PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Li Chen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chen's entrance music is Open Hapiness. A fine choice. Li Chen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Chen
vs
Baker

194 cm
22
182 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Li Chen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Baker!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chen keeps the fight on the outside.
Baker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baker tries to clinch but Chen moves out of range.
Baker doesn't manage to clinch there - Chen circles away.
Baker tries to clinch but Chen moves out of range.
Chen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baker tries to clinch but Chen moves out of range.
Chen keeps the fight on the outside.
Chen throws a nice head kick!

Chen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Chen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Baker does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Baker wants to control the action here but instead Chen manages to pass to full mount!

Chen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker tries to lock up and control but Chen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Chen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Chen forces the positional change into back control.
Chen lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Chen working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Chen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Chen is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baker showing good submission defense here.
Baker is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Chen off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Baker trying to control but not successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker wants to get back to his feet.

Chen working for the choke.
Baker wants to control his opponent's hands but Chen gets his hands free.
Chen is trying to stick to Baker's back but Baker is turning into Chen. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Chen's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Baker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Chen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Baker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Chen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Chen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Baker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Baker wants to control from the top but Chen keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Chen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Baker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Chen keeps the fight on the outside.
Baker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baker tries to clinch there but Chen circles away.
Baker tries to clinch but Chen moves out of range.

Baker forces Chen back against the cage and clinches.
Baker using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Chen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Baker landing knees to the head.

It looks like Li Chen has been cut.
Baker connects with a knee to the head.
Baker lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A short right from Chen on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Baker is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Baker creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Chen's defenses.
Baker using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Chen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Chen tries to land a knee to the head but Baker blocks with his arms.
Chen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Baker tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Baker looking to throw knees to the head but Chen is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen lands a nice elbow.

Chen pulls guard effortlessly.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chen keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.

Baker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Baker prevents Chen from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Baker trying to control but Chen is working from the bottom.
Chen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Baker stopping the sweep attempt from Chen.
Baker trying to control but Chen is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Baker tries to clinch there but Chen circles away.

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.
Baker tries to clinch up but Chen circles away and keeps his distance.
Baker tries to clinch up but Chen circles away and keeps his distance.
Chen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Baker doesn't manage to clinch there - Chen circles away.
Baker tries to clinch there but Chen circles away.

Baker gets caught flat footed, as Chen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Chen trying to control but Baker is working from the bottom.

Chen gets to his feet. Baker looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Baker rushes Chen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Baker throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Chen blocks it with crossed arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Chen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Li Chen's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Chen throws a head kick that Baker semi-blocks.
Baker wants to clinch up but Chen keeps it at a distance.
Chen swats away the attempt to clinch by Baker.
Baker wants to clinch.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Chen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice body kick there by Chen.
Baker throws a sloppy head kick

and Chen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Chen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Chen is pushing down on Baker's leg trying to pass to half guard. Baker is fighting to maintain full guard but Chen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Baker is just riding it out for now. Chen eventually gives up the hold.
Li Chen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Baker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Baker is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Chen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Chen is working for a kimura but Baker is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen tries to stand but can't do so whilst Baker controls his leg.
Ben Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Chen is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Chen wants to pass to mount but Baker is defending the position.

Chen is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Baker has managed to free his arm - good work.
Li Chen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baker tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Li Chen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Chen, 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Li Chen!