PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Stevenson
vs
Baker

212 cm
21
177 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

180 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrew Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Baker!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Baker is fending him off so far but Stevenson persists. Nope, Baker circles away and we're back to standing.

Baker clinches up with Stevenson and pushes him back against the cage.
Baker is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stevenson is defending well.

Stevenson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Baker misses with the combination.

Baker gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Baker tries to stall but Stevenson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Baker breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baker gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Baker is leaning against Stevenson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Stevenson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stevenson managing to block the knees to the body from Baker.
Baker lands a knee to the body.
Baker jumps guard but Stevenson stands there with Baker around his waist. Baker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Stevenson.
Baker is working for takedown but Stevenson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Andrew Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Baker.
Baker effectively controlling the action here.

Baker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Michael Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Baker closes the distance and clinches.
Baker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Stevenson breaks from the clinch.

Baker fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stevenson, pushing him back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Baker.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Baker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson looking to score a takedown here. Baker is defending well but Stevenson drives through and ends up in Baker's guard.
Stevenson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Baker's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevenson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Baker lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baker trying to control but Stevenson is working from the bottom.
Baker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Baker has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevenson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Baker controls the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Stevenson closes the distance and clinches up with Baker, looking for a takedown. Stevenson pushes Baker against the cage but Baker circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Baker instigates a clinch.

Baker manages to break the clinch.

Baker rushes Stevenson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Baker cracks Stevenson with a nice body shot.
Stevenson letting Baker take a breather here.
Stevenson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Baker.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baker is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Baker rushes Stevenson and presses him up against the cage.
Stevenson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stevenson goes for a takedown attempt but Baker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Baker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Baker clinches up against the cage.
Baker landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Baker tries to pull guard but Stevenson won't allow it.
Baker is leaning against Stevenson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker misses with a punch to the body.
Baker is looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Baker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Baker pushes Stevenson up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker tries to pull guard but Stevenson holds him up against the cage and eventually Baker drops back down to his feet.
Andrew Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Baker.
Baker is trying to pull guard but Stevenson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Stevenson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Baker takes the fight into the clinch.
Stevenson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Baker pulls his leg out and moves away.
Baker tries to score with a low kick but Stevenson moves his leg out of the way.
Stevenson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Baker pushes Stevenson up against the cage in a clinch.
Stevenson avoiding damage as Baker throws knees to the body.

Stevenson breaks the clinch.
Baker scores with a push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baker moves into the clinch.
Baker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stevenson.
Baker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Baker fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Baker using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Baker manages to break the clinch.

Baker rushes Stevenson and presses him up against the cage.
Baker tries to land knees in the clinch but Stevenson avoids the damage to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Baker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Baker throws a leg kick but Stevenson moved away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stevenson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Baker drives through and clinches with Stevenson against the cage.
Baker tries to work over Stevenson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Baker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stevenson is defending well for now.
Stevenson is trying to drag Baker to the mat but Baker just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Baker avoiding damage as Stevenson throws knees to the body.
Baker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Baker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Baker with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stevenson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Michael Baker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stevenson.
As Stevenson backs off Baker throws a huge counter combo but Stevenson manages to avoid it all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker throws a sloppy head kick

and Stevenson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Baker won't be happy with that.

Stevenson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Baker is looking to score with low kicks.
Baker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stevenson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baker gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Stevenson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Baker misses with the body kick
and Stevenson counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Baker moves into the clinch.
Baker looking to throw knees to the head but Stevenson is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Baker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Baker takes the fight into the clinch.
Baker tries to pull guard but Stevenson holds him up against the cage and eventually Baker drops back down to his feet.

Stevenson manages to break the clinch.

Baker gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Baker misses with an elbow strike.
Baker is pressed up against the cage. Stevenson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Baker down to the mat. Baker avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Baker throws a half hearted mid kick.
Stevenson thinks about countering with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson shoots for a double leg takedown but Baker sprawls well. He's pushed Stevenson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Michael Baker seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Baker gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stevenson avoiding damage as Baker throws knees to the body.
Baker is trying to force a seperation but Stevenson has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson is working for takedown but Baker is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrew Stevenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stevenson breaks the clinch.

Baker has Stevenson up against the cage in a clinch.
Baker is working for takedown but Stevenson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Baker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baker crunches a lovely knee into Stevenson's ribcage.
Stevenson just leaning against Baker, taking a breather.
Stevenson avoiding damage as Baker throws knees to the body.

Baker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stevenson fails with the takedown.

Stevenson rushes Baker and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stevenson avoids it.
Baker is working for takedown but Stevenson is calmly controlling the position for now.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Baker moves into range and clinches up with Stevenson.
Baker looking for a takedown.
Stevenson has Baker pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Baker manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Baker trying to land knees to the body.
Baker tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stevenson avoids it.
Stevenson managing to block the knees to the body from Baker.
Stevenson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Baker is defending well.
Baker lands an elbow inside that Stevenson shrugs off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baker manages to break the clinch.
Baker with a poor takedown

and Stevenson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Baker managing to block the knees to the body from Stevenson.
Nice body punch from Stevenson.
Baker tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stevenson avoids it.
Stevenson wants a takedown.

Stevenson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Baker drives through and clinches with Stevenson against the cage.
Baker jumps guard but Stevenson stands there with Baker around his waist. Baker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Stevenson manages to break the clinch.
Stevenson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Baker tries to avoid it but Stevenson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Baker to the ground. Baker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Baker has managed to clinch.

Stevenson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Baker misses with a head kick.
Stevenson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Stevenson has a takedown stuffed.

Baker gets a clinch.
Baker pushes off an throws an elbow but Stevenson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Stevenson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Baker's efforts to push away.
Andrew Stevenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Baker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Baker drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Baker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Baker winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Baker!