PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger Schwarzeneg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Baxter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Schwarzeneg
vs
Baxter

181 cm
43
190 lbs
29 - 47 - 0

185 cm
32
178 lbs
21 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 29 - 47 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Roger Schwarzeneg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryan Baxter!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Baxter, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Schwarzeneg seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Schwarzeneg pushes Baxter up against the cage in a clinch.

Schwarzeneg is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Baxter can't fight it off and eventually Schwarzeneg manages to take the fight to the floor. Baxter looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Baxter pulls Schwarzeneg in close to his closed guard and prevents Schwarzeneg from doing any damage or advancing position.
Schwarzeneg trying to control the position from guard on top but Baxter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schwarzeneg advances to half guard.
Schwarzeneg throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Baxter is refusing to be controlled, as Schwarzeneg sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg is controlling the pace.
Schwarzeneg is trying to control. Baxter wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Baxter makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Baxter.
Baxter keeping moving, preventing Schwarzeneg from controlling successfully.
Schwarzeneg postures up in Baxter's guard and throws a big left but Baxter blocks it.
Schwarzeneg trying to stand up but can't free himself from Baxter's guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Schwarzeneg's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Schwarzeneg tries to free his leg and advance position but Baxter is retaining full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Schwarzeneg dives in and grabs Baxter's left leg, looking for a takedown. Baxter pushes down on Schwarzeneg's head and hops out.
Baxter lets loose with a powerful body kick. Schwarzeneg will feel that in the morning.
Ryan Baxter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Baxter goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Roger Schwarzeneg has been cut.
Baxter misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Schwarzeneg.

Baxter gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Schwarzeneg avoids a wild elbow strike from Baxter.
Baxter throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Schwarzenegs head.
Schwarzeneg tries to break free but Baxter pushes him back against the cage.

Baxter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Baxter throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Baxter gets a clinch.
Baxter working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg tries to pull guard but Baxter holds him up against the cage and eventually Schwarzeneg drops back down to his feet.
Baxter looking to throw knees to the head but Schwarzeneg is blocking nicely.
Schwarzeneg prevents a body shot from Baxter.
Baxter is pressed up against the cage. Schwarzeneg has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Baxter down to the mat. Baxter avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Schwarzeneg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baxter sizes up Schwarzeneg with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Baxter has taken the fight to the clinch.
Baxter lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

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

Baxter moves into the clinch.
A short left from Baxter.
Baxter stops a takedown attempt from Schwarzeneg.
Schwarzeneg tries to pull guard but Baxter won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg is trying to pull guard but Baxter turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Schwarzeneg jumps guard but Baxter stands there with Schwarzeneg around his waist. Schwarzeneg gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Baxter lands an uppercut.
Schwarzeneg is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Baxter pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Schwarzeneg is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Baxter to keep the fight standing.
A short uppercut from Baxter.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Baxter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Baxter misses with a few strikes there.
Baxter throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Schwarzeneg fails with a takedown attempt.
Schwarzeneg moves out of range of the body kick.
Baxter misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Baxter dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roger Schwarzeneg's cut.
That's time! Schwarzeneg's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Baxter closes the distance and clinches.
Ryan Baxter seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Baxter tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Baxter misses with an elbow over the top.

Baxter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baxter fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baxter swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Schwarzeneg throws a big counter combination but Baxter scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Baxter scores with a one two! Schwarzeneg had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Baxter rushes Schwarzeneg and presses him up against the cage.
Baxter with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Schwarzeneg tries to pull guard but Baxter forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter scores with a shoulder strike.
Baxter lands a right hand that snaps the head of Schwarzeneg backwards.
Schwarzeneg tries a knee to the head but Baxter blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baxter utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg tries to pull guard but Baxter forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Schwarzeneg changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Baxter fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Schwarzeneg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baxter scoring well with a low kick there.
Baxter feints and then cracks Schwarzeneg's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Schwarzeneg down.
Nice takedown defense from Baxter. No joy for Schwarzeneg on that attempt.
Baxter swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Baxter lands with a kick to the ribs.
Schwarzeneg tries to clinch but Baxter is having none of it.
Baxter unleashes a big counter combination but Schwarzeneg bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Baxter gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Baxter has his hands on Schwarzeneg's head, controlling the position.
Baxter keeping moving, preventing Schwarzeneg from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baxter trying to keep a closed guard but Schwarzeneg is proving a slippery customer.
Schwarzeneg tries to stand but Baxter is controlling from the bottom.
Baxter looking to hit a scissor sweep but Schwarzeneg is one step ahead there.
Schwarzeneg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baxter is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Schwarzeneg trying to control but Baxter is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Baxter fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Baxter displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Schwarzeneg.
Baxter throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Baxter works over Schwarzeneg's head and body with a nice combination.

