PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Baine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nawal Chekhemani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baine's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Show Goes On. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Baine
vs
Chekhemani

192 cm
26
195 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

170 cm
20
195 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matthew Baine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nawal Chekhemani!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Chad Campbell and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chekhemani fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baine throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Chekhemani misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Baine dives in and grabs Chekhemani's left leg, looking for a takedown. Chekhemani pushes down on Baine's head and hops out.
A punch combination from Chekhemani misses.
Baine throws the kick towards the body but Chekhemani avoids it.

Chekhemani gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Chekhemani is pressed up against the cage. Baine has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Chekhemani down to the mat. Chekhemani avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Chekhemani lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baine circles away quickly and effectively.
No joy there for Chekhemani, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Baine showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Chekhemani.
Sloppy strikes from Chekhemani. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chekhemani throws a nice looking combination but Baine bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Chekhemani throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Baine.
Baine shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Baine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baine on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Chekhemani. Chekhemani obviously looking to wear him down.
Chekhemani fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Chekhemani tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Baine manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Chekhemani lands with an uppercut that bounces Baine off the cage and back into range.
Nawal Chekhemani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chekhemani throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Baine.
Baine looks for the body kick but Chekhemani saw that one coming.
Chekhemani moves to clinch but Baine breaks away
and Baine counters with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baine slips a jab and a cross from Chekhemani.
Chekhemani swinging wildly here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chekhemani moves to clinch but Baine breaks away
and Baine counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Chekhemani lands the left hand.
Baine blocks a head kick by Chekhemani.
Chekhemani misses with a series of wild punches.
Chekhemani looks to land a right hand but Baine moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekhemani throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Chekhemani misses with a combination
and Baine counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Crunch! Chekhemani slams his shin into Baine's torso.
Chekhemani throws a right hand that Baine ducks under and follows up with a left that Baine also avoids with ease.
Baine tries to score a power double leg takedown but Chekhemani sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Baine somewhat.

A jab-cross combination lands for Chekhemani and sends Baine crashing to the mat! Chekhemani follows him down to the mat - Baine regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

It looks like Matthew Baine has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chekhemani is looking to take a break and control but Baine is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chekhemani is looking for a kimura but Baine is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Chekhemani to get the leverage.
Chekhemani trying to pass the guard but Baine defending well.
Chekhemani wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baine keeps working.
Baine keeping control of the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Chekhemani wants to free his trapped foot but Baine is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nawal Chekhemani dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matthew Baine's cut.
That's time! Baine's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No joy there for Chekhemani, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Chekhemani drops Baine with a left right combo! Chekhemani follows him down to the ground into side control.

Baine is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chekhemani advances to mount.

Chekhemani jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Baine manages to avoid the submission attempt.
An elbow from Chekhemani crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baine regains half guard.
Chekhemani trying to control the action but Baine is working from the bottom.
Baine trying to control here.
Chekhemani has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Chekhemani trying to control from Baine's half guard. Baine has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Baine will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Chekhemani looking to sit in guard and control but Baine gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Baine wants to pass the guard but Chekhemani is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chekhemani is looking for a triangle but Baine pushes his legs off easily.
Baine tries to free his leg and advance position but Chekhemani is retaining full guard.

Chekhemani throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Baine slips nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Chekhemani looking for submissions off his back.
Baine throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekhemani trying to control but Baine postures up.

Baine is looking for a kimura but Chekhemani is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Baine to get the leverage.
Chekhemani is trying to get back to full guard.

Baine is looking for submissions but instead, Chekhemani has regained full guard.
Baine stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chekhemani swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Chekhemani has his foot on Baine's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Baine works his way back into a safe position though.
Baine is looking to advance position but Chekhemani has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Chekhemani tries to control but Baine wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baine regains half guard.
Nawal Chekhemani has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baine is not content to let Chekhemani control the position.
Baine is holding on to half guard well.

Chekhemani is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Chekhemani prevents Baine from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nawal Chekhemani showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matthew Baine's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Baine walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Chekhemani with a nice cross.

Chekhemani rushes Baine and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Chekhemani utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Chekhemani pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Baine showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Chekhemani.
Chekhemani looks to land a combination but Baine avoids it well.
Chekhemani stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Chekhemani wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chekhemani misses with a few strikes there.
Chekhemani lands a head kick!
A cross from Chekhemani lands.
Baine looks to score with a jab to the body but Chekhemani is just out of range.

Baine looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Chekhemani is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Chekhemani looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Chekhemani takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baine wants to pass the guard but Chekhemani is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baine in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Baine drops back, looking for a kneebar! Chekhemani looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Chekhemani looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Chekhemani!
Baine is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Chekhemani off and has taken his back!
Chekhemani needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.
Chekhemani breaks Baine's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Baine keeping full guard, as Chekhemani tries to pass.
Baine working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekhemani pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baine is keeping the position for now.
Chekhemani scoring with punches to the head and body.
Chekhemani advances to half guard.

Chekhemani is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baine regains full guard. Nicely done.
Chekhemani trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Baine manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Chekhemani working a defensive guard here.

Baine is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Chekhemani is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Chekhemani has escaped and now he's on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baine looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chekhemani is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nawal Chekhemani comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Chekhemani 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nawal Chekhemani!