PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Big Baby (ranked 5186 p4p, 357 weight class) and Dax Baxter (ranked 24463 p4p, 476 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Baby
vs
Baxter

175 cm
19
156 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

172 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite 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 2 - 2 - 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dax Baxter!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baby looks for the body kick but Baxter saw that one coming.
Baxter with the counter takedown but Baby avoids it easily.
Baby thows a left - swing and a miss!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Baby.
Baxter misses with a hook. Baby ducked under it nicely.
We've been told by Baby's head coaches at BIGISLAND BIGGUNS WARRIOR TRAINING that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Baxter moves out of range as Baby throws a body kick.
Baby with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A jab from Baxter finds it's way through Baby's defenses.
Baxter bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Baby's head backwards.
Baby misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baxter.
Baby throws a leg kick
and Baxter counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Baby turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Baxter misses with a body punch
and Baby makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Baby tried to score with a low kick but Baxter checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baby scores with a head kick. Baxter tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Baby feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Baxter's calf.
Baxter avoids the head kick by Baby.
A good leg kick by Baby.
Baby throws a leg kick that is checked

and Baxter counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Baxter gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
A head kick from Baby lands but Baxter takes it in his stride.
Baxter scores with a nice strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Decent striking displayed by Baxter there.
Baxter moves into range and connects with a jab.
Baxter stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Baby.
Baby plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Baxter lands with a hook. Baby tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baby throws a hook but Baxter blocks it.
Baxter let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Baby throws a push kick but Baxter slaps the foot to one side.
Baxter with the counter takedown but Baby avoids it easily.
Baby throws a leg kick that is checked

and Baxter counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Baxter controls from within his opponent's guard.

Baxter stands up and waves to Baby to follow him.
Baxter tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Baby tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Baxter checks a low kick from Baby.
Baby throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baby cracks the inside of Baxter's front leg.
Baby throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Baby misses with a head kick.
Baxter looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Baby throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Baby pivots, looking for a leg kick but Baxter is out of range and Baby settles back down.
Baby pivots, looking for a leg kick but Baxter is out of range and Baby settles back down.
Baxter is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Baby with a body shot.
Baxter has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Baby thumps Baxter with a low kick.
Baxter scores with a hook to the body. Baby takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Baxter sizes up Baby with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A slow jab from Baxter misses its intended target.
Baby throws a quick counter head kick but Baxter was just out of range.
Baxter ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Baxter throws a body punch but