PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raian Baaden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Who Lovebug (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Who Lovebug will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Baaden
vs
Lovebug

188 cm
22
217 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

205 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raian Baaden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Who Lovebug!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lovebug throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Raian Baaden has been cut.

Baaden shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lovebug's guard.
Baaden throwing strikes but missing.
Lovebug is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Lovebug trying to keep a closed guard but Baaden is proving a slippery customer.
Lovebug wants to stand but Baaden is controlling the position.
Lovebug is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baaden is pushing down on Lovebug's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lovebug is fighting to maintain full guard but Baaden has managed to sneak the leg through.
Baaden prevents Lovebug from standing back up.
Lovebug is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baaden missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lovebug throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lovebug wants to clinch.
Lovebug cracks the inside of Baaden's front leg.

Baaden shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Lovebug wants to control but Baaden is having none of it.
Baaden controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovebug is in a horrible position here. Baaden smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Baaden with shots to the head and body - Lovebug looks very uncomfortable down there.
Lovebug really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lovebug taking shots to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baaden trying to control but Lovebug is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lovebug is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Baaden lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lovebug hang on?
Lovebug taking shots to the head.

It looks like Who Lovebug has been cut.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Baaden cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Baaden is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Lovebug has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Baaden putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baaden lands with some strikes.
Baaden is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Lovebug can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
A nice elbow there by Baaden.
Baaden scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Lovebug?
Baaden has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lovebug tries to lock up and control but Baaden gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Baaden is breathing heavily.
The referee warns Lovebug that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baaden looking to control but Lovebug is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lovebug is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raian Baaden dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lovebug with a poor takedown

and Baaden counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Baaden.
Lovebug has momentary wrist control but Baaden slips an elbow through the middle.
Baaden with a nice head shot there.
Lovebug really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baaden. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lovebug working a defensive guard here.
Baaden working some strikes from top position.
Raian Baaden overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baaden lands a couple of digs.
Baaden stands and throws Lovebug's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Lovebug is breathing heavily.
Baaden is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Lovebug's shoulder. That is not cool.
Lovebug tries to bench press Baaden off him but Baaden keeps the position.
Baaden in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Baaden lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovebug is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Baaden connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Lovebug some visible discomfort.
You can see the frustration on Lovebug's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Baaden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lovebug keeps working.
Baaden slows the pace down.
Baaden laying and praying for a moment but Lovebug takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Baaden connects with a nice short shot to Lovebug's temple.
Baaden working the head and body with strikes.
Lovebug tries to roll over but Baaden keeps him under control.
Lovebug is trying to maintain the position but Baaden is very close to passing his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Baaden connects with a nice short shot to Lovebug's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baaden scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lovebug is looking for a sweep. Baaden is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Baaden takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Lovebug tries to get to full guard but Baaden has control of the leg.
Lovebug taking some punishment here, with Baaden in his half guard.
Lovebug is looking to get back to full guard here but Baaden has managed to pass to side control instead.
Lovebug is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raian Baaden dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Baaden closes the distance and clinches.

Baaden has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lovebug uses from the top position.
Lovebug pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baaden is keeping the position for now.
Baaden wants to sweep but no luck.
Baaden is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lovebug can do to turn this around?
Baaden is trying to keep Lovebug in close.
Lovebug stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Baaden swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lovebug takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Baaden is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovebug looking to control.
Baaden is in close to Lovebug's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Baaden scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Baaden postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Baaden's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lovebug working a defensive guard but Baaden passes into half guard.

Lovebug looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Baaden is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovebug is looking to improve his position.
Baaden drops an elbow to the side of Lovebug's head.
Baaden drops an elbow to the side of Lovebug's head.
Baaden trying to control the action but Lovebug is working from the bottom.
Baaden working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baaden is tying to control. Lovebug 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.
Lovebug makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lovebug.
Lovebug is trying to control the position but Baaden postures up.
Lovebug wants to sweep but no luck.
Baaden is working Lovebug over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lovebug is trying to keep Baaden in close.
Baaden is in close to Lovebug's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Raian Baaden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lovebug is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Baaden advances position into side control!
Lovebug is trying to get back to half guard.
Who Lovebug has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lovebug wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raian Baaden showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Baaden, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:26
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raian Baaden!