PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carl Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Baldwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Romero
vs
Baldwin

186 cm
26
220 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
24
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Carl Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brandon Baldwin!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero tests Baldwin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Romero throws a combination that misses

and Baldwin counters with a takedown into side control.
Baldwin is putting a hurting on Romero here, landing some big shots from side control.

Baldwin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Romero is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Romero can't do much from the bottom here.
Baldwin cracks Romero with a big right hand but Romero just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baldwin cracks Romero with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Baldwin staying calm.
Romero wants to get back to his feet.
Romero prevents Baldwin from moving into mount.
You can see the frustration on Romero's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Baldwin tries to advance to mount but Romero denies him.
Baldwin fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baldwin creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Romero can't do much from the bottom here.
Romero is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Baldwin is controlling him well.
Baldwin wants to control but Romero is keeping him busy.
Romero takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Romero can't do much from the bottom here.
Romero is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Baldwin tries to move to mount but Romero blocks the move with his legs.
Baldwin trying to control the position but Romero is working away.
Baldwin tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Baldwin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Baldwin looks gassed!

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.
Romero takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Baldwin taking a breather here.
Romero sneaks back into half guard.
Baldwin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Romero wants to get back to full guard.
Romero trying to control here.

Romero actively working from the bottom here.
Romero wants to control but Baldwin is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baldwin moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Romero.
Romero wants to get back to his feet.
Romero can't do much from the bottom here.
Baldwin in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Romero is trying to control Baldwin's posture but Baldwin avoids it.

Baldwin tries for a kimura but Romero is defending well.
Romero is pushing Baldwin's head away, looking to escape. Baldwin manages to hold on to the position though.
Baldwin in side control, throwing shots but Romero defends.
Baldwin tries to advance to mount but Romero denies him.
You can see the frustration on Romero's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Romero tries to bench press Baldwin off him but Baldwin keeps the position.
Romero is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Romero struggling a bit here.
Romero wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Baldwin tries to score with some ground and pound. Romero controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Baldwin has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Romero!
Romero tries to hold on but Baldwin postures up.
Baldwin with shots to the head and body - Romero looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Baldwin dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Romero lands the left hand.
A punch combination from Romero misses.
Romero misses with the combination.
Baldwin dodges the punch combination from Romero.
Romero throws a combination that misses

and Baldwin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Romero won't be happy with that.

Baldwin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Romero has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ground and pound from Baldwin seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Baldwin trying to control the position but Romero is working away.
Baldwin tries to move into full mount but can't pass Romero's legs.

Baldwin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Romero can't do much from the bottom here.
Baldwin is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero is trying to get back to his feet.

Baldwin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Baldwin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Romero pushes Baldwin away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Baldwin gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Romero's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
An elbow from Baldwin crashes against the mat.
Romero wants to get back to his feet but Baldwin drags him back down.
Romero struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Baldwin tries to advance to mount but can't.
Romero takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Romero is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Romero trying to control here.
Romero is trying to stand back up but Baldwin is controlling him

Romero actively working from the bottom here.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Romero wants to get back to his feet.
Baldwin moves into full mount! Romero won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero wants to control but Baldwin is having none of it.
Baldwin looking to finish Romero with some ground and pound. This is bad for Romero!
Romero regains half guard.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Romero looks like he's trying to stand up.
Romero won't allow Baldwin to pass to mount.

Romero looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Baldwin is thwarting Romero's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin working Romero over with strikes.
Baldwin wants to pass the guard but Romero is defending well.

Romero is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Baldwin pulls his head out easily.
Romero makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Romero.

Romero is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Baldwin is aware though and is defending well.
Baldwin throws a big right hand that misses.
Baldwin looking to pass the guard.
Romero utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Baldwin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Romero connects with a right hand. Baldwin shakes it off.
Baldwin feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Romero's calf.
Romero takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Romero throws a nice looking combination but Baldwin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Romero throws a shot to the body.

Baldwin forces Romero back against the cage and clinches.
Baldwin pushes off an throws an elbow but Romero leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Baldwin has picked Romero up - he's going for a ride! Baldwin dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Romero trying to control from the bottom.

Romero is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Baldwin pulls his head out easily.

Romero pushes Baldwin off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Romero throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Romero throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Romero misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Romero moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Nice shot lands for Romero.
Donk. Romero catches Baldwin right on the button with a cross.
Romero tries to bum rush Baldwin with a series of wild strikes but Baldwin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Baldwin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Romero's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Romero gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Romero trying to control here.
Romero tries to roll over but Baldwin keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Romero looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Romero looking for submissions off his back.
Baldwin works his foot free and advances to mount.
Baldwin scoring with strikes but Romero is staying in there.
Romero is trying desperately to improve position.
Baldwin is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Romero tries to hold on but Baldwin pushes him away.
Romero slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin wants to pass the guard but Romero is defending well.
Romero is trying to stand.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Baldwin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Romero with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Baldwin connects with a nice short shot to Romero's temple.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Baldwin is nestled in close to Romero, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Romero wants to control but Baldwin is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Romero keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Baldwin is thwarting Romero's attempts to control the position.

Baldwin seems to be looking for submissions.
Baldwin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Romero wants to get back to his feet.
Baldwin is thwarting Romero's attempts to control the position.
Baldwin is keen to just control but Romero is a slippery customer.
Carl Romero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baldwin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Romero looking for submissions off his back.
Baldwin stops Romero from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brandon Baldwin.
I've got Baldwin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Baldwin!