PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Miika Liukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Liukkonen
vs
Baker

178 cm
21
175 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

187 cm
34
177 lbs
16 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miika Liukkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johny Baker!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker lands a jab-cross combination.
Baker connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Liukkonen momentarily.
Liukkonen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Baker.
Nice body kick there by Baker.
Baker throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Liukkonen.
Baker throws a one two combo.
Horrible takedown attempt by Liukkonen or perhaps it was just good defense by Baker, which made it look bad.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Baker! But no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Liukkonen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Baker defends it nicely.
Baker pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Liukkonen back to the cage. Baker follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Baker tenderised Liukkonen's leg. Liukkonen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Baker keeps Liukkonen at a distance using the push kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Baker. Liukkonen shrugs it off though.
Baker throws a front kick that sends Liukkonen stumbling back into the cage.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Baker enables Liukkonen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Baker manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Baker trying to keep a closed guard but Liukkonen is proving a slippery customer.
Baker 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.
Baker is looking to stand up but Liukkonen isn't so interested in that idea.
Liukkonen wants to pass the guard but Baker is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baker pushes Liukkonen off and scrambles back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baker keeps Liukkonen at a distance using the push kick.
Liukkonen doesn't manage to clinch there - Baker circles away.
Baker swinging wildly here.
Baker goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Baker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
It looked like Liukkonen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Johny Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baker scores with the left hand. Liukkonen knows he should have avoided that one.
Liukkonen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Liukkonen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Baker can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker scores with a three punch combo!
Baker looks to land a combination but Liukkonen avoids it well.
As Baker looks to move away, Liukkonen throws a big counter combo bu Baker just gets out of the way.
Baker tries to clinch up but Liukkonen circles away and keeps his distance.
Liukkonen shoots in for a double leg but Baker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miika Liukkonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baker lands a nice looking body shot.
Liukkonen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Baker.
Liukkonen dodges the punch combination from Baker.
Baker misses with the combination.
Liukkonen shoots in looking for a takedown. Baker tries to sprawl out of it but Liukkonen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Baker manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Liukkonen crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Baker - the referee stops the clock and Liukkonen gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Baker. Liukkonen manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Baker lands a nice looking body kick.
Good shot there by Baker.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Liukkonen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Baker.
Baker lands a really nice looking cross but Liukkonen seems unphased.
A slapping body kick lands there for Baker.
Johny Baker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Liukkonen takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Liukkonen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Baker counters with a three punch combo that has Liukkonen backing up. Liukkonen nods at Baker to acknowledge the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Baker dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Baker keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Liukkonen shoots and misses
and Baker counters with a leg kick.
Baker lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Liukkonen circles away quickly and effectively.
Liukkonen appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Liukkonen or perhaps it was just good defense by Baker, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miika Liukkonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baker thows a body kick. Liukkonen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Liukkonen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liukkonen goes for a double leg but Baker avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Baker continues to drive forward.
Good leg kick by Baker there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Baker throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Baker bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Liukkonen will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Liukkonen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Baker as he jumps to the side.
Baker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As Baker looks to move away, Liukkonen throws a big counter combo bu Baker just gets out of the way.
Baker throws a series of punches but Liukkonen moves out of range.
Liukkonen steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Baker. That one must have hurt.
Baker tries to bum rush Liukkonen with a series of wild strikes but Liukkonen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Baker misses with a series of wild punches.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Baker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liukkonen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Baker misses with a jab, cross combination.
Baker paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Liukkonen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Baker is fending him off so far but Liukkonen persists. Nope, Baker circles away and we're back to standing.
Baker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Liukkonen shoots in for a double leg but Baker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Baker fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Liukkonen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Baker stuffs the takedown attempt from Liukkonen. Liukkonen gets slowly back to his feet.
Liukkonen throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Baker.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baker moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Liukkonen tries a low kick but Baker avoids it.
Baker lands a leg kick that knocks Liukkonen off balance momentarily.
Baker throws a nice looking combination but Liukkonen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Baker lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Baker throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Liukkonen.
Johny Baker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baker lands a leg kick that knocks Liukkonen off balance momentarily.
Baker tries to bum rush Liukkonen with a series of wild strikes but Liukkonen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Liukkonen is looking for a counter combo.
Liukkonen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Liukkonen shoots in looking for a takedown. Baker tries to sprawl out of it but Liukkonen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Baker manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Baker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Liukkonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Liukkonen eats them both and turns towards Baker to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baker connects with a nice looking jab.
Baker is looking to slow Liukkonen down with leg kicks.
Baker shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Liukkonen eats them both and turns towards Baker to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Liukkonen is rocked!
Liukkonen backs away from a small jab... but Baker lunges forward with a huge superman punch! Liukkonen crumples to the ground as his mouth piece is sent flying! Baker with a spectacular finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Johny Baker!