PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Baron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Card Holder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holder is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Death March. Card Holder is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Baron
vs
Holder

175 cm
22
178 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
170 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Baron!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Card Holder!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Reed Andrews and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baron closes the distance and clinches up with Holder, looking for a takedown. Baron pushes Holder against the cage but Holder circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Holder misses the target.
Holder keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Baron misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Baron. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Holder closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Baron gets back to half guard.
Baron won't allow Holder to pass to mount.
Baron is trying to escape back to his feet but Holder uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The referee asks Holder politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Holder prefers to stall for the moment though.
Holder has control of an arm but Baron manages to advance to Holder's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holder covering up well and avoiding damage.

Baron is looking for the choke from the back position but Holder is controlling his hands well.
Holder rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Baron thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Holder keeping control of the position.
Holder avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Baron.
Holder works his way to full guard. Good work.
Holder seems keen to control Baron's posture.

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.
Baron wants to control from the top but Holder keeps moving.
Baron wants to stand but Holder has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Baron won't allow Holder to sweep him here.
Baron wants to control from the top but Holder keeps moving.
Baron is really struggling to control Holder but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holder working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Baron.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baron fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Holder avoids it really well and circles away.
Holder throws an overhand right that lands on Baron's shoulder, as Baron tries to avoid the shot.
Baron uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Holder.
Baron uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Holder.
Holder missing with a left hand there. Baron was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Holder jabs Baron right on the nose. Baron blinks but takes it well.
Baron slips a straight right by Holder.
Baron uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Holder.
Baron wants to clinch.
Baron staying out of range there.
Baron tries to clinch up but Holder circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four 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.
Baron fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baron staying out of range there.
Holder throws a hook but Baron avoids it easily.
Baron displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Holder throws out the jab.
A big left from Holder misses.
Baron staying out of range there.

Holder closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Baron did well to prevent Holder getting side control.
Baron tries to roll over but Holder keeps him under control.

Holder seems to be working for a kimura but Baron defends the submission attempt.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holder tries to stand and escape but Baron is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Card Holder dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Holder takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Holder misses with a looping right.

Holder darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Holder tries to stand but can't do so whilst Baron controls his leg.
Baron gets full guard.
Baron trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Baron had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Holder defends it easily.
Holder 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baron throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Holder is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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.
Holder slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Baron.
Holder is looking to advance position but Baron won't allow it.
Holder controlling the action here.
Baron is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baron trying to control here.
Holder is controlling the pace.
Baron gets back to full guard.
Holder looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Baron is looking for a triangle here but Holder uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Baron tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Holder presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holder looking to ground and pound but Baron is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Card Holder showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Holder misses with a hook.
Baron shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Holder as he avoids it easily.
Holder throws a jab when Baron was well out of range.
Card Holder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holder fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baron manages to avoid it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Holder.
Holder moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Baron is looking for a sweep.
Baron wants to control but Holder postures up.

Holder is trying to get an arm triangle but Baron is defending well.
Holder working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baron looking for a sweep but Holder has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Holder controlling from the full mount.
Baron is desperately trying to improve his position but Holder has a good base and remains in mount.
Baron throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Baron is wriggling around trying to escape.

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.
Holder content just to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Holder working for a submission but Baron is keeping him at bay.
Baron tries to lock up and control but Holder gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baron is desperately trying to improve his position but Holder has a good base and remains in mount.
Holder controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baron is trying to escape the mount.

Holder stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Holder throws a jab but it's blocked by Baron.
Holder ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Baron keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Holder.

Holder changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Baron looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Holder wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Baron, who protects the arm well.
Baron throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baron tries to bench press Holder off him but Holder keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Baron's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Baron's face as Holder controls the position.
Holder looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Baron is avoiding damage well.
Card Holder is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baron is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Baron seems a little lost for a moment, as Holder dominates the positioning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Card Holder comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Holder has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Card Holder!