PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Danny Napper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matteo Baccini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Napper comes to the cage accompanied by FCB- Fight Gear. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Napper
vs
Baccini

190 cm
25
184 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Prefers standup

Nutrition Oracle
Nutrition Oracle

Full Contact Brawlers Fight Gear

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Danny Napper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matteo Baccini!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baccini misses the shot to the body.
Baccini tries to clinch

and Napper counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Napper.

Baccini is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Napper has Baccini pressed against the cage, preventing Baccini from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A frustrated look appears on Baccini's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Baccini's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Baccini breaks the clinch.

Napper feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Napper showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Napper trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Napper won't allow Baccini to get back to his feet.
Baccini keeping full guard, as Napper tries to pass.
Napper trying to control but Baccini is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Napper accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Napper in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Napper has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Napper has gone for a leg lock! Baccini slips out almost immediately though and dives into Napper's guard.

Napper is working an open guard so Baccini takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Napper drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Napper trying to control the action but Baccini is working from the bottom.

Napper thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Napper tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baccini wants to get back to his feet but Napper drags him back down.
Napper working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Napper trying to control the position but Baccini is working away.
Baccini is looking to get back to his feet here but Napper is keeping cool and he's managed to take Baccini's back.

Napper patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Napper tries to get the hooks in deep but Baccini pushed the leg off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baccini trying to get back to his feet but Napper is in full control for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Napper slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Napper punches the canvas rather than the man.

Napper looking to break Baccini's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Baccini remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Napper will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Baccini controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Napper is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Baccini is defending well though. Napper let's go of the attempt for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Napper struggling to land strikes to the head as Baccini covers up.

Napper working for the choke.

Napper is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Baccini is defending well though. Napper let's go of the attempt for now.

Napper is persistently looking for the submission but Baccini is defending it well.
Baccini looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Napper dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Napper uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Baccini.
Napper shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Baccini defends it nicely.

Baccini gets caught flat footed, as Napper shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Baccini wants to stand up but Napper is controlling him.
Napper wants to control from the top but Baccini keeps moving.
Baccini is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Napper trying to control the position from guard on top but Baccini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because Danny Napper wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Baccini motions for Napper to come forward. Baccini throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matteo Baccini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Baccini clinches up against the cage.
Napper has Baccini pressed against the cage, preventing Baccini from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Napper has Baccini pressed against the cage, preventing Baccini from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Baccini wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Napper has him pressed against the cage.

Napper lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Napper is looking to take a break and control but Baccini is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Baccini has one foot on Napper's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
A slow jab from Napper misses its intended target.
Baccini misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baccini pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Baccini. Napper does a little dance to reset his feet.

Napper changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Baccini looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Danny Napper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Napper is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Baccini has escaped the position, nice work there.
Baccini tries to escape but Napper is in control.

Napper thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
An elbow from Napper crashes against the mat.

Baccini throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Baccini gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Baccini stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Napper looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Baccini!

Napper working for a submission but Baccini is keeping him at bay.
Baccini is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Baccini is breathing heavily.
Napper misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Napper thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Napper working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Napper takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Napper working for a submission but Baccini is keeping him at bay.
Baccini is trying to stand.

Napper is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Baccini has managed to escape the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Napper dominated that second round.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Baccini pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Napper keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Baccini closes the distance but Napper moves to the side

and Napper counters with a takedown into side control.

Napper tries for a kimura but Baccini is defending well.

Napper is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Baccini has escaped the position, nice work there.
Napper in side control, throwing shots but Baccini defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baccini is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Napper is controlling him well.

Napper tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Napper has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Napper in side control, throwing shots but Baccini defends.
Baccini is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Napper asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Napper creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Baccini sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Napper is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Baccini has escaped the position, nice work there.
Baccini wants to get back to his feet but Napper drags him back down.
Baccini takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Baccini is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Napper is trying to get an arm triangle but Baccini is defending well.
Baccini is trying to escape the position but Napper is controlling the position.
Baccini wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Napper tries for a kimura but Baccini is defending well.

Napper looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Napper tries to score with some ground and pound. Baccini controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Napper is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Baccini has escaped the position, nice work there.
Napper sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Baccini is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Napper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baccini keeps working.
A lull in the action here as Napper stalls from top position.
Baccini is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Napper is controlling him well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Napper tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Baccini explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Napper showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Napper, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Napper!