PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Baz Baldwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rik McRae (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McRae has chosen Slipknot - Before I Forget as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Baldwin
vs
McRae

180 cm
24
190 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

189 cm
23
198 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Baz Baldwin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rik McRae!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Hirohito Nitta and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baldwin misses with a low kick.
Baldwin moves in looking to clinch but McRae pushes him off.
Baldwin thows a leg kick but McRae checks it
and McRae counters with a nice uppercut.
Baldwin misses with a takedown
and McRae cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Baldwin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Baldwin, right into the meat.
Baldwin cracks McRae with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Baldwin tries a head kick but it misses.
Baz Baldwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McRae throws a head kick but Baldwin moves out of range.
McRae throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Baldwin misses with a leg kick
and McRae counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRae comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Baldwin is looking to score with low kicks.
A lazy body kick from Baldwin
and McRae counters with a lovely shot to the body.
McRae misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Baldwin counters with a nice body kick.
A jab from McRae does it's job there.
McRae throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Baldwin.

It looks like Baz Baldwin has been cut.
Baldwin lands a head shot.
McRae takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Baldwin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McRae checks a low kick from Baldwin.
Baldwin tries to land a body kick
and McRae counters with a lovely straight right hand!
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!
McRae checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
McRae misses with a head kick.
McRae thows a left - swing and a miss!
McRae misses with a hook to the body
and Baldwin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Baldwin gets off balance looking for a body kick
and McRae counters with a right hand to the body.
Baldwin takes a swing at McRae's ribcage but misses.
McRae pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baldwin misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin throws a leg kick that is checked
and McRae counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McRae has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
McRae misses with a lunging right hand
and Baldwin counters with a nice kick to the body.
Baldwin throws a head kick that misses
and McRae counters with a head kick. That will keep Baldwin thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Baldwin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Baldwin darts in trying to clinch
and McRae counters with a stiff right hand.
McRae fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baldwin manages to avoid it.
McRae's jab looks to have found its range, popping Baldwin under the eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Baldwin tries a head kick but it misses.
McRae takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
McRae chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Baldwin can pounce on him.
A head kick by McRae misses

and Baldwin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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.
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!
McRae is pulling down on Baldwin's head. It's preventing any offense from Baldwin, at least for the moment.
McRae manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baldwin manages to get himself to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McRae looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rik McRae dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Baz Baldwin's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McRae throws out a loose jab but Baldwin uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Baldwin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Baldwin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McRae.
Baldwin lands with a hook. McRae tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
McRae throws an off balance right hand
and Baldwin counters with a nice low kick that buckles McRae's knee momentarily.
McRae moves out of range as Baldwin strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baldwin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baldwin doesn't manage to clinch there - McRae circles away.
An inside leg kick lands from Baldwin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRae misses with a head kick.
Baldwin throws a body kick the misses

and McRae counters with a single leg into guard. Baldwin didn't expect that.
McRae trying to move into half guard but instead Baldwin has managed to sweep!
McRae is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Baldwin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
McRae looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baldwin is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin trying to control but McRae is working from the bottom.
Baldwin wants to pass the guard but McRae is keeping the position.
Baldwin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
McRae working a defensive guard here.
Baldwin preventing the sweep.
McRae throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Baldwin wants to pass the guard but McRae is keeping the position.
McRae wants to hit a switch here but Baldwin passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for McRae there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McRae is looking to get to half guard.
McRae sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
McRae is looking to get back to full guard here but Baldwin has managed to pass to side control instead.
McRae tries to improve position but can't.
McRae is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

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.
McRae sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
McRae tries to roll over but Baldwin keeps him under control.
McRae moves into full guard.
Baldwin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed McRae's guard.
McRae tries to get to full guard but Baldwin has control of the leg.
McRae is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Baldwin jumps into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rik McRae will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Baz Baldwin's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Baldwin is looking to clinch but McRae is avoiding it.

McRae closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Baldwin did well to prevent McRae getting side control.

McRae seems to be working for a kimura but Baldwin defends the submission attempt.
McRae content to control rather than advance.
McRae working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Baldwin's thigh. Baldwin counters though and makes it back to full guard.
McRae pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baldwin is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McRae wants to control from the top but Baldwin keeps moving.
McRae passes Baldwin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

McRae is looking for a kimura here.
McRae works his way into full mount!

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.

McRae moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Baldwin has worked his arm free - good work by Baldwin!
Baz Baldwin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

McRae tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McRae has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

McRae working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McRae wants to control for a moment but Baldwin uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

McRae looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Baldwin is in trouble now - McRae has advanced to mount!
Rik McRae is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Baldwin prevents McRae from taking his back.
Baldwin can't escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
BOOM! McRae connects with a massive shot to the dome!

McRae goes for an armbar but Baldwin turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Baldwin.
McRae looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rik McRae comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McRae 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rik McRae!