PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Lebowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emmanuel Baptiste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lebowski kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Europe - The Final Countdown. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lebowski
vs
Baptiste

187 cm
23
186 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
195 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

The Red Eye
Golden Lilium

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jeff Lebowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Emmanuel Baptiste!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baptiste tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lebowski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lebowski misses with a wild body shot.
Baptiste uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lebowski.
Baptiste defending well as Lebowski loads up on a big left hand.
Lebowski misses with a wild body shot.
A shot to de liver by Lebowski. Beautiful body shot.
Lebowski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baptiste moves away.
Baptiste is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

It looks like Emmanuel Baptiste has been cut.
Lebowski is looking to wear down Baptiste with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Lebowski throws out a loose jab but Baptiste uses good head movement to avoid it.
Baptiste shoots in but Lebowski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lebowski misses with a series of wild punches.
Jeff Lebowski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baptiste shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lebowski pinned against the cage. Lebowski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baptiste uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lebowski.
Lebowski misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lebowski swinging wilding here.
Lebowski throws a good cross that connects.
Lebowski throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lebowski misses the jab.
Baptiste walks into a jab.
Lebowski fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fighters circle momentarily. Lebowski darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Lebowski looks to land a left hand but Baptiste moved out of range nicely.
Baptiste is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Baptiste fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lebowski sprawls well initially but Baptiste persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Baptiste is working for a kimura but Lebowski is defending it quite comfortably.
Baptiste is tying to control. Lebowski wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste trying to mount his opponent but Lebowski defends it.
Baptiste looks gassed!
Lebowski pushes Baptiste off looking to stand but Baptiste dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lebowski knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Baptiste on the ground.
Baptiste works his way into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Baptiste looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Lebowski really wants to buck Baptiste off and get back to his feet.
Lebowski is squirming around, avoiding Baptiste's attempts to control the action.

Baptiste has control of Lebowski's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Lebowski regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lebowski is looking to improve his position but Baptiste isn't that keen on the idea.
Lebowski tries to hold on but Baptiste postures up.

Baptiste working for a submission but Lebowski is keeping him at bay.
Baptiste thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four 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.
Lebowski wants to control but Baptiste is having none of it.
Lebowski squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Baptiste takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Baptiste is looking to control Lebowski but Lebowski is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Lebowski wants to control his opponent's hands but Baptiste gets his hands free.
Lebowski is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Baptiste is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Lebowski is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Baptiste is persistently looking for the submission but Lebowski is defending it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Baptiste is persistently looking for the submission but Lebowski is defending it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Lebowski dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Emmanuel Baptiste's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lebowski misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baptiste.
Baptiste misses with a few strikes there.
A big left from Lebowski misses.
Baptiste moves away from the strike by Lebowski.
Lebowski fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Baptiste on the side of the head.
Lebowski throws a left and a right that both miss

and Baptiste counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Baptiste is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Baptiste tries to control but Lebowski wriggling away.
Lebowski is looking to get to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Baptiste jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Lebowski is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Lebowski and Baptiste has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lebowski keeps Baptiste under control for a moment.
Lebowski is not content to let Baptiste control the position.
Lebowski is pushing Baptiste's head away, looking to escape. Baptiste manages to hold on to the position though.
Baptiste trying to control the action but Lebowski is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Lebowski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lebowski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baptiste moves away.

Baptiste feints and as Lebowski raises his hands in defense, Baptiste changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Baptiste tries to free his leg and advance position but Lebowski is retaining full guard.

Baptiste thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lebowski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baptiste is one step ahead there.
Lebowski looking to control.

Baptiste drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Baptiste jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lebowski keeping moving, preventing Baptiste from controlling successfully.

Baptiste is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baptiste drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Baptiste jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lebowski throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Baptiste counters by moving into the clinch.

Baptiste successfully pulls guard.
Lebowski controls from within his opponent's guard.

Baptiste working for a triangle but Lebowski defends it easily.
Baptiste is pulling down on Lebowski's head. It's preventing any offense from Lebowski, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lebowski wants to control from the top but Baptiste keeps moving.
Lebowski controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lebowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Baptiste is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baptiste is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Lebowski is looking to escape.
Baptiste moves nicely into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emmanuel Baptiste showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Emmanuel Baptiste's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Baptiste looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Baptiste pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lebowski is keeping the position for now.
Baptiste preventing the sweep.

Baptiste drops back looking for a leg! Lebowski is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lebowski manages to kick Baptiste off! Baptiste jumps back into Lebowski's guard.
Baptiste pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lebowski is keeping the position for now.
Lebowski wants to stand up but Baptiste is controlling him.
Emmanuel Baptiste has got the better of the ground game so far.

Baptiste is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lebowski trying to control the position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lebowski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lebowski ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The fighters circling - Lebowski throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lebowski throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Baptiste.
Baptiste displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lebowski throws out the jab.
Baptiste shoots in and drives through. Lebowski sprawls well.
Lebowski looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nice takedown defense from Lebowski. No joy for Baptiste on that attempt.
Lebowski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nice defenses there by Baptiste.

Baptiste moves into the clinch.
Lebowski wants to break free but Baptiste has control.
Baptiste tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lebowski smiles and moves away.
Jeff Lebowski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emmanuel Baptiste.
Baptiste will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lebowski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baptiste manages to avoid it.
Baptiste blocks a jab.

Baptiste gets the takedown into side control.

Baptiste working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lebowski is trying to control Baptiste's posture but Baptiste avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste trying to control the position but Lebowski is working away.
Lebowski is looking for a sweep.
Baptiste wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lebowski keeps working.
Lebowski is looking for a sweep.
Lebowski is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lebowski throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

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 shoots for a takedown but Lebowski saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Baptiste takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Baptiste throws an overhand right that lands on Lebowski's shoulder, as Lebowski tries to avoid the shot.
Lebowski throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Baptiste sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Baptiste feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Baptiste thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Baptiste drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Baptiste jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lebowski tries to strike from the bottom.
Lebowski keeping moving, preventing Baptiste from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baptiste preventing the sweep.
Lebowski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emmanuel Baptiste comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Baptiste 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emmanuel Baptiste!