PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Eccleston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romario Baixinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Eccleston
vs
Baixinho

186 cm
20
250 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

199 cm
23
262 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Christopher Eccleston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Romario Baixinho!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Mauricio Rocha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Eccleston shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Baixinho's guard.
Eccleston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Eccleston might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Eccleston with a flurry of punches that miss.
Eccleston throws a big right hand that misses.
Baixinho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Eccleston loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Baixinho can do anything to dispel that myth.
Eccleston throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Baixinho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Eccleston wants to pass the guard but Baixinho is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eccleston loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baixinho stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Baixinho wants it to stay on the feet.
Baixinho tries to close the distance and clinch but Eccleston swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Baixinho as Eccleston shoots in.
Eccleston lands with a good body shot.

Eccleston shoots in and bounces Baixinho off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Eccleston throwing strikes from guard but Baixinho blocks nicely.
Baixinho keeping full guard, as Eccleston tries to pass.
Baixinho keeping moving, preventing Eccleston from controlling successfully.
Baixinho working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Eccleston.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baixinho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Eccleston cracks Baixinho with a solid left hand.
Eccleston wants to control from the top but Baixinho keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Baixinho tries to clinch but Eccleston is having none of it.

Baixinho gets a clinch.
Baixinho lands with a light punch inside.
Baixinho throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ecclestons head.
Eccleston tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christopher Eccleston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baixinho fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Eccleston wants a takedown.
Baixinho lands with a left to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baixinho lands a hook to the side of the head.
Baixinho lands with a short shot to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Baixinho.
Eccleston is breathing heavily.
Baixinho lands a left hand.
Baixinho lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Eccleston drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Baixinho gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Eccleston changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Baixinho fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Baixinho fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baixinho doesn't manage to clinch there - Eccleston circles away.

Eccleston shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Baixinho's guard.
Eccleston won't allow Baixinho to get back to his feet.
Eccleston trying to control the position from guard on top but Baixinho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eccleston missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Baixinho is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Eccleston is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eccleston with a flurry of punches that miss.
Baixinho is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Eccleston is controlling him.
Eccleston working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Eccleston trying to control the position from guard on top but Baixinho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eccleston 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Baixinho as Eccleston shoots in.

Eccleston fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Baixinho sprawls well initially but Eccleston persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Eccleston missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Christopher Eccleston will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Baixinho uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Eccleston.
Baixinho is looking to clinch but Eccleston is avoiding it.
Baixinho wants to clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Eccleston.
Baixinho pushes Eccleston away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Eccleston gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Eccleston throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Baixinho defending against the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eccleston fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Baixinho parries the strikes from Eccleston easily there. Eccleston is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Baixinho to escape.
Eccleston working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eccleston looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Baixinho is avoiding damage well.
Eccleston fails to land a wild elbow strike.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice sprawl there from Baixinho as Eccleston shoots in.
Eccleston shoots in for a double leg but Baixinho sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Baixinho tries to clinch up.
Baixinho tries to close the distance and clinch up but Eccleston swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Eccleston scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Eccleston throwing shots but Baixinho is blocking nicely.
Eccleston missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Eccleston throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Eccleston throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eccleston not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Eccleston is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Eccleston not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Eccleston not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Baixinho is looking to clinch but Eccleston is avoiding it.

Eccleston shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Baixinho napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Eccleston tries to score with some ground and pound. Baixinho controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Baixinho parries the strikes from Eccleston easily there. Eccleston is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Baixinho to escape.
Eccleston looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Baixinho is avoiding damage well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eccleston tries to score with some ground and pound. Baixinho controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Baixinho dodges the ground and pound from Eccleston.
Eccleston tries to score with some ground and pound. Baixinho controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
An elbow from Eccleston crashes against the mat.
Baixinho on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Eccleston trying to control the position but Baixinho is working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Eccleston looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Baixinho!
Eccleston throws some wild stikes that Baixinho manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eccleston throwing strikes here but Baixinho is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Eccleston misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Eccleston throws some wild stikes that Baixinho manages to avoid easily.
Eccleston throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Eccleston is landing with some decent strikes but Baixinho is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You get the feeling that Baixinho really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Baixinho is breathing heavily.
Eccleston looking to ground and pound but Baixinho is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Eccleston dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Baixinho moves in looking to clinch but Eccleston pushes him off.
Baixinho tries to clinch there but Eccleston circles away.
Eccleston shoots in and drives through. Baixinho sprawls well.

Baixinho has Eccleston up against the cage in a clinch.
Baixinho fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Eccleston looking for a takedown.
Baixinho swings wildly with an uppercut but Eccleston uses good head movement to avoid it.
Baixinho lands with a right to the head.
Eccleston is trying to break the clinch but Baixinho has him pressed against the cage.
Baixinho throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ecclestons head.
Baixinho lands with a right to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Baixinho creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Eccleston tries to score a body lock takedown but Baixinho shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christopher Eccleston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baixinho lands with a left to the head.
Baixinho throws a head punch that misses.
Baixinho gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Eccleston.
A shot in the inside from Baixinho.
Baixinho makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baixinho makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Baixinho lands a right hand that snaps the head of Eccleston backwards.
Baixinho lands with a short shot to the head.
Baixinho is pressed up against the cage. Eccleston has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Baixinho down to the mat. Baixinho avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Baixinho is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Baixinho tries to clinch there but Eccleston circles away.
Baixinho tries to clinch there but Eccleston circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baixinho tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Eccleston paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baixinho tries to clinch there but Eccleston circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baixinho looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Eccleston shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Baixinho clinches up with Eccleston and pushes him back against the cage.
Baixinho lands a right hand that snaps the head of Eccleston backwards.
Baixinho pushes Eccleston back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Baixinho scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Baixinho lands a left hand that snaps the head of Eccleston backwards.
Eccleston goes for a takedown attempt but Baixinho pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Baixinho tries to clinch there but Eccleston circles away.
Baixinho is looking to clinch but Eccleston is avoiding it.
Baixinho tries to clinch but Eccleston is having none of it.
Baixinho is looking to clinch but Eccleston is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baixinho looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Eccleston throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Baixinho tries to clinch but Eccleston moves out of range.

Eccleston drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Baixinho keeping moving, preventing Eccleston from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baixinho wants to stand but Eccleston is controlling the position.
Baixinho is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Baixinho keeping moving, preventing Eccleston from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Eccleston accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baixinho preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Eccleston is stalling in the full guard.
Eccleston throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Baixinho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Romario Baixinho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Christopher Eccleston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Eccleston misses with a body shot.
Romario Baixinho is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Eccleston is defended easily by Baixinho.
Baixinho tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Eccleston paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baixinho tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Baixinho wants to clinch up but Eccleston keeps it at a distance.

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.
Eccleston misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Baixinho gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Eccleston is looking to work some ground and pound but Baixinho has wrist control.
Eccleston throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Baixinho utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Eccleston with a flurry of punches that miss.
Eccleston throwing strikes from guard but Baixinho blocks nicely.
Eccleston connects with a couple of short punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Romario Baixinho comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Eccleston 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Christopher Eccleston!