PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Justin Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kim Hendi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kim Hendi is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Baker
vs
Hendi

189 cm
25
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
185 lbs
3 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Justin Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kim Hendi!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baker throws a head kick but Hendi moves out of range.
Baker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Baker misses with a head kick.
Baker throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Hendi blocks a head kick by Baker.
Hendi fails with a takedown attempt.
Hendi blocks a head kick by Baker.
Hendi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Hendi blocks a head kick by Baker.
Baker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hendi tries to clinch there but Baker circles away.
Some wild striking there from Hendi.
Hendi shoots in for a double leg but Baker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Baker misses with a head kick.
Baker throws a head kick that misses.
Baker is breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Baker.
Justin Baker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hendi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Justin Baker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kim Hendi.
Nice sprawl there from Baker as Hendi shoots in.
Hendi wants to clinch.
Justin Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hendi.
Hendi blocks a head kick by Baker.
Hendi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Baker defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hendi.
Baker circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hendi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Baker but Baker pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hendi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker tries a head kick but it misses.
Hendi looks for a takedown but Baker sprawls well.
A head kick misses from Baker.
Hendi avoids the head kick by Baker.

Baker tries to keep at a distance but Hendi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Baker throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hendi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Baker fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Baker throws a head kick but Hendi moves out of range.

Hendi darts in and clinches Baker up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hendi tries for a takedown but Baker manages to get underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Baker as Hendi tries to tie him up.
A frustrated look appears on Baker's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Baker misses with an elbow strike.
Hendi is trying to break free.
Baker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hendi has him pressed against the cage.
Baker wants to break free but Hendi has control.
Hendi will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Baker up against the cage.

Hendi jumps guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Baker being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendi looking to control.
Hendi has a closed guard, preventing Baker from standing up.
Hendi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Baker!
Hendi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kim Hendi will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hendi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Baker sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Baker throws a head kick but Hendi moves out of range.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Baker swats away the attempt to clinch by Hendi.
Kim Hendi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hendi dives in and grabs Baker's left leg, looking for a takedown. Baker pushes down on Hendi's head and hops out.
Baker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hendi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Baker tries to avoid it but Hendi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Baker to the ground. Baker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Justin Baker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kim Hendi.
Baker throws a sloppy head kick and Hendi moves out of range easily.
Baker leaves Hendi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Baker throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Justin Baker is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendi fails with a takedown attempt.
Hendi tries to close the distance and clinch but Baker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hendi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Baker as he avoids it easily.
Baker throws a head kick but Hendi moves out of range.
Hendi looks for a takedown but Baker sprawls well.
Baker throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Baker keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Baker stuffs the takedown.
Baker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hendi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Baker sprawls well. Baker wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hendi gets slowly back to his feet.
Hendi avoids the head kick by Baker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hendi's head.
Hendi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Baker circles away.
Hendi misses with a wild combination.
Baker tries a head kick but it misses.
Baker throws a head kick but Hendi moves out of range.
Baker keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A head kick misses from Baker.
Hendi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baker throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hendi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Baker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baker takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
No joy there for Hendi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hendi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hendi blocks a head kick by Baker.
Hendi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hendi blocks a head kick by Baker.
Baker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hendi dives in and grabs Baker's left leg, looking for a takedown. Baker pushes down on Hendi's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Hendi closes the distance and clinches.
Baker tries to break the clinch but Hendi is controlling the position.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Baker just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hendi's brow.
Hendi stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Baker is trying to break free.
Baker wants to break the clinch but can't.

Hendi drags the fight down to the ground.
Baker wants to stand and escape but instead Hendi has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hendi throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Baker dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hendi is looking to clinch but Baker is avoiding it.
Hendi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baker circles away quickly and effectively.
Baker lands a head kick!
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Baker.
Baker throws a head kick but Hendi moves out of range.
Hendi dives in and grabs Baker's left leg, looking for a takedown. Baker pushes down on Hendi's head and hops out.
Baker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hendi.
Baker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Hendi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Baker looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Hendi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Baker knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hendi decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hendi avoids the head kick by Baker.

Hendi drives through and clinches with Baker against the cage.
Hendi leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hendi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hendi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Justin Baker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kim Hendi.
Baker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hendi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baker throws a head kick that misses.
Hendi shoots in and drives through. Baker sprawls well.
Hendi avoids the head kick by Baker.
Hendi looks for a takedown but Baker sprawls well.
Hendi wants to clinch up but Baker keeps it at a distance.

Hendi moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baker breaks the clinch.
Hendi shoots in and drives through. Baker sprawls well.
Baker throws a sloppy head kick and Hendi moves out of range easily.
Hendi fails with the takedown.
Hendi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head kick misses from Baker.
Baker tries a head kick but it misses.
Baker throws a sloppy head kick and Hendi moves out of range easily.
Hendi avoids the head kick by Baker.
Baker throws a head kick that Hendi semi-blocks.

Hendi has closed the distance and engaged Baker in a clinch.
Hendi wants a takedown.
Baker misses with an elbow over the top.
Hendi tries to pull guard but Baker forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baker manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Baker.
Hendi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Baker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hendi tries to clinch up.
Hendi blocks a head kick by Baker.
Hendi shoots in looking for a takedown but Baker manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hendi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Baker tries a head kick but it misses.
Baker throws a head kick but Hendi moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hendi fails with a takedown attempt.
Baker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baker throws a head kick that misses.
Baker pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kim Hendi.
I think Hendi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kim Hendi!
Kim Hendi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.