PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joaquin Baker (ranked 24806 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Nibak (ranked 6218 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baker
vs
Nibak

170 cm
19
151 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

166 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joaquin Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manny Nibak!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nibak feints and as Baker raises his hands in defense, Nibak changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Baker striking off his back but it's not causing Nibak any problems.

Baker throws his legs up looking for a submission but Nibak uses it to pass to side control.

Nibak decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Nibak clinches with his opponent.

Nibak jumps into guard, dragging Baker to the mat.

Nibak has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Baker off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Nibak looking to score a takedown here. Baker is defending well but Nibak drives through and ends up in Baker's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Baker is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nibak defends well.
Nibak looking to pass the guard.

Nibak thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Baker trying to control the position.

Baker looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nibak trying to control but Baker is working from the bottom.
Nibak controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Baker throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Nibak engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Baker is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nibak preventing the sweep.

Baker isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Nibak stacks Baker on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Nibak!
Nibak just content to control the position.

Nibak tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Baker trying to remain calm as Nibak controls from the top position.
Nibak creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Baker sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Baker is trying to control Nibak's posture but Nibak avoids it.

Nibak thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker wants to control but Nibak postures up.
Nibak is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Baker is not content to let Nibak control the position.

Nibak is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Baker has escaped the position, nice work there.
Baker is not content to let Nibak control the position.

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.
A lull in the action here as Nibak stalls from top position.
Baker can't do much from the bottom here.
Baker tries to buck Nibak off but Nibak is having none of it.
Baker tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Baker misses with a strike from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Baker sneaks back into half guard.
Nibak thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Baker's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Baker actively working from the bottom here.
Baker trying to control but Nibak postures up.
Nibak missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Nibak dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Baker fails in his attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Baker can't get the takedown.
Baker is looking for a takedown.

Nibak tightens his grip and picks Baker up, before dumping him to the ground. Baker manages to land in guard.
Baker wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Nibak is now in half guard.
Nibak not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Nibak blocks the strikes from Baker.
Nibak is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Nibak seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Baker does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Nibak stands up out of the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nibak rushes Baker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nibak wants to break the clinch but can't.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Baker.
Baker has Nibak pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nibak manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joaquin Baker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nibak is looking to break free of the clinch but Baker has double underhooks.

Nibak is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Baker can't fight it off and eventually Nibak manages to take the fight to the floor. Baker looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Baker is working an open guard so Nibak takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Nibak clinches up with Baker and pushes him back against the cage.
Baker can't break the clinch.
Nibak stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker is looking to take this one to the mat.
Baker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Nibak drags the fight down to the ground.
Baker chips away with some ground and pound.
Nibak looking to control.
Baker throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Baker wants to control from the top but Nibak keeps moving.
Manny Nibak has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baker is fighting to break Nibak's control of his arms but Nibak is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baker drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nibak looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nibak looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nibak!

Nibak 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.
Nibak trying to control the action but Baker is working from the bottom.

Nibak tries for a kimura but Baker is defending well.
Baker tries to improve position but can't.
Nibak working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nibak throws an elbow but Baker slips to the side and avoids it well.
Nibak wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baker keeps working.

Nibak looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Nibak tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nibak has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nibak wants to control but Baker is keeping him busy.
Nibak has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Nibak decides to stand back up. Nibak steps back and let's Baker get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nibak scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nibak controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Nibak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nibak tries to sprawl but Baker drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nibak manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Baker chips away with some ground and pound.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Nibak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nibak looking for a sweep. Not yet Nibak, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nibak not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Baker got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nibak has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Baker has managed to get both his arms back between Nibak's legs - danger averted.
Nibak looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nibak throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Baker.
Nibak misses with a few strikes there.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch but Nibak swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Nibak shoots in and gets a takedown into Baker's guard.
Nibak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Nibak is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Baker has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Nibak is looking to defend but Baker has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Nibak! Baker pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Nibak taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Joaquin Baker!