PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joey Baskins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacob Aronsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Baskins
vs
Aronsson

177 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey Baskins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jacob Aronsson!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baskins closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Baskins throws an elbow but Aronsson slips to the side and avoids it well.
Baskins remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Baskins working the ground and pound.
An elbow from Baskins crashes against the mat.
Baskins in side control, throwing shots but Aronsson defends.
Baskins could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Baskins staying calm.
Baskins is chipping away with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baskins landing strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aronsson is trying to improve his position.
Aronsson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baskins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Baskins just content to control the position.
Baskins working the ground and pound.
Aronsson taking a bit of punishment here - Baskins scoring with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baskins is chipping away with strikes.
Aronsson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Aronsson defending against the ground and pound.
Baskins misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Baskins lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baskins working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baskins controlling from side mount.
Aronsson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee asks Baskins politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Baskins prefers to stall for the moment though.
An elbow from Baskins crashes against the mat.
Baskins grinds an elbow into Aronsson's temple.
Baskins scores with a couple of short elbows.
Baskins misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Baskins in side control, throwing shots but Aronsson defends.
Baskins content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baskins working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
You can see the frustration on Aronsson's face as Baskins controls the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Baskins scores with punches from side control.
Baskins cracks Aronsson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Baskins working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Baskins politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Baskins prefers to stall for the moment though.
Baskins throws a strike aimed at the side of Aronsson's head but Aronsson avoids it well.
Aronsson is looking for a sweep.
Baskins creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Baskins is staying tight to Aronsson's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Baskins postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Baskins working the ground and pound but Aronsson is defending the strikes.
Baskins takes a little break here. Aronsson wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Baskins dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Baskins shoots in and bounces Aronsson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Aronsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Baskins controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Baskins's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baskins scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Baskins throwing strikes but missing.
Aronsson looking to control but Baskins passes into half guard.
Baskins drops an elbow to the side of Aronsson's head.
Baskins trying to control the pace.
Baskins is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aronsson can do to turn this around?
Baskins lands strikes from half guard.
Baskins tries to pass to full mount but Aronsson defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baskins slips a nice elbow through Aronsson's hands, connecting with Aronsson's forehead.
Baskins is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Baskins 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.
Baskins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Baskins winds up and cracks Aronsson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Baskins thows a huge punch but Aronsson dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aronsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Baskins seems content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A head kick misses from Aronsson.
Aronsson misses with a low kick.

Baskins darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Baskins stalling.
Aronsson is in trouble now - Baskins has advanced to mount!
Joey Baskins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baskins lands a couple of good shots and Aronsson has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Baskins controlling the positon.
Baskins is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Aronsson. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Baskins cracks Aronsson with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Aronsson from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baskins is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Aronsson up.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Baskins scores with strikes from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Baskins dominated that second round.
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!

Baskins closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Aronsson's guard.
Baskins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aronsson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Baskins lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Baskins sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Aronsson's guard.
Baskins not doing much here.
Further stalling from Baskins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baskins seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Aronsson for as long as he can get away with.
Baskins is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Baskins throwing shots but Aronsson is blocking nicely.
Baskins performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Baskins looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Jacob Aronsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Still in half guard, Baskins seems content to control.
Aronsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Still in half guard, Baskins seems content to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Good work by Baskins as he checks the leg kick.
Aronsson throws a sloppy head kick and Baskins moves out of range easily.
Baskins displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Aronsson throws out the jab.
Aronsson tries a low kick but Baskins avoids it.

Baskins shoots in and bounces Aronsson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Baskins is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baskins throwing strikes from guard but Aronsson blocks nicely.
Baskins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Baskins landing with the ground and pound.
Baskins makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Aronsson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Baskins postures up and lands a big shot to Aronsson's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Baskins postures up and lands a big shot to Aronsson's brow.
Baskins passes Aronsson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Aronsson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baskins is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Aronsson!
Baskins controlling from mount.
Joey Baskins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Baskins punishing his opponent with strikes.
Baskins controlling the pace for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baskins scoring with strikes but Aronsson is staying in there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Baskins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Baskins, 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:24
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:24
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Baskins!