PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ray Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Baldwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jeff Baldwin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Leonard
vs
Baldwin

185 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

172 cm
23
181 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

MMA Hype Apparel
Instinct

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Leonard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeff Baldwin!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Kavanagh and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baldwin instigates a clinch.
Baldwin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Baldwin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Leonard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Baldwin's efforts to push away.
Leonard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Baldwin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Leonard pulls Baldwin into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leonard working a defensive guard here.

Leonard has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Baldwin is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Leonard.
Baldwin trying to control the position but Leonard is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baldwin trying to control the position but Leonard is working away.
Leonard sneaks back into half guard.
Leonard is staying active underneath Baldwin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Baldwin is thwarting Leonard's attempts to control the position.

Leonard looking for submissions off his back.
Baldwin wants to control but Leonard is keeping him busy.
Baldwin throwing shots but Leonard is blocking nicely.
Baldwin has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Abobomination Training $700 13 LEGIT elite coaches. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Leonard tries to get to full guard but Baldwin has control of the leg.
Leonard is refusing to be controlled, as Baldwin sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Leonard works his way to full guard. Good work.

Leonard has his foot on Baldwin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Baldwin works his way back into a safe position though.
Leonard keeping moving, preventing Baldwin from controlling successfully.
Baldwin should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Leonard keeping full guard, as Baldwin tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Baldwin slaps away a takedown attempt from Leonard, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Baldwin doesn't manage to clinch there - Leonard circles away.
Leonard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Baldwin avoids it really well and circles away.
Leonard seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Baldwin throws a head kick that misses.
Leonard seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Baldwin wants to clinch
and Leonard counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Leonard tries to score a power double leg takedown but Baldwin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Leonard somewhat.
Baldwin is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leonard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Leonard seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A slapping body kick lands there for Baldwin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Baldwin swivels and escapes.
Leonard shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leonard is breathing heavily.
Baldwin throws a right hand that Leonard ducks under and follows up with a left that Leonard also avoids with ease.
Baldwin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Leonard fails to land the takedown.
Leonard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Baldwin's waist but Baldwin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Leonard off to one side.
Baldwin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Leonard defends it well.
Baldwin moves out of range as Leonard throws a body kick.
Baldwin feints the counter takedown.
Baldwin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
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!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baldwin lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Baldwin drives through and clinches with Leonard against the cage.
Baldwin is pressed up against the cage. Leonard has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Baldwin down to the mat. Baldwin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Baldwin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Baldwin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Baldwin wants it to stay on the feet.
Leonard fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Baldwin throws a sloppy head kick and Leonard moves out of range easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baldwin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
An inside leg kick lands from Baldwin.
Baldwin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard keeps the fight on the outside.
Baldwin tries a head kick but it misses.
Baldwin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Jeff Baldwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baldwin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baldwin is looking to land body kicks.
Leonard looks for a takedown but Baldwin sprawls well.
Baldwin tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Baldwin pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Leonard shoots for a takedown but Baldwin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leonard swats away the attempt to clinch by Baldwin.
Leonard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Leonard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ray Leonard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baldwin lands a jab to Leonard's midsection.

Leonard gets a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baldwin trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin wants to get back to full guard.
Baldwin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Leonard scores with a couple of nice shots.

Leonard decides to return to a standing position.
Baldwin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Baldwin is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Leonard.

It looks like Jeff Baldwin has been cut.
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!
Baldwin pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Baldwin.
Baldwin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Ray Leonard has been cut.
Leonard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Leonard swinging wildly here.
Leonard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Leonard has a takedown stuffed.
Baldwin gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Leonard counters with a series of strikes. Baldwin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Leonard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin tries to clinch but Leonard moves out of range.
Leonard seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A good leg kick by Baldwin.
A combination from Baldwin does no damage.
Leonard went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Baldwin bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baldwin looks to land a combination but Leonard avoids it well.
Baldwin digs a good hook to Leonard's body.
Baldwin slips a jab and a cross from Leonard.
Baldwin is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Baldwin connects with a crisp jab.
Baldwin throws a body kick that misses
and Leonard counters with a series of strikes. Baldwin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Leonard swats away the attempt to clinch by Baldwin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jeff Baldwin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Baldwin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baldwin has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Leonard.
Baldwin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leonard circles away quickly and effectively.
Leonard went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Leonard moves out of range as Baldwin throws a body kick.

Leonard fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Baldwin sprawls well initially but Leonard persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Leonard prevents Baldwin from standing back up.
Leonard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Leonard scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baldwin is defending against the submission attempts here by Leonard.

Leonard escapes and gets back to his feet.
Baldwin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Baldwin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Baldwin is wriggling around but Leonard manages to pass to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leonard is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Baldwin as he works his way to full guard.
Baldwin wants to stand and escape but Leonard is having none of it.

Baldwin is working an open guard so Leonard takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Baldwin lands with a straight right. Leonard didn't see that one coming.
Leonard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard misses with a takedown attempt - Baldwin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Baldwin with the counter takedown but Leonard avoids it easily.
Baldwin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Baldwin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baldwin throws a head kick but Leonard moves out of range.
Leonard dives in and grabs Baldwin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Baldwin pushes down on Leonard's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baldwin connects with a high kick.
Leonard goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Baldwin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Leonard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Baldwin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Jeff Baldwin seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Baldwin checks a leg kick.
Leonard fails with a takedown attempt.
Baldwin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Leonard at a distance.

Baldwin drives through and clinches with Leonard against the cage.
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!
Baldwin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Baldwin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ray Leonard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baldwin misses with a body punch.
Jeff Baldwin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Leonard lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Baldwin or not.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff Baldwin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Baldwin 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Baldwin!
An intense looking Jeff Baldwin took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'I think I am Bruce Lee reincarnated. I do God damn pull ups perpendicular. I wouldn't fight my self. Bring it.'.