PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul OConnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Baron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baron is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Every Planet We Reach is Dead-Gorillaz. David Baron is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

OConnell
vs
Baron

209 cm
19
285 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

203 cm
26
265 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paul OConnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, David Baron!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baron avoids a punch combination nicely.
OConnell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baron moves away.

OConnell gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Baron misses with a shot to the kidneys.

OConnell breaks the clinch.
OConnell tries to close the distance and clinch but Baron swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Paul OConnell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

OConnell closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Baron - that landed with a thud.

OConnell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Baron's coach down at Tokyo Totally Gym + Sauna was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Baron's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
OConnell tries to clinch but Baron is having none of it.

OConnell moves into the clinch.
OConnell scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Baron has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
OConnell lands a shot to the body.
OConnell lands a nice shot to the body.
Baron looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnell stalling in the clinch.
OConnell gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like David Baron has been cut.
OConnell has Baron pressed against the cage.
A short body shot lands from OConnell as the two fighters clinch.

OConnell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
OConnell lands a leg kick that knocks Baron off balance momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baron walks into a stiff left hand from OConnell.
OConnell ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
OConnell moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
OConnell jabs at Baron's body.
OConnell bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Baron's head.
Baron tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baron steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from OConnell. That one must have hurt.

OConnell sends Baron crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! OConnell is motioning to the referee to let Baron up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Baron is rocked!
OConnell drops Baron with a naaaaasty hook - Baron is in real trouble here! OConnell dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Paul OConnell!
David Baron was interviewed post fight and said 'It's never good to lose, but not every night is going to end the way you want it to. '.