PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Emmanuel Baptiste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baz Baldwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baptiste
vs
Baldwin

185 cm
25
195 lbs
12 - 6 - 1

180 cm
23
190 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emmanuel Baptiste!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Baz Baldwin!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baptiste fails to land the takedown.
Baptiste misses the shot to the body.
Baldwin lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Baptiste is looking to clinch.
Emmanuel Baptiste seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Baldwin as Baptiste shoots in.
Baldwin does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Baldwin misses the jab.
Baldwin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice cross by Baptiste.

Baptiste closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Baptiste lands in his opponent's guard.

Baptiste drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Baldwin dives on top into guard.

Baptiste looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Baldwin passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baptiste looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Baptiste looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Baldwin is thwarting Baptiste's attempts to control the position.

Baptiste looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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.
Baptiste is staying active underneath Baldwin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Baptiste works his way to full guard. Good work.
Baptiste tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Baldwin is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Baptiste throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin preventing the sweep.

Baptiste throws his legs up looking for a submission but Baldwin uses it to pass to side control.
Baptiste tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Baptiste is trying to escape the position but Baldwin is controlling the position.
Baptiste is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Baldwin happy to just control the position for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Baldwin is looking to take a break and control but Baptiste is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baptiste is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Baptiste has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Baldwin is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Baz Baldwin will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Some bone on bone action there as Baptiste checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Baldwin swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Baptiste takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Baptiste tries to clinch but Baldwin moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Baptiste.
Baldwin throws a looping overhand right but Baptiste ducks down to avoid it.
Baptiste avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Baldwin throws a jab but it's blocked by Baptiste.
Baptiste lands a two punch combo.
Baldwin throws a series of punches but Baptiste moves out of range.
Baptiste shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Baldwin defending well as Baptiste loads up on a big left hand.
Baldwin works over Baptiste's head and body with a nice combination.

Baldwin instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptiste managing to block the knees to the body from Baldwin.
Baptiste fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emmanuel Baptiste. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baldwin works on Baptiste's body with a couple of short punches.
Baldwin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Baldwin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Baptiste.
Baldwin misses with a knee to the head.
Baldwin prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Baldwin.
Baptiste tries to score a body lock takedown but Baldwin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Baldwin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Baptiste.
Baptiste tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Baldwin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Baptiste tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Baldwin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Baptiste avoiding damage as Baldwin throws knees to the body.
Baptiste managing to block the knees to the body from Baldwin.
Baldwin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Baptiste blocks it with crossed arms.
Baptiste avoiding damage as Baldwin throws knees to the body.
Baptiste tries to score a body lock takedown but Baldwin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Baptiste lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Baptiste is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Baptiste is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Baldwin has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin wants to control but Baptiste is keeping busy.
Baptiste moves nicely into side control.
Baldwin can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste laying and praying for a moment but Baldwin takes advantage and regains half guard.
Baptiste with the ground and pound but Baldwin uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Baptiste has gone for a leg lock! Baldwin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Baptiste's guard.
Baldwin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Baptiste wants to sweep here but Baldwin controlling him for the moment.

That's four 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.

Baptiste is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Baptiste has his foot on Baldwin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Baldwin works his way back into a safe position though.
Baptiste trying to keep a closed guard but Baldwin is proving a slippery customer.
Baptiste wants to improve his position but instead Baldwin has moved into half guard.
Baptiste works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baz Baldwin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A thudding body kick lands there by Baldwin!
A telegraphed right hand from Baptiste misses the target.
Baptiste looks to land a left hand but Baldwin moved out of range nicely.

Baldwin closes the distance and clinches.
Baptiste on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Baptiste changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Baldwin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Baldwin is looking to score with low kicks.
Baptiste lands a jab-cross combination.
Baptiste keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Baptiste checks the leg kick nicely there.
Baptiste lands a jab to Baldwin's midsection.
Baldwin swats away the attempt to clinch by Baptiste.
Baldwin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Baldwin counters with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptiste takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Baldwin loads up on a big right hand but Baptiste slips the punch.
Baldwin is looking to score with low kicks.
Baldwin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Baldwin.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Baptiste.
Baptiste misses with a wild body shot.
Baptiste checks a low kick from Baldwin.
An inside leg kick from Baldwin misses.
The fighters circling - Baldwin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Baptiste tries for a takedown but Baldwin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emmanuel Baptiste. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baptiste shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Baldwin counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Baldwin.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baldwin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Baldwin misses with a double jab.
Baptiste throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Baldwin defending well as Baptiste loads up on a big left hand.
Baldwin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Baz Baldwin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baldwin scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Baptiste fails with the takedown
and Baldwin counters with a thumping low kick.
Baldwin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Baptiste swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Baldwin makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Baptiste really felt that one!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baptiste misses with a takedown

and Baldwin counters by clinching up.
Baldwin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Baptiste in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Baldwin tries to land knees in the clinch but Baptiste avoids the damage to the body.
Baldwin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Baptiste is defending well for now.
Baldwin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Baptiste avoids it.
Baldwin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Baptiste is defending well for now.
Baldwin missing with knees to the body.
Baldwin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Baldwin crunches a lovely knee into Baptiste's ribcage.
Baldwin trying to land knees to the body.
Baldwin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Baptiste avoiding damage as Baldwin throws knees to the body.
Baptiste takes a knee right on the jaw!
Baldwin is working Baptiste over against the cage.
Baldwin tries to land knees in the clinch but Baptiste avoids the damage to the body.
Baptiste is trying to break the clinch but Baldwin is controlling him.
Baptiste blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Baptiste goes for a takedown attempt but Baldwin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Baldwin scores with a nice strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Baptiste shoots and misses
and Baldwin counters with a stiff right hand.
Emmanuel Baptiste has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baldwin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Baptiste throws out the jab.
Baptiste throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Baldwin forces Baptiste back against the cage and clinches.
Baldwin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Baptiste.
Baldwin lands a nice knee to the body.
Baldwin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Baptiste in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Baldwin has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Baptiste regains guard immediately.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Baldwin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baptiste can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Baldwin controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Baz Baldwin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Baldwin 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Baz Baldwin!
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Baz Baldwin!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Baz Baldwin!

Baz Baldwin wins by unanimous decision!