PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Big Baby (ranked 6203 p4p, 414 weight class) and Bart Gajtkowski (ranked 6211 p4p, 412 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Baby
vs
Gajtkowski

175 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Big Baby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bart Gajtkowski!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gajtkowski checks a low kick from Baby.
Baby throws a head kick but Gajtkowski moves out of range.

Gajtkowski closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gajtkowski landing strikes.
Baby manages to get back to half guard.
Baby is trying to get back to full guard.
Gajtkowski working the head and body with strikes.
Baby trying to control from the bottom.
Gajtkowski is nestled in close to Baby, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baby wants to improve his position but Gajtkowski is controlling well.
Nice strikes from Gajtkowski there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gajtkowski scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gajtkowski lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Well, if Gajtkowski is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Baby wants to control but Gajtkowski is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Baby gets back to full guard.
Gajtkowski makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gajtkowski controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gajtkowski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baby. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gajtkowski landing with the ground and pound.
Baby lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baby trying to control the position from guard on top but Gajtkowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gajtkowski can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gajtkowski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Baby throwing strikes from guard but Gajtkowski blocks nicely.
Baby is looking to advance position but Gajtkowski has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Gajtkowski landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gajtkowski landing strikes from the mount and Baby is in trouble!
Baby slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Gajtkowski looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Baby gets full guard.

Gajtkowski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Baby has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gajtkowski has managed to get both his arms back between Baby's legs - danger averted.
Baby lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Baby trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Baby stands up over Gajtkowski, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Baby tries to free his leg and advance position but Gajtkowski is retaining full guard.
Baby sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gajtkowski's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gajtkowski is looking to improve his position.
Baby uses his free foot to push down on Gajtkowski's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gajtkowski.
Baby trying to control but Gajtkowski is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gajtkowski is wriggling around trying to escape.
Baby throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bart Gajtkowski will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A head kick misses from Baby.
Baby swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baby misses with a head kick.
Gajtkowski blocks a jab.
Baby tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gajtkowski swivels and escapes.
No joy there for Gajtkowski, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Gajtkowski drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baby manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gajtkowski won't allow Baby to pass to mount.
Gajtkowski is staying active underneath Baby, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gajtkowski keeping hold of Baby's head, controlling as best he can.
Baby trying to control the action but Gajtkowski is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Baby is looking to advance position but Gajtkowski won't allow it.
Baby wants to control but Gajtkowski is keeping him busy.
Baby works his foot free and advances to mount.
Baby putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gajtkowski is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baby tries to control but Gajtkowski wriggling away.
Baby is landing with some decent strikes but Gajtkowski is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Baby raining down shots from the mount!
Baby punching from mount but Gajtkowski doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Baby raining down hammerfists from mount.
Baby trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baby throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Gajtkowski because Baby loaded up on that one.
Baby is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gajtkowski can do to turn this around?
Gajtkowski is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Baby lands a couple of good shots and Gajtkowski has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Baby has the hooks in. Gajtkowski is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Baby wants to control but Gajtkowski is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gajtkowski takes a big shot to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baby thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big Baby dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gajtkowski shoots in for a double leg but Baby sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gajtkowski just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromBaby.
Baby throws a nice outside leg kick.

Gajtkowski gets a double leg takedown into Baby's guard.
Baby trying to control the position.

Baby working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gajtkowski doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gajtkowski manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gajtkowski controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gajtkowski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baby manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gajtkowski manages to get himself to full guard.

Gajtkowski avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gajtkowski keeping moving, preventing Baby from controlling successfully.
Baby is pushing down on Gajtkowski's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gajtkowski is fighting to maintain full guard but Baby has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gajtkowski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gajtkowski avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Baby.
Gajtkowski keeping control of the position.
Gajtkowski keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Baby is keen to just control but Gajtkowski is a slippery customer.
Baby is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Baby looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gajtkowski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Baby wants to take a breather but Gajtkowski is having none of it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Baby missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Baby throws a head kick that misses.
Baby misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baby misses with a body shot.
Baby tries to land a body kick

and Gajtkowski counters with a takedown into side control.
Gajtkowski scoring with punches from side control.
Baby manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gajtkowski's best efforts.
The fighters are battling for position here. Baby manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Baby is on top in guard.

Baby throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Baby trying to control but Gajtkowski is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gajtkowski avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gajtkowski wants to sweep here but Baby controlling him for the moment.
Baby pushing down on Gajtkowski's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Baby looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gajtkowski is looking for a sweep. Baby is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Baby lands a nice short elbow.
Baby wants to pass to mount but Gajtkowski is defending the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Big Baby showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Baby has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Big Baby!