PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chris Gaines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dom Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baker has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Gaines
vs
Baker

195 cm
29
162 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

225 cm
28
140 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chris Gaines!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dom Baker!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baker shoots in for a takedown but Gaines shows good takedown defense.
Gaines throws a head kick but Baker moves out of range.
Baker misses with a takedown attempt - Gaines sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gaines tries to land a leg kick but Baker saw it coming and moves away.
Baker shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gaines pinned against the cage. Gaines gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Chris Gaines has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dom Baker.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baker misses with a head kick.
Baker looks gassed!
Gaines throws a looping overhand right but Baker ducks down to avoid it.
Gaines misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gaines cracks Baker with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gaines throws a sloppy head kick and Baker moves out of range easily.
Baker throws a head kick that Gaines semi-blocks.
Gaines misses with a head kick.
Baker throws a head kick that Gaines semi-blocks.
Baker avoids the head kick by Gaines.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Baker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gaines swivels and escapes.
Baker shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gaines but Gaines pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gaines is looking to chop away at Baker's legs.
Gaines misses with a head kick.
Baker looks for a takedown but Gaines sprawls well.
Gaines really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gaines misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Baker.
Baker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gaines throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Baker on the side of the head.
Baker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gaines as he jumps to the side.
Chris Gaines is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Baker with a poor takedown
and Gaines counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Baker is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Gaines misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baker pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Gaines as Baker shoots in.
Baker avoids the head kick by Gaines.
Baker shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gaines pinned against the cage. Gaines gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gaines wants to land a leg kick but Baker is out of range.
Gaines keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gaines pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gaines.
Baker looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gaines is fending him off so far but Baker persists. Nope, Gaines circles away and we're back to standing.
Baker blocks a head kick by Gaines.
Baker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gaines as he jumps to the side.
Dom Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaines misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Gaines slaps away a takedown attempt from Baker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Baker chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gaines can pounce on him.
Gaines is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Baker.
Gaines avoids the head kick by Baker.
Baker fails with the takedown.
Baker misses with a head kick.
Gaines dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Baker. That did some damage!
Gaines swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gaines throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baker lands a head kick. Gaines smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Baker fails to land the takedown.
Gaines throws a nice head kick!
Baker throws a sloppy head kick and Gaines moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaines throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baker blocks a head kick by Gaines.
Baker dives in and grabs Gaines's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gaines pushes down on Baker's head and hops out.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gaines throws a front kick aimed at Baker's knee but Baker avoids it well.
Baker tries for a takedown but Gaines sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gaines pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gaines throws a low kick but Baker moves out of range easily.
Baker plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baker throws a head kick that misses.
Gaines wants to slow Baker down by chopping away at his legs.
Gaines pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gaines as he jumps to the side.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Baker.
Gaines throws a head kick but Baker moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Baker dives in and grabs Gaines's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gaines pushes down on Baker's head and hops out.
Baker checks a low kick from Gaines.
Gaines takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Baker shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gaines but Gaines pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baker tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Gaines.
Baker avoids the body shot from Gaines.

Baker dives in and scores a takedown into Gaines's guard.
Gaines is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Baker is controlling him.
Baker is standing up over Gaines. Gaines looks to escape but Baker dives into side control.
Gaines is trying to escape the position but Baker is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker prevents Gaines from escaping the position.
Gaines tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Gaines squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaines on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gaines tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaines might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Baker tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gaines wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gaines is trying to stand up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baker looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chris Gaines will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Baker shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gaines defends it nicely.
Baker fails with a takedown attempt.
Baker fails with the takedown.
Chris Gaines has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dom Baker.
Gaines scores with a head kick. Baker tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Gaines misses with a head kick.
Gaines takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Gaines slaps away a takedown attempt from Baker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gaines keeps Baker at a distance using the push kick.
Gaines lands a nice looking body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker avoids the head kick by Gaines.
Baker dives in and grabs Gaines's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gaines pushes down on Baker's head and hops out.
Gaines looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Baker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick from Gaines lands but Baker takes it in his stride.
Baker changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gaines tries to avoid it but Baker manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gaines to the ground. Gaines escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Baker tries a head kick but it misses.
Baker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Baker blocks a head kick by Gaines.
Baker lands a head kick!
Gaines scores with a nice strike.
Gaines slaps away a takedown attempt from Baker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gaines throws a head kick but Baker moves out of range.
Gaines throws a head kick but Baker moves out of range.
Dom Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaines displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Baker.
Gaines tries a head kick but it misses.
Baker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gaines throws a sloppy head kick and Baker moves out of range easily.
Baker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gaines avoids it really well and circles away.
Gaines throws a body kick that misses.
Baker throws a head kick that misses.
Gaines tries to land a front kick but Baker steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Baker shoots in but Gaines avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gaines throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gaines pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker shoots in and drives through. Gaines sprawls well.
Baker gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gaines pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Baker lands with a slapping head kick.
Baker throws a sloppy head kick and Gaines moves out of range easily.
Gaines throws a sloppy head kick and Baker moves out of range easily.
Baker shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gaines pinned against the cage. Gaines gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gaines tries a head kick but it misses.
Baker shoots in but no luck this time.
Gaines stuffs the takedown attempt from Baker. Baker gets slowly back to his feet.
Gaines moves into range and connects with a jab.
Gaines stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gaines wants it to stay on the feet.
Gaines scores with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker shoots in looking for a takedown but Gaines manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Baker's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gaines scores with a head kick.
Baker throws a head kick but Gaines moves out of range.
Chris Gaines is winning the standup battle so far.
Baker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gaines swings for the body but Baker moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Gaines.
Baker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Gaines.
Baker throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Gaines connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Baker's hands.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gaines tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck for Baker with that takedown attempt.
Baker throws a head kick that half lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Gaines showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gaines has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Gaines!