Roger Schwarzeneg's cut is getting worse.
Baxter throws a leg kick but Schwarzeneg moved away.
Schwarzeneg seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Baxter lands with a hook. Schwarzeneg tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Baxter rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Schwarzeneg moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Baxter fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Baxter. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Baxter lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schwarzeneg tries a head kick but it misses.
Baxter pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baxter lands a two punch combo.

Schwarzeneg is rocked!
Schwarzeneg looks for a takedown but Baxter sprawls well.
Oh Schwarzeneg is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Baxter throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Schwarzeneg.
Schwarzeneg seems to have got his legs back now.
Baxter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Schwarzeneg shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Baxter as he jumps to the side.
Schwarzeneg tries to clinch
and Baxter counters with a nice low kick that buckles Schwarzeneg's knee momentarily.
Schwarzeneg shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Baxter as he jumps to the side.
Ryan Baxter seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Baxter lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Schwarzeneg sprawling to the canvas. Baxter follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Schwarzeneg hang on?
Baxter perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Schwarzeneg trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Baxter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Roger Schwarzeneg's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Baxter rushes Schwarzeneg and presses him up against the cage.
Schwarzeneg is trying to pull guard but Baxter has him pressed against the cage.
Baxter can't find room to land a body shot as Schwarzeneg controls the action.

Baxter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Baxter defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Schwarzeneg.
Baxter throws a sloppy head kick and Schwarzeneg moves out of range easily.
Baxter lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Oooh a lovely combination from Baxter sends Schwarzeneg down but not out. Baxter dives into side control looking to finish.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baxter working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Baxter taking a break here but Schwarzeneg is having none of it and regains half guard.
Baxter is controlling the pace.
Roger Schwarzeneg overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter is trying to control. Schwarzeneg wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Schwarzeneg lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Schwarzeneg is not content to let Baxter control the position.
Baxter slows the pace down in half guard.
Schwarzeneg tries to roll over but Baxter keeps him under control.
Baxter is trying to control the action in half guard but Schwarzeneg is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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.
Schwarzeneg misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schwarzeneg tries to get to full guard but Baxter has control of the leg.
Schwarzeneg tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Schwarzeneg darts in looking for a takedown but Baxter gets double underhooks and turns Schwarzeneg into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Schwarzeneg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baxter tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Schwarzeneg is defended easily by Baxter.

Schwarzeneg gets tackled into the cage by Baxter. Baxter maintains the clinch.
Baxter lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Baxter tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Roger Schwarzeneg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter missing with knees to the body.
Baxter creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Schwarzeneg's defenses.
A short right from Baxter on the inside.
Baxter tries a knee to the head but Schwarzeneg blocks it.

Baxter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baxter misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Schwarzeneg.
Schwarzeneg scores with a nice strike.
Schwarzeneg shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Baxter but Baxter pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baxter looks to land a combination but Schwarzeneg avoids it well.

Baxter throws a left that rocks Schwarzeneg and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Baxter dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Schwarzeneg regain composure!

Roger Schwarzeneg's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!

Baxter has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Baxter lands with a right and another and another! Schwarzeneg is in big trouble! Baxter lands again and this time it's lights out for Schwarzeneg! A quality knockout there for Baxter.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Ryan Baxter!
Ryan Baxter was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.