PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Butch Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocco Hardstone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardstone has chosen tempel of india as his entrance music. Rocco Hardstone has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Butch Baker's chin.

Baker
vs
Hardstone

180 cm
22
163 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
162 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Butch Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Rocco Hardstone!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardstone takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hardstone misses with a two punch combination.
Baker tries to clinch up.

Baker closes the distance and clinches.
Baker has Hardstone pressed against the cage.
Hardstone goes for a takedown attempt but Baker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Hardstone knocks Baker to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?

Baker is rocked!

It looks like Butch Baker has been cut.
Hardstone postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hardstone in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Baker managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hardstone.
Hardstone tries to score with some ground and pound. Baker controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Hardstone postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Baker prevents Hardstone from improving position.
Hardstone is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hardstone sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Baker is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hardstone 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.
Hardstone tries to score with some ground and pound. Baker controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The strikes coming from Hardstone are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hardstone is trying to move to mount but Baker reverses beautifully and ends up in Hardstone's guard.
Baker stopping the sweep attempt from Hardstone.
Baker advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardstone wants to get back to full guard.
Hardstone is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Baker looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Hardstone tries to get to full guard but Baker has control of the leg.
Baker slows the pace down in half guard.
Hardstone wants to improve his position but Baker is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hardstone throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hardstone looks gassed!
Hardstone will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Baker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hardstone.
Hardstone doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hardstone fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hardstone has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Baker finds it's way round the side to connect with Hardstone's head.
No joy there for Hardstone, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice body punch from Baker.
Baker throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hardstone stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Baker fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker throws a right hand that Hardstone ducks under and follows up with a left that Hardstone also avoids with ease.
Hardstone slips a jab and a cross from Baker.
Hardstone misses with a double jab
and Baker counters with a slapping leg kick.

Baker clinches with his opponent.

Baker breaks from the clinch.
Baker scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hardstone throws a left and a right that both miss
and Baker counters with a thumping low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baker scores with a leg kick.
Baker throws a series of punches but Hardstone moves out of range.

Baker moves into the clinch successfully.
Baker works on Hardstone's body with a couple of short punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardstone goes for a takedown attempt but Baker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hardstone swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Baker counters with a stiff right hand.
Baker scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Baker rushes Hardstone and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butch Baker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Butch Baker's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hardstone goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Baker misses with a series of wild punches.
Hardstone throws a sloppy head kick and Baker moves out of range easily.
Baker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Baker with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hardstone misses with a combination

and Baker moves into the clinch.
Hardstone letting Baker take a breather here.
Hardstone is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Baker pulls him back up using the underhooks.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Baker creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Baker working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Baker tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baker slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baker manages to break the clinch.
Hardstone throws a head kick that misses

and Baker counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Baker.
Baker leaning his opponent against the cage.
Baker looking to throw knees to the head but Hardstone is blocking nicely.
Baker throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Baker slows down the pace here.
Hardstone has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Baker avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hardstone tries for a takedown but Baker manages to get underhooks.
Butch Baker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Hardstone.
Baker tries a knee to the head but Hardstone blocks it.
Baker tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hardstone 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 breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Baker.
Rocco Hardstone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardstone throws a left and a right that both miss
and Baker counters with a stiff right hand.

Baker gets a clinch.
Baker slowing the pace effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardstone avoids the elbow strike from Baker, against the cage.
Baker unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hardstone lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A nice right hand lands inside from Baker.

Baker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hardstone closes the distance but Baker moves to the side
and Baker counters with a left to the body.
Hardstone swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Baker counters with a stiff right hand.
Butch Baker is winning the standup battle so far.
Hardstone swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Baker counters with a left and a right that stings Hardstone.

Baker forces Hardstone back against the cage and clinches.
Baker lands an elbow just above Hardstone 's eye.
Baker stalling against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardstone has Baker pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hardstone pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Baker tumbling to the mat - Hardstone dives into Baker's guard.
Hardstone missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Baker keeping full guard, as Hardstone tries to pass.
Hardstone has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hardstone prevents Baker from getting back to his feet.
Hardstone throws a strike but Baker rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hardstone looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butch Baker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Butch Baker's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Good shot there by Baker.
Baker circles away from the clinch attempt
and Baker counters with a nice leg kick.
Hardstone misses with a double jab
and Baker counters with a left to the body.
Baker is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Baker has managed to clinch.

Baker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Baker throws a body punch but Hardstone moves out of range.
A punch combination from Hardstone misses.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hardstone paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Good leg kick by Baker there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Baker rushes Hardstone and presses him up against the cage.
Baker cracks Hardstone with a nice body shot.
Baker is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hardstone is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Baker gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker lands a right hand.
Baker stalling the fight.
Hardstone looking for a takedown.
Baker gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Baker scores with a nice short uppercut.
Baker leaning against his opponent.
Baker tries to land knees in the clinch but Hardstone avoids the damage to the body.
Baker has a couple of punches blocked by Hardstone.
Baker content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Baker lands a left hand.
Rocco Hardstone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Baker lands a shoulder strike.
Hardstone can't get the takedown.
Butch Baker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Hardstone.
A short right from Baker on the inside.
Hardstone drops down looking for an ankle pick but Baker pulls his leg out and moves away.
Baker lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Baker tries to clinch but Hardstone moves out of range.
Baker lands a front kick.
Hardstone throws a left and a right that both miss

and Baker holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hardstone tries for a takedown but Baker manages to get underhooks.

Baker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hardstone misses with a double jab
and Baker makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardstone takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hardstone falls off balance throwing a combination
and Baker counters with a slapping leg kick.
Baker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hardstone.
Hardstone falls off balance throwing a combination
and Baker counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hardstone misses with a combination
and Baker counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hardstone throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hardstone misses with a double jab
and Baker counters with a nice body shot.
Hardstone throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Baker.
Baker is looking to wear down Hardstone with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Hardstone throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Baker counters with a two punch combo.
Hardstone swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Baker counters with a good low kick that Hardstone was not able to check.
Baker is looking to clinch.

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 tries to clinch but Hardstone is having none of it.
Hardstone throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hardstone checks a leg kick.
Hardstone throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hardstone misses with a combination

and Baker moves into the clinch.
Baker slowing the pace effectively.
Baker working aggressively here.
Hardstone tries for a takedown but Baker manages to get underhooks.
Hardstone being controlled against the cage.
Hardstone is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Baker gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Butch Baker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hardstone lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Baker backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Butch Baker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Baker, 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

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