PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lawrence Soliman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Soliman might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to detox. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Soliman
vs
Baker

197 cm
24
224 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

188 cm
23
215 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lawrence Soliman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Frank Baker!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soliman misses with a body shot.
Lawrence Soliman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Baker decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Soliman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Baker.
Baker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Soliman trying to control but Baker postures up.
Soliman tries to roll over but Baker keeps him under control.
Soliman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Soliman is looking to improve his position.
Baker working the head and body with strikes.
Soliman taking some punishment here, with Baker in his half guard.
Soliman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Baker wants to pass the guard but Soliman is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soliman keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker wants to pass the guard but Soliman is keeping the position.
Baker is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Soliman is trying to control the position but Baker postures up.
Baker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Soliman is keeping the position for now.
Baker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Soliman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker wants to pass the guard but Soliman is keeping the position.
Soliman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Soliman wants to sweep here but Baker controlling him for the moment.
Soliman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baker manages to get himself to full guard.

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 looking to hit a scissor sweep but Soliman is one step ahead there.
Soliman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Soliman wants to stand but Baker is controlling his posture from full guard.
Baker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Baker lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Soliman!
Soliman working to try and regain half guard.

Baker looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baker is working for a guillotine from mount but Soliman frees his head quite easily.
Baker misses with a head shot.
Baker throws some wild stikes that Soliman manages to avoid easily.
Baker looking to ground and pound but Soliman is blocking nicely.
Soliman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Soliman bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Baker is looking to sweep but instead, Soliman has passed into half guard.
Soliman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Baker throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four 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 throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Soliman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Soliman's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Baker flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Baker misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baker works his way to full guard. Good work.
Baker bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Soliman's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Soliman is on top in guard.
Soliman trying to stand up but can't free himself from Baker's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Baker dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Baker closes the distance and clinches up with Soliman, looking for a takedown. Baker pushes Soliman against the cage but Soliman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Soliman getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Baker slips a jab from Soliman.
Soliman misses the shot to the body.
A slow jab from Soliman misses its intended target.
Jab from Soliman.
Baker shoots in looking for a takedown. Soliman tries to sprawl out of it but Baker keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Soliman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Soliman finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Baker shoots for a takedown but Soliman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lawrence Soliman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Baker.
Soliman takes one on the button.
Baker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Soliman as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker shoots in for a double leg but Soliman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Baker shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Soliman but Soliman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baker is breathing heavily.
Soliman lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Soliman bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Baker takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Baker misses with a looping right.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Baker.
Soliman fails to land with a series of punches.
Soliman connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Baker's hands.
Baker closes the distance and clinches up with Soliman, looking for a takedown. Baker pushes Soliman against the cage but Soliman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Baker bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soliman is looking for a sweep.
Baker tries to move to mount but Soliman blocks the move with his legs.
Baker throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Soliman manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Soliman trying to control the action but Baker is working from the bottom.
Baker regains full guard. Nicely done.
Baker throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Baker will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Baker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Soliman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Soliman would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Soliman wants to control from the top but Baker keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Soliman throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.
Soliman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Baker slips under a jab.
Baker takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Baker closes the distance and clinches up with Soliman, looking for a takedown. Baker pushes Soliman against the cage but Soliman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Soliman gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Baker with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker tries to free his leg and advance position but Soliman is retaining full guard.
Soliman pulls Baker in to control the position.
Baker is looking to work some ground and pound but Soliman has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Baker passes Soliman's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Soliman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Baker is working away from the top position though.
Soliman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Baker is looking to advance position but Soliman has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Baker flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Soliman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lawrence Soliman dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Baker avoids the head kick by Soliman.
Soliman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Baker.
Baker changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Soliman tries to avoid it but Baker manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Soliman to the ground. Soliman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Baker feints and as Soliman raises his hands in defense, Baker changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Soliman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soliman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Baker.
Baker passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Soliman is looking to reverse the position.
Baker advances to mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soliman is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Baker scoring with strikes but Soliman is staying in there.
Baker is landing with some decent strikes but Soliman is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Baker scoring with strikes but Soliman is staying in there.
Baker scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Soliman?
Baker unloads with some shots from mount but Soliman bucks and avoids them well.

Baker goes for an armbar but Soliman turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Soliman.
Soliman pushes down on Baker's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Soliman blocks the strikes from Baker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soliman content to control rather than advance.
Baker works his way to full guard. Good work.
Baker is trying to keep Soliman in close.
Soliman is looking to stand up but Baker won't let him.
Soliman stopping the sweep attempt from Baker.
Frank Baker has got the better of the ground game so far.

Baker working for a triangle but Soliman defends it easily.
Baker wants to sweep here but Soliman controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker being controlled here, momentarily.

Baker is looking for a triangle but Soliman pushes his legs off easily.
Soliman wants to pass the guard but Baker is keeping the position.
Baker wants to sweep here but Soliman controlling him for the moment.
Soliman trying to control the position from guard on top but Baker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Baker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Soliman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Baker trying to keep a closed guard but Soliman is proving a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Baker takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Soliman scores with a nice strike.
Soliman scores with a jab. Baker acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Baker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lawrence Soliman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Baker.
Soliman throws a nice outside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Frank Baker.
I think Baker has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

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