baxter lands a nice elbow.

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.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Baxter obliges.
Baxter has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gunn avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Baxter landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gunn wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gunn managing to block the knees to the body from Baxter.
Gunn tries to break the clinch but Baxter is controlling the position.
Gunn is trying to force a seperation but Baxter has the dominant position.
Gunn taking a breather.

Baxter works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Baxter trying to control the position from guard on top but Gunn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gunn is trying to keep Baxter in close.

Gunn has his feet on Baxter's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Gunn digs a good body shot into Baxter's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter is looking to clinch but Gunn is avoiding it.
Gunn is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Baxter feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Baxter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Baxter working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Baxter postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Baxter working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gunn's head.
Baxter wants to control from the top but Gunn keeps moving.

Baxter drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Baxter jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baxter throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gunn keeps the fight on the outside.
Baxter shoots for a takedown but Gunn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Baxter wants to clinch.

Baxter has closed the distance and engaged Gunn in a clinch.
Baxter keeps control of Gunn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Baxter just leaning against Gunn, taking a breather.
Baxter lands a nice knee to the body.
Baxter pushes Gunn back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Baxter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Baxter rushes Gunn and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gunn looks to land a combination. Baxter sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Baxter wants to clinch up but Gunn keeps it at a distance.
Baxter tries to close the distance and clinch but Gunn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Baxter tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gunn swivels and escapes.
Teddy Baxter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baxter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gunn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gunn scores with a nice right hand.
Baxter tries to clinch but Gunn is having none of it.
Gunn throws a series of strikes that have Baxter backpedaling.
Gunn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gunn digs a good body shot into Baxter's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gunn throws a low kick but it's checked well by Baxter.
Gunn throws a series of punches but Baxter moves out of range.
Baxter tries to close the distance and clinch but Gunn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gunn throws a series of punches but Baxter moves out of range.
Gunn swats away the attempt to clinch by Baxter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Gunn. No joy for Baxter on that attempt.
Gunn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Baxter moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gunn connects with a crisp jab.
Baxter tries to clinch but Gunn is having none of it.
Baxter wants to clinch.
Baxter tries to clinch but Gunn moves out of range.
Gunn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gunn lands a jab to Baxter's midsection.
Baxter takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's two 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.
Baxter fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Teddy Baxter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baxter tries to clinch there but Gunn circles away.
Baxter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gunn keeps the fight on the outside.

Baxter closes the distance and pushes Gunn back into the cage.
Baxter is working for takedown but Gunn is calmly controlling the position for now.
Baxter lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Baxter changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gunn fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Baxter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gunn's waist but Gunn gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Baxter off to one side.
Baxter tries to clinch but Gunn moves out of range.
Gunn throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunn throws a head kick that misses.
Baxter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gunn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Baxter doesn't manage to clinch there - Gunn circles away.
Gunn swats away the attempt to clinch by Baxter.
Baxter doesn't manage to clinch there - Gunn circles away.
Gunn scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Baxter looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Baxter is looking to clinch.
Gunn looks to land a combination but Baxter avoids it well.
Baxter tries to clinch there but Gunn circles away.
Gunn lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Gunn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baxter takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

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.
Baxter shoots in for a takedown but Gunn shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gunn is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Gunn will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Baxter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gunn sprawls well. Gunn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Baxter gets slowly back to his feet.
Baxter clinches but Gunn breaks the clinch
enabling Gunn to counter with a crisp jab.
Baxter wants to clinch

and Gunn holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gunn takes a knee right on the jaw!
Baxter working Gunn over with knees to the body.
Baxter with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Baxter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gunn swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Baxter.
Baxter tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gunn counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Gunn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Teddy Baxter's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Baxter darts in trying to clinch
and Gunn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Baxter closes the distance but Gunn moves to the side
and Gunn counters with a left to the body.
Baxter is looking to clinch but Gunn is avoiding it.

Baxter darts in and clinches Gunn up against the cage.
Gunn tries to break free but Baxter pushes him back against the cage.
Gunn working hard to break the clinch.

Baxter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baxter moves in looking to clinch but Gunn pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baxter drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Baxter cracks Gunn with a solid left hand.
Gunn really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baxter. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Baxter not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gunn controls Baxter momentarily but Baxter frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Baxter trying to control but Gunn is working from the bottom.
Baxter has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Baxter drops back looking for a leg! Gunn is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gunn manages to kick Baxter off! Baxter jumps back into Gunn's guard.
Baxter trying to control the position from guard on top but Gunn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Baxter thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gunn scores with a crisp jab that stopped Baxter in his tracks.
Gunn moves into range and connects with a jab.

Gunn tries to keep at a distance but Baxter has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gunn gets underhooks to prevent Baxter's takedown attempt.
Baxter drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gunn pulls his leg out and moves away.
Baxter tries to clinch but Gunn moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunn tries to clinch but Baxter is having none of it.
Baxter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Baxter tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gunn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gunn scores with a sloppy right hand. Baxter should have avoided that one.
Baxter tries to clinch up
and Gunn counters with a two punch combo.
Baxter wants to clinch but Gunn slips to the side
and Gunn counters with a series of strikes. Baxter will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gunn misses with a double jab.
Gunn attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Baxter closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gunn counters with a three punch combo that has Baxter backing up. Baxter nods at Gunn to acknowledge the strikes.
Gunn connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

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.
Baxter wants to clinch but Gunn slips to the side
and Gunn counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Billy Gunn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gunn circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gunn counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Baxter avoids a kick to the body.

Gunn gets caught flat footed, as Baxter shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gunn looking for a sweep. Not yet Gunn, not yet.

Baxter thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Baxter sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baxter stops Gunn from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teddy Baxter clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Teddy Baxter's cut.
That's time! Baxter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Baxter wants to clinch but Gunn slips to the side
and Gunn counters with a one-two to the body.
Baxter tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Gunn counter with a right hand.
Baxter tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Gunn to counter with a crisp jab.
Baxter darts in trying to clinch
and Gunn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gunn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baxter takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Baxter has managed to clinch.
Baxter changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gunn fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter tries to clinch but Gunn is having none of it.
Baxter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gunn sprawls well. Gunn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Baxter gets slowly back to his feet.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Baxter wants to clinch
and Gunn counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Baxter thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Baxter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Teddy Baxter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gunn throws and low kick but Baxter moves out of range easily.
Baxter tries to clinch but Gunn moves away
and Gunn counters with a series of strikes. Baxter will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gunn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gunn stalks Baxter and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Baxter's face. Baxter staggers backwards, shaken.
Baxter wants to clinch but Gunn slips to the side
and Gunn counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Baxter looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Gunn keeps the fight on the outside.
Baxter looks to clinch
letting Gunn counter with a right hand.
Baxter closes the distance but Gunn moves to the side
and Gunn counters with a one-two to the body.
Gunn misses with a kick to the body.
Gunn circles away from the clinch attempt

and Gunn holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Baxter has Gunn pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gunn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Baxter lands an elbow inside that Gunn shrugs off.
Gunn cracks Baxter with a nice body shot.
Gunn has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Baxter misses with a knee strike.

Baxter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Baxter wants to clinch up but Gunn keeps it at a distance.
Baxter fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baxter avoids a punch combination nicely.
Billy Gunn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gunn tries to clinch but Baxter is having none of it.
Baxter closes the distance but Gunn moves to the side
and Gunn counters with a straight right hand.
Baxter is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gunn counters with a right hand to the body.
Baxter takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Baxter shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gunn pinned against the cage. Gunn gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Baxter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gunn sprawls well. Gunn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Baxter gets slowly back to his feet.
Gunn digs a good body shot into Baxter's ribs.
Baxter tries to clinch
and Gunn counters with a left and a right that stings Baxter.
Baxter clinches but Gunn breaks the clinch
enabling Gunn to counter with a crisp jab.
Baxter closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gunn counters with a three punch combo that has Baxter backing up. Baxter nods at Gunn to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four 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.
Baxter tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gunn sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Baxter somewhat.

Gunn gets caught flat footed, as Baxter shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Baxter wants to control from the top but Gunn keeps moving.
Baxter might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Baxter missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baxter working some strikes from top position.
Baxter won't allow Gunn to get back to his feet.
Baxter trying to control the position from guard on top but Gunn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Billy Gunn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Teddy Baxter's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gunn swats away the attempt to clinch by Baxter.
Baxter shoots for a takedown but Gunn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Baxter has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Baxter tries to close the distance and clinch but Gunn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gunn tries to bum rush Baxter with a series of wild strikes but Baxter uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Baxter rushes Gunn and presses him up against the cage.
Gunn takes a knee right on the jaw!
Baxter tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gunn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gunn swats away the attempt to clinch by Baxter.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Gunn lands a slapping body shot.
Baxter tries to clinch but Gunn moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter tries to clinch
and Gunn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Baxter tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gunn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gunn throws a nice looking combination but Baxter bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Baxter tries to close the distance and clinch but Gunn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Baxter instigates a clinch.
Gunn stops a takedown attempt from Baxter.
Gunn pushes Baxter back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Baxter goes for a takedown attempt but Gunn pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Teddy Baxter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gunn throws a combination. Baxter tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gunn closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Baxter is looking to clinch but Gunn is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Baxter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gunn jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Baxter clinches but Gunn breaks the clinch
and Gunn counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Gunn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Baxter darts in trying to clinch
and Gunn counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gunn lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Baxter backs up against the cage.
No joy there for Gunn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gunn stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gunn wants it to stay on the feet.

Baxter gets a clinch.
Gunn can't get the takedown.
Baxter lands an elbow just above Gunn 's eye.
Baxter dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Baxter lands a knee to the body.
Baxter wants a takedown.
Baxter tries to land knees in the clinch but Gunn avoids the damage to the body.

Baxter has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Gunn regains guard immediately.
Baxter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Baxter wants to control from the top but Gunn keeps moving.
Baxter's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gunn keeping moving, preventing Baxter from controlling successfully.
Gunn bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Baxter's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baxter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gunn defends well.
Baxter working a defensive guard here.
Baxter manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Baxter postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gunn looks a forlorn figure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Teddy Baxter showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Baxter has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 49:46
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 48:47
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Teddy Baxter!
Teddy Baxter is the new light heavyweight champion!