PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Efren Baird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Kelvin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Efren Baird has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Baird
vs
Kelvin

176 cm
24
141 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

165 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Efren Baird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Kelvin!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baird moves in looking to clinch but Kelvin pushes him off.
Kelvin shoots in for a takedown but Baird shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kelvin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Baird looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kelvin stuffs the takedown attempt from Baird. Baird gets slowly back to his feet.
Kelvin misses with a takedown attempt - Baird sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Baird tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kelvin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Baird somewhat.

Kelvin closes the distance and pushes Baird back into the cage.
Kelvin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Efren Baird has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Kelvin.
Kelvin goes for a takedown attempt but Baird pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Baird. No joy for Kelvin on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelvin is looking to clinch.
No luck for Kelvin with that takedown attempt.
Kelvin shoots in for a takedown but Baird shows good takedown defense.
Baird displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kelvin.
Baird plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kelvin swats away the attempt to clinch by Baird.
Kelvin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Baird is fending him off so far but Kelvin persists. Nope, Baird circles away and we're back to standing.
Kelvin looks winded!
Kelvin keeps the fight on the outside.
Baird stuffs the takedown attempt from Kelvin. Kelvin gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck for Baird with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Baird pushes Kelvin up against the cage in a clinch.
Kelvin stalling.
Baird is stalling here.

Baird successfully pulls guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baird controls Kelvin momentarily but Kelvin frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baird looking for a guillotine here but Kelvin defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baird is striking from the bottom but Kelvin uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Baird wants to control but Kelvin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kelvin wants to stand up but Baird has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Baird trying to hold on to Kelvin's head to control him but Kelvin postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelvin wants to take a breather but Baird is having none of it.
Kelvin looks to land a strike but Baird avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Kelvin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kelvin postures up in Baird's guard and throws a big left but Baird blocks it.

Baird is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kelvin defends well.
Baird controlling Kelvin's posture.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kelvin wants to control from the top but Baird keeps moving.
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 Efren Baird will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Baird shoots in looking for a takedown but Kelvin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Baird's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Baird shoots in for a double leg but Kelvin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kelvin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Baird tries to avoid it but Kelvin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Baird to the ground. Baird escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Baird fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efren Baird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kelvin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Baird but Baird pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kelvin connects with a solid leg kick.
No luck for Kelvin with that takedown attempt.
Kelvin wants to clinch
and Baird counters with a head kick. That will keep Kelvin thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Kelvin slaps away a takedown attempt from Baird, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Baird.
A head kick misses from Kelvin.
Kelvin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Baird shoots in looking for a takedown but Kelvin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Baird's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Efren Baird is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kelvin shoots for a double leg takedown but Baird sprawls well. He's pushed Kelvin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kelvin is breathing heavily.
Kelvin shoots in but no luck this time.
Kelvin shoots in for a double leg but Baird sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kelvin leaves Baird with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Efren Baird is winning the standup battle so far.
Kelvin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Baird as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird throws a head kick that misses.
Baird is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kelvin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Baird closes the distance and pushes Kelvin back into the cage.
Baird jumps guard but Kelvin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Kelvin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baird blocks a head kick by Kelvin.
Baird is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kelvin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Baird fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Baird shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kelvin pushes Baird away with a front kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelvin shoots in looking for a takedown. Baird tries to sprawl out of it but Kelvin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Baird manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Baird tries for a takedown but Kelvin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kelvin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Baird pinned against the cage. Baird gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Baird closes the distance and clinches up with Kelvin, looking for a takedown. Baird pushes Kelvin against the cage but Kelvin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Baird keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kelvin wants to clinch up but Baird keeps it at a distance.
Kelvin shoots in for a takedown but Baird shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baird wants to clinch.
Baird fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kelvin avoids it really well and circles away.
Baird closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kelvin counters by clinching up.
Kelvin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Baird is defending well for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baird gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kelvin.
Kelvin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Baird avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dave Kelvin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Baird changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Baird wants to clinch.

Kelvin has managed to clinch.

Kelvin breaks from the clinch.
Baird throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Baird looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kelvin is fending him off so far but Baird persists. Nope, Kelvin circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by Baird or perhaps it was just good defense by Kelvin which made him look bad.
Kelvin tries to clinch up.
A swing and a miss from Kelvin.
Baird dives in for a single leg takedown but Kelvin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efren Baird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baird's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Baird breaks from the clinch.
Baird darts in looking for a takedown but Kelvin gets double underhooks and turns Baird into the cage.
Kelvin is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kelvin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Baird gets underhooks to prevent Kelvin's takedown attempt.
Kelvin stalling in the clinch.
Baird goes for a takedown attempt but Kelvin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Baird fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird dives in for a single leg takedown but Kelvin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Kelvin drags the fight down to the ground.
Baird trying to control the position from guard on top but Kelvin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kelvin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Baird stopping the sweep attempt from Kelvin.
Baird trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kelvin looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Baird passes into side control.
Baird fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kelvin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Baird trying to control the action but Kelvin is working from the bottom.
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelvin is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Baird decides to stand back up.
Kelvin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baird avoids the head kick by Kelvin.
Kelvin tries to clinch up.
Baird shoots in looking for a takedown but Kelvin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Baird's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Efren Baird.
I think Baird has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Efren Baird!