PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steffen Baier (ranked 4810 p4p, 207 weight class) and Mister Mxyzptlk (ranked 6208 p4p, 243 weight class). Mister Mxyzptlk is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Baier
vs
Mxyzptlk

168 cm
19
136 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

168 cm
19
144 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Steffen Baier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mister Mxyzptlk!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baier lands with an overhand left.
Baier fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Baier lands a nice shot that snaps Mxyzptlk's head back.
Baier cracks Mxyzptlk with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mxyzptlk takes one to the side of the head.
Baier shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mxyzptlk pinned against the ropes. Mxyzptlk gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mxyzptlk feints the counter takedown.
Baier looks for a takedown but Mxyzptlk sprawls well.
Mxyzptlk's coach down at The 'dam Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Mxyzptlk's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Baier jabs Mxyzptlk right on the nose. Mxyzptlk blinks but takes it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baier has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steffen Baier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baier lands an overhand right.
Mxyzptlk looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mxyzptlk has Baier up against the ropes in a clinch.
Mxyzptlk working Baier over with knees to the body.

Mxyzptlk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mxyzptlk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Baier appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mxyzptlk takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mxyzptlk connects with a solid leg kick.
It looks like Baier has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Mxyzptlk will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Baier cracks Mxyzptlk with a right hand to the side of the head.
Baier misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mxyzptlk drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Baier defends it well.
Mxyzptlk keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mxyzptlk takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baier is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mxyzptlk shoots for a double leg takedown but Baier sprawls well. He's pushed Mxyzptlk's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
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!
Baier dives in and grabs Mxyzptlk's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mxyzptlk pushes down on Baier's head and hops out.
Baier with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mxyzptlk walks into a straight right hand from Baier.
Mxyzptlk displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Baier.
Baier throws a good cross that connects.
Baier ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A clash of legs there as Baier blocks the low kick.

Baier feints and as Mxyzptlk raises his hands in defense, Baier changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mxyzptlk is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Baier passes Mxyzptlk's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mxyzptlk is staying active underneath Baier, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Mxyzptlk looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Baier moves nicely into side control.
Mxyzptlk gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Mxyzptlk wants to hold on but Baier pushes him away.
Baier tries to control but Mxyzptlk wriggling away.
Mxyzptlk is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Baier has taken his back.
Mxyzptlk turns into Baier and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mxyzptlk wants to control from the top but Baier keeps moving.
Mxyzptlk won't allow Baier to sweep him here.
Mxyzptlk tries to free his leg and advance position but Baier is retaining full guard.
Mxyzptlk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Baier is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mxyzptlk defends well.
Baier not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mxyzptlk missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Baier looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mxyzptlk is one step ahead there.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Baier wants to improve his position but instead Mxyzptlk has moved into half guard.
Mxyzptlk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baier keeps working.
Baier is trying to get back to full guard.
Baier is working hard here to advance position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Baier is trying to maintain the position but Mxyzptlk is very close to passing his half guard.
Mxyzptlk working Baier over with strikes.
Mxyzptlk is trying to control the action in half guard but Baier is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mxyzptlk is pressing down on Baier's thigh, looking to free his foot. Baier is holding on for now.
Baier is looking to improve his position.
Baier gets full guard.
Mxyzptlk trying to control but Baier is working from the bottom.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Baier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mxyzptlk gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Baier has his foot on Mxyzptlk's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mxyzptlk works his way back into a safe position though.
Baier looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mxyzptlk is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mxyzptlk stuffs the takedown.
Mxyzptlk takes one to the chin there.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Baier misses
and Mxyzptlk counters with a stiff right hand.
Baier tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mxyzptlk swivels and escapes.
Baier throws a looping overhand right but Mxyzptlk ducks down to avoid it.
Mxyzptlk now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Mxyzptlk on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Mxyzptlk misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mxyzptlk looks to score with a jab to the body but Baier is just out of range.
Baier connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Baier cracks Mxyzptlk with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Mxyzptlk walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Baier fails with the takedown
and Mxyzptlk cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mxyzptlk misses with a double jab.
Baier moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Baier looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Mxyzptlk looking for submissions off his back.
Baier is looking to advance position but Mxyzptlk won't allow it.
Mxyzptlk is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mxyzptlk makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mxyzptlk.
Mxyzptlk manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baier manages to get himself to full guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steffen Baier dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice straight punches there by Baier. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Baier.
Mxyzptlk drops his hands momentarily and Baier takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Baier scores with a decent looking hook.
Baier with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Baier is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mxyzptlk can do to turn this around?
Baier misses with a body shot.
Baier lands with a shot to the body.
Mxyzptlk will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Baier throws a hook to the side of Mxyzptlk's head but Mxyzptlk sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Baier lands a glancing blow to the side of Mxyzptlk's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mxyzptlk stuffs the takedown.
Baier connects with a single shot there.
Mxyzptlk shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A swing and a miss from Baier.
Steffen Baier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mxyzptlk closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Baier's guard.
Baier wants to control the position but Mxyzptlk says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Baier wants to improve his position but Mxyzptlk is controlling well.
Mxyzptlk wants to pass the guard but Baier is defending well.
Mxyzptlk prevents Baier from improving his position.
Mxyzptlk lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mxyzptlk is trying to control. Baier wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Baier trying to control but Mxyzptlk postures up.
Mxyzptlk works his foot free and advances to mount.
Baier keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mister Mxyzptlk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mxyzptlk looking to control but Baier is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Baier gets back to half guard.
Baier is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Baier is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mxyzptlk working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Baier's thigh. Baier counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Mxyzptlk slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Baier is trying to improve his position.
Mxyzptlk working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Mxyzptlk gets to mount! Baier was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Baier tries to hold on but Mxyzptlk postures up.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Baier is looking to improve his position but Mxyzptlk isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
BOOM! Mxyzptlk connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Mxyzptlk prevents Baier from getting the reversal.
Mxyzptlk lands a big shot there that rocks Baier but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mxyzptlk punching from mount but Baier doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Mxyzptlk landing shots from mount.
Baier wants to control but Mxyzptlk is having none of it.
Mxyzptlk prevents Baier from getting the reversal.
Mister Mxyzptlk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Mxyzptlk connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Mxyzptlk in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Baier is rocked!
Mxyzptlk postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Baier in real trouble here! The ref calls for Baier to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mister Mxyzptlk!