PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gregg Baby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavel Nastula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Baby
vs
Nastula

195 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
233 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gregg Baby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pavel Nastula!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nastula ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baby moves away.
Baby scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Pavel Nastula has been cut.
Nastula misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baby throws a head kick but Nastula moves out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Baby enables Nastula to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Baby manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
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!

Nastula avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Baby uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Nastula dives in and grabs Baby's left leg, looking for a takedown. Baby pushes down on Nastula's head and hops out.
Baby avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Baby moves into the clinch.
Nastula wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Baby jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baby striking off his back but it's not causing Nastula any problems.
Baby is pulling down on Nastula's head to control his posture.
Nastula wants to control from the top but Baby keeps moving.
Baby wants to sweep but no luck.
Baby will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nastula trying to control but Baby is working from the bottom.
Baby knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nastula on the ground.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Pavel Nastula hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
No joy there for Baby, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Baby throws a leg kick but Nastula sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nastula tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Baby manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nastula fails in his attempt to clinch.

Baby clinches.
Nastula wants a takedown.
Nastula jumps guard but Baby stands there with Nastula around his waist. Nastula gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gregg Baby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pavel Nastula.

Baby pulls guard successfully.
Baby wants to get back to his feet but Nastula is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Baby is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nastula is aware though and is defending well.
Baby looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Baby has his foot on Nastula's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nastula works his way back into a safe position though.
Baby pulls Nastula in to control the position.
Baby is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nastula would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Baby keeping full guard, as Nastula tries to pass.
Baby wants to get back to his feet but Nastula is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Baby is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Nastula won't allow Baby to sweep him here.

Gregg Baby has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nastula is looking to clinch but Baby is avoiding it.
Nastula closes this distance looking for a takedown but Baby circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baby's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nastula under the eye.

Baby rushes Nastula and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Baby is trying to push Nastula away but Nastula has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A frustrated look appears on Baby's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Baby can't get the takedown.
Nastula tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Baby smiles and moves away.

Baby pushes Nastula up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Baby manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Baby seems keen to control Nastula's posture.
Nastula trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregg Baby dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pavel Nastula's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Baby shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nastula but Nastula pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baby fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Baby tries a head kick but it misses.
Baby tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nastula swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gregg Baby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baby fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baby uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nastula.

Baby has closed the distance and engaged Nastula in a clinch.
Baby is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nastula looking to slow down the pace here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Nastula turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nastula displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Baby.

Nastula closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Baby's guard.
Baby can't keep his opponent in guard - Nastula advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nastula passes to side control.
Baby wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Nastula stands up and beckons Baby to his feet.
Nastula is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baby shoots in and drives through. Nastula sprawls well.
Nastula throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Baby keeps the fight on the outside.
Baby fails to land with a series of punches.
Nastula misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
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!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Baby decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baby throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Baby is controlling Nastula's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baby is looking to stand up but Nastula isn't so interested in that idea.

Baby looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Nastula has picked Baby up and slammed him! Baby can't keep hold of the triangle and Nastula manages to pass to side control!
Baby tries to bench press Nastula off him but Nastula keeps the position.

Nastula thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Baby's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nastula decides to stand back up.
Baby shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Nastula eats them both and turns towards Baby to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Baby scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nastula tries to close the distance and clinch but Baby swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gregg Baby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nastula keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baby lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Baby throws a right and a left that Nastula avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nastula instigates a clinch.
Nastula tries to stall but Baby uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Baby breaks the clinch.
Baby misses with the combination.
Nastula darts in trying to clinch
and Baby counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Baby tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nastula swivels and escapes.
Horrible takedown by Nastula or perhaps it was just good defense by Baby which made him look bad.
Gregg Baby is winning the standup battle so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baby leaves Nastula with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Baby throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baby avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Baby misses with a head kick.
Nastula dodges the punch combination from Baby.
Nastula throws a head kick but Baby moves out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Baby.
Nastula closes the distance and clinches up with Baby, looking for a takedown. Nastula pushes Baby against the cage but Baby circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gregg Baby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pavel Nastula.
Horrible takedown by Baby or perhaps it was just good defense by Nastula which made him look bad.
Baby keeps the fight on the outside.
Baby lands a right hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nastula has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Baby keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A right-left combo lands from Baby.
Nastula misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baby shoots in for a takedown but Nastula shows good takedown defense.
Nastula fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Baby closes the distance and clinches.
Nastula dodges an elbow strike from Baby.

Baby's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Baby throws a half hearted mid kick.
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!
Baby fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baby fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nastula is trying hard to land a takedown here. Baby sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Baby stalks Nastula and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nastula's face. Nastula staggers backwards, shaken.

Nastula moves into range and clinches up with Baby.
Baby throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nastula fails to pull guard.

Baby successfully pulls guard.
Nastula is looking to stand up but Baby won't let him.

Nastula avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nastula stops Baby from standing up.

Nastula stands up from Baby's guard - Nastula perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nastula tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Nastula takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Baby looks for a takedown but Nastula sprawls well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horrible takedown by Baby or perhaps it was just good defense by Nastula which made him look bad.

Nastula feints and as Baby raises his hands in defense, Nastula changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gregg Baby.
I think Baby 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gregg Baby!