PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Travis Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baby Shaq (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baby Shaq has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Baker
vs
Shaq

182 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Travis Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Baby Shaq!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker wants to clinch up but Shaq keeps it at a distance.

Shaq rushes Baker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Baker tries for a takedown. No joy.
Shaq stalling.
Baker tries to pull guard but Shaq holds him up against the cage and eventually Baker drops back down to his feet.
The is referee keeping an eye on Shaq - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Baker is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shaq gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Baker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shaq stalling against the cage.
Shaq crunches a lovely knee into Baker's ribcage.
Baker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Baker drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shaq's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Baker goes for a takedown attempt but Shaq pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Baker.
Shaq moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Baker shoots for a double leg takedown but Shaq sprawls well. He's pushed Baker's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shaq's waist but Shaq gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Baker off to one side.

Shaq clinches up against the cage.
Shaq with a knee to the head.
Baker drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Baker fails to pull guard.
Baker is breathing heavily.
Shaq controlling the action here for a moment.
Baker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Shaq lands a knee to the head.

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

Shaq clinches.
Shaq lands a left hand that snaps the head of Baker backwards.
Shaq prevents a takedown attempt there.
Shaq lands a body punch.
Baker tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shaq smiles and moves away.

Shaq moves into the clinch.

Shaq breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Shaq.
Baker shoots for a double leg takedown but Shaq sprawls well. He's pushed Baker's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Shaq gets a clinch.
Shaq controlling the action here for a moment.
Shaq is working Baker over against the cage.
Baker drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shaq gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Shaq scores with a shoulder strike.

Shaq tightens his grip and picks Baker up, before dumping him to the ground. Baker manages to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Baker is working an open guard so Shaq takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Shaq moves into the clinch.
Baker tries for a takedown. No joy.
Baker tries to stall but Shaq uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Baker tries for a takedown. No joy.
Baker is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Baker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Shaq breaks the clinch.

Shaq rushes Baker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Baker jumps guard but Shaq stands there with Baker around his waist. Baker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaq lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Baker or not.

Shaq manages to break the clinch.
Baker misses with a takedown attempt - Shaq sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Travis Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Baker fails with the takedown.

Shaq shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Shaq was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Shaq stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Shaq drives through and clinches with Baker against the cage.
Baker throws an elbow but it misses.

Shaq pulls guard successfully.

Shaq has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Baker off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Baker shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Shaq counters by moving into the clinch.
Baker tries to pull guard but Shaq holds him up against the cage and eventually Baker drops back down to his feet.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Shaq.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Shaq.
Shaq gets underhooks to prevent Baker's takedown attempt.
Shaq taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Baker wants to break the clinch but can't.
Baker tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shaq smiles and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Shaq manages to break the clinch.

Shaq fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baker, pushing him back against the cage.
Baker is trying to break free.
A knee to the head by Shaq.
Shaq landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Baker tries for a takedown but Shaq manages to get underhooks.
Baker tries to pull guard but Shaq holds him up against the cage and eventually Baker drops back down to his feet.
Baker takes a knee right on the jaw!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shaq lands a knee to the head.
Shaq prevents the takedown attempt.
Shaq is stalling here.
Baker has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shaq avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Baker fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Baker is working for takedown but Shaq is calmly controlling the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baby Shaq dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Baker falls off balance throwing a combination

and Shaq holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Shaq is pressed up against the cage. Baker has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shaq down to the mat. Shaq avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Baker shoots in for a takedown but Shaq shows good takedown defense.
Baker tries to clinch but Shaq is having none of it.
Shaq is looking to clinch but Baker is avoiding it.
No luck for Baker with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Baker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shaq gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Shaq will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Baker up against the cage.

Shaq breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Baker tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Shaq decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Baker's guard.
Baker has a closed guard, preventing Shaq from standing up.
Shaq is breathing heavily.
Baker looking to control.
Shaq controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker wants to stand and escape but Shaq is having none of it.
Shaq preventing the sweep.

Baker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shaq gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shaq wants to stand but Baker is controlling his posture from full guard.
Baker wants to sweep here but Shaq controlling him for the moment.
Baker will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Shaq wanted to stand there but Baker had control of the position.
Baker is trying to control the position but Shaq postures up.
Shaq is looking to advance position but Baker has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Shaq holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Baker tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaq keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Shaq really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Baker won't let Shaq get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Baker sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Shaq is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Shaq is squirming around, avoiding Baker's attempts to control the action.
Shaq is looking to improve his position but Baker isn't that keen on the idea.
Shaq just holding on.
Shaq is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaq is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Baker is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Shaq has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Shaq slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Shaq is looking for a sweep. Baker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Baker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shaq's head.

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.
Baker wants to pass to mount but Shaq is defending the position.
Shaq blocking the ground and pound attempt from Baker.
Baker is tying to control. Shaq wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Baker wants to pass the guard but Shaq is defending well.
Shaq is looking for a sweep. Baker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Baker misses with a takedown attempt

and Shaq counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Baker is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Baker pushes a forearm under Shaq's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Shaq is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Travis Baker!