PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Emmanuel Baptiste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Casper Duelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duelly has chosen Its A Fight as his entrance music. Emmanuel Baptiste had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Baptiste
vs
Duelly

185 cm
21
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
186 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Fighters Formula

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emmanuel Baptiste!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Casper Duelly!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Viktor Lagutenko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baptiste shoots in and bounces Duelly off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Baptiste tries to free his leg and advance position but Duelly is retaining full guard.
Baptiste trying to control but Duelly is working from the bottom.
Baptiste stands and throws Duelly's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Duelly's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Baptiste tries for a kimura but Duelly is defending well.
Duelly is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Duelly's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Duelly tries to improve position but can't.

Baptiste tries for a kimura but Duelly is defending well.
Baptiste has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Duelly!
Baptiste fails to move to back control.
Duelly can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Baptiste goes for an armbar but Duelly turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Duelly.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Duelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Baptiste is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Duelly must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Baptiste had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Duelly is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Baptiste Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Duelly's back instead.

Baptiste is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Duelly has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Baptiste is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duelly tries to escape but Baptiste has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Duelly tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Baptiste goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Duelly turns into him and now he's in Baptiste's guard.

Baptiste working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Duelly has passed into half guard!
Baptiste trying to get back to full guard but Duelly takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Duelly gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Baptiste shoots in but Duelly avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Duelly lands a nice looking kick to the body. Baptiste takes a step back to recover.
Duelly lands with a cross.

Baptiste shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Baptiste showed some decent athleticism there.
Baptiste not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Emmanuel Baptiste will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Duelly 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.
Baptiste slips under a jab from Duelly.
Duelly lands a glancing blow to the side of Baptiste's head.
Casper Duelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Duelly tries to bum rush Baptiste with a series of wild strikes but Baptiste uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Duelly throws a right hand that Baptiste ducks under and follows up with a left that Baptiste also avoids with ease.
Baptiste takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Baptiste gets a clinch.

Duelly breaks from the clinch.
Duelly misses with the combination.
Baptiste shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Duelly swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baptiste keeps the fight on the outside.
Duelly throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Emmanuel Baptiste is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptiste is looking to clinch but Duelly is avoiding it.
Nice takedown defense from Duelly. No joy for Baptiste on that attempt.
Duelly cracks Baptiste with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Baptiste misses with a takedown attempt - Duelly sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emmanuel Baptiste. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baptiste changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Duelly tries to avoid it but Baptiste manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Duelly to the ground. Duelly escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Baptiste avoids the head kick by Duelly.
Baptiste takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Baptiste fails with a takedown attempt.
Duelly throws a right and a left that both miss.
Duelly tries to work over Baptiste's front leg with a kick but Baptiste checks it.
Baptiste keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Duelly.
Duelly throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Duelly throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Duelly misses with a jab, cross combination.
Baptiste darts in trying to clinch
and Duelly connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Duelly throws a right and a left that both miss.
Baptiste shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Duelly rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Baptiste moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Baptiste scores with a one two! Duelly had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A good leg kick by Duelly.

Baptiste decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Baptiste is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Duelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baptiste is trying to work for a kimura but Duelly is defending well.

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

Baptiste wants to work for an arm triangle but Duelly is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Baptiste trying to advance position but Duelly counters by regaining guard.

Baptiste drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Baptiste jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Baptiste trying to control the position from guard on top but Duelly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baptiste shoots in for a double leg but Duelly sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baptiste takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Duelly looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Casper Duelly showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Baptiste's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Duelly.
Duelly trying to control the position but Baptiste is working away.
Baptiste regains half guard.
Baptiste slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Baptiste pulls Duelly in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptiste is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Duelly has gone for a leg lock! Baptiste slips out almost immediately though and dives into Duelly's guard.
Duelly keeping moving, preventing Baptiste from controlling successfully.
Baptiste forces his way into half guard.
Duelly really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baptiste. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Baptiste works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duelly sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Baptiste is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Duelly to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Duelly manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Duelly avoids the attempt from Baptiste to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duelly looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Baptiste working to try and regain half guard.
Baptiste manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Duelly throwing shots but Baptiste is blocking nicely.
Baptiste is trying to get back to full guard.

Baptiste looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Baptiste keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Duelly lands with a punch from half guard.
Duelly seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Baptiste regains full guard. Nicely done.

Baptiste keeping busy on the bottom but Duelly has passed one foot through into half guard.
Well, if Duelly is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Casper Duelly.
I think Duelly 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Casper Duelly!