PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Candler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Bakers (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.

Candler
vs
Bakers

180 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Candler !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Bakers!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, John Mangel and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Candler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Candler has his takedown stuffed
and Bakers counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Candler is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A head kick from Bakers lands but Candler takes it in his stride.

Bakers gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bakers lands a nice elbow.
Candler goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bakers prevents it.
Candler can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Candler . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bakers scores a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Bakers.
Bakers with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bakers lands an elbow inside.
Bakers lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Candler is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bakers is defending well.
Bakers is pressed up against the cage. Candler has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bakers down to the mat. Bakers avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Candler doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Bakers holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bakers using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bakers connects with a knee to the head.
Candler is working for takedown but Bakers is calmly controlling the position for now.
Candler is breathing heavily.
Candler takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Candler takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bakers landing knees to the body.
Bakers gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Candler .
Bakers trying to control the position but instead, Candler has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bakers into the cage.
Bakers connects with a nasty looking knee right to Candler 's face.
Bakers lands an elbow just above Candler 's eye.
Bakers is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Bakers lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Bakers gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Candler is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bakers is defending well.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bakers.
Bakers working Candler over with knees to the body.
Bakers lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bakers utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Bakers stops a takedown attempt from Candler .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Candler is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bakers pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nice elbow from Bakers.
Bakers lands a good knee to the midsection. Candler won't want to take too many of those.
Bakers lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Bakers lands a nice elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bakers connects with a knee to the head.
Bakers utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Candler drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bakers gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bakers.
Bakers with a knee to the head.
Candler takes a knee to the side of the body.
Candler has Bakers pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bakers manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bakers lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Bakers lands a good knee to the midsection. Candler won't want to take too many of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Candler has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bakers avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bakers unloads a knee to the mid-section. Candler lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bakers lands an elbow inside.
Candler looking for a takedown.
Bakers will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Candler up against the cage.
Bakers gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Bakers is looking to control Candler 's arms but Candler gets an underhook and turns him. Now Bakers has his back to the cage.
Bakers lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bakers wants to stall.
Candler tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bakers is pressed up against the cage. Candler has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bakers down to the mat. Bakers avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bakers lands a high kick!
Bakers connects with a high kick.

Candler gets tackled into the cage by Bakers. Bakers maintains the clinch.
Candler is working for takedown but Bakers is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakers taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Candler tries for a takedown but Bakers manages to get underhooks.
Candler takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bakers using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bakers creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Candler 's defenses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bakers.
Bakers holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Bakers lands a damaging elbow.
Bakers gets underhooks to prevent Candler 's takedown attempt.
Candler tries for a takedown. No joy.
Candler wants a takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bakers with a knee to the head.
Bakers lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Bakers lands a damaging elbow.
Bakers lands a nice elbow.
Bakers gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Bakers dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bakers throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Candler 's head.

Bakers closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bakers lands a nice elbow.
Candler is looking to take this one to the mat.
Candler takes an elbow to the temple.
Bakers trying to stall but Candler improves his position.
Candler is looking for a takedown.
Bakers stalling in the clinch but Candler improves position.
Candler takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bakers prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Candler . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Candler looking for a takedown.
Bakers gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Bakers lands an elbow that stopped Candler in his tracks for a moment.
A bit of stalling here from Bakers.
Bakers putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Candler in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Candler takes an elbow to the temple.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bakers lands an elbow just above Candler 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Candler wants a takedown but no success here.
Candler is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bakers is defending well.
Candler takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bakers lands a knee to the body.
Bakers lands a left hand that snaps the head of Candler backwards.
Bakers lands an elbow inside that Candler shrugs off.
Candler drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bakers utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Bakers connects with a nasty looking knee right to Candler 's face.
Nice elbow from Bakers.
Candler is working for takedown but Bakers is calmly controlling the position for now.
Candler takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bakers comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bakers lands a knee to the head.
Candler changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bakers fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakers lands with a kick to the temple. Candler shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Bakers lands with a kick to the temple. Candler shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Michael Candler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Candler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bakers counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Candler is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Bakers lands a high kick!

Bakers clinches with his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bakers using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Candler is working for takedown but Bakers is calmly controlling the position for now.
Candler changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bakers fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Candler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bakers counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Bakers gets a clinch.
Bakers with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Bakers.
Bakers connects with a nasty looking knee right to Candler 's face.
Bakers throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Candler blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Candler tries for a takedown. No joy.
Candler is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bakers is defending well.
Bakers lands an elbow that stopped Candler in his tracks for a moment.
Bakers is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Candler is looking to take this one to the mat.
Bakers scores with a knee to the head.
Candler tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bakers lands a knee to the head.
Candler has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bakers after a bit of a struggle.
Candler takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bakers looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bakers looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Candler has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bakers after a bit of a struggle.
Bakers stops a takedown attempt from Candler .
Bakers is pushing Candler up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Candler looking for a takedown.
Bakers lands a nice elbow.
Bakers lands a nice knee to the body.
Bakers prevents a takedown attempt there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Candler takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bakers is pressed up against the cage. Candler has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bakers down to the mat. Bakers avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bakers throws a head kick that Candler semi-blocks.
Bakers throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Candler looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Bakers forces Candler back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Bakers 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! And we move into the final round!

Candler shoots for a takedown but Bakers saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bakers lands with a slapping head kick.
Bakers has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Candler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bakers counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Candler is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Candler gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bakers counters with a head kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Candler . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bakers throws a head kick that half lands.

Bakers has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bakers lands a nice elbow.
Bakers displaying some good clinch control by pressing Candler up against the cage.
Bakers lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Bakers.
Bakers scores a nice knee to the body.
Candler is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bakers gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Candler goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bakers prevents it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakers lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Candler tries to score a body lock takedown but Bakers shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bakers comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bakers is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Candler is keeping busy.
Candler tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bakers is trying to maintain a safe position but Candler gets an underhook and turns Bakers into the cage.
Candler being controlled against the cage.
Nice elbow from Bakers.
Nice elbow from Bakers.
Candler is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bakers is defending well.
Candler has Bakers pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bakers manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bakers.
Bakers lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakers lands a nice elbow.
Bakers lands an elbow that stopped Candler in his tracks for a moment.
Candler goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bakers prevents it.
Bakers lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Bakers.
The referee calls for Bakers to work.
Bakers lands an elbow inside.
Bakers unloads a knee to the mid-section. Candler lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Candler is trying to drag Bakers to the mat but Bakers just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Bakers landing knees to the head.
Bakers working Candler over with knees to the body.
Alex Bakers seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bakers prevents a takedown attempt there.
Candler takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakers landing knees to the body.
Bakers gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Bakers creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Candler 's defenses.
Candler has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bakers is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Candler wants a takedown.
Candler is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bakers pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bakers lands an elbow that stopped Candler in his tracks for a moment.
Candler takes an elbow to the temple.
Knees in the clinch landing for Bakers.
Bakers lands a damaging elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bakers.
Bakers with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Candler tries for a takedown. No joy.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bakers.
Bakers gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Candler is trying to drag Bakers to the mat but Bakers just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Bakers comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bakers stalls.
Bakers is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bakers.
A knee to the head by Bakers.
Bakers looking to slow down the pace here.
Candler goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bakers prevents it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bakers comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Michael Candler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alex Bakers is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Candler digs a right hand into Bakers's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Bakers's gas tank.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Bakers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bakers 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Bakers!
Alex Bakers seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.