PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Guido (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raian Baaden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raian Baaden is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Guido
vs
Baaden

190 cm
23
213 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
217 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paulo Guido!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raian Baaden!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Guido.
Guido misses with a double jab.
Guido misses with a wild body shot.
Paulo Guido seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Baaden shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Baaden was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Guido is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Guido wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Baaden trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Baaden thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baaden has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Guido's face.
Guido can't escape the position.
Guido blocking the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baaden throwing strikes here but Guido is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Guido tries to hold on but Baaden pushes him away.
Baaden is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Baaden is working for a guillotine from mount but Guido frees his head quite easily.
Baaden working away from the top, dropping strikes.
A nice elbow there by Baaden.
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!

Guido bucks up and throws Baaden to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Paulo Guido is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Guido misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Guido. Baaden does a little dance to reset his feet.
Guido throws a looping overhand right but Baaden ducks down to avoid it.

Guido gets caught flat footed, as Baaden shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baaden in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Baaden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Baaden distracts Guido with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Baaden working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Guido trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Guido working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baaden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Guido is keeping the position for now.
Baaden is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Guido wants to get back to his feet but Baaden is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Baaden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baaden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Baaden looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Baaden tries to keep at a distance but Guido has taken the fight into the clinch.
Baaden has Guido pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Guido manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Guido lands a shoulder strike.
Baaden drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Guido cracks Baaden with a nice body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Guido.
Baaden looks gassed!
Guido tries to stall but Baaden uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Guido scores with a knee to the head.
Baaden changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Guido fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Paulo Guido has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raian Baaden.
Baaden avoids the body shot from Guido.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guido tries to clinch but Baaden is having none of it.
Guido tries to close the distance and clinch but Baaden swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Guido fails with an attempt to clinch.
Guido tries to clinch up.
Guido misses with a two punch combination.
Baaden keeps the fight on the outside.
Guido clobbers Baaden with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

It looks like Raian Baaden has been cut.
Baaden checks a leg kick nicely.
Baaden gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Baaden fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Guido avoids it really well and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Baaden drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raian Baaden dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Raian Baaden's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Guido jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Guido doesn't manage to clinch there - Baaden circles away.
Baaden shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Guido defends it nicely.
Guido throws a right and a left that both miss.
Baaden shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Guido pinned against the cage. Guido gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Guido misses with a low kick as Baaden jumps back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baaden moves into the clinch.
Baaden is trying to drag Guido to the mat but Guido just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Paulo Guido has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raian Baaden.
Guido tries a knee to the head but Baaden blocks it.
Guido gets underhooks to prevent Baaden's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baaden gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Guido regains guard.
Guido looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baaden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Guido pulls Baaden in close to prevent any damage.
Guido wants to stand and escape but Baaden is having none of it.
Guido preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Baaden lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Guido has Baaden pulled in close to control his posture.
Baaden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baaden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Baaden in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Guido wants to stand up but Baaden is controlling him.
Baaden thows a big elbow that misses.
Baaden wants to pass the guard but Guido is keeping the position.
Baaden throws and elbow that misses. Guido uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Baaden's guard. Nice move by Guido!
Guido tries to stand but Baaden is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Baaden tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Guido swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guido throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Guido wants to clinch but Baaden slips to the side

and Baaden counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Baaden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Baaden landing with the ground and pound.
Baaden content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Guido is trying to keep Baaden in close.
Baaden throws and elbow that misses. Guido uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Baaden's guard. Nice move by Guido!
Guido trying to control the position from guard on top but Baaden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baaden looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Guido wants to control from the top but Baaden keeps moving.
Baaden manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Guido can't escape the position.
Baaden landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raian Baaden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raian Baaden's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Guido ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baaden moves away.
A swing and a miss from Guido.
Guido throws a big shot that misses.
Baaden circles away from the clinch attempt

and Baaden counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Guido is not content to let Baaden control the position.
Guido is trying to escape back to his feet but Baaden uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Baaden is putting a hurting on Guido here, landing some big shots from side control.
You can see the frustration on Guido's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Baaden fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baaden cracks Guido with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Baaden throws an elbow but Guido slips to the side and avoids it well.
Baaden trying to control the action but Guido is working from the bottom.
Baaden working the body and head with strikes.
Guido tries to bench press Baaden off him but Baaden keeps the position.
Baaden lands a decent elbow from side control.
Guido struggling a bit here.
You can see the frustration on Guido's face as Baaden controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baaden in side control, throwing shots but Guido defends.
Baaden fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Baaden throwing strikes but Guido manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Baaden is trying to get back to half guard.
Baaden is not content to let Guido control the position.
You can see the frustration on Baaden's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Guido tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guido looks to score with a jab to the body but Baaden is just out of range.
Guido tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Baaden counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Baaden is looking to work some ground and pound but Guido has wrist control.
Baaden throwing strikes but missing.
Guido is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Paulo Guido has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baaden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Guido utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Guido looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Baaden passes into half guard.
Guido wants to get back to full guard.
Raian Baaden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baaden sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Guido is looking to control Baaden's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Guido avoid being mounted?
Baaden missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Baaden is controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raian Baaden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Baaden 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 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raian Baaden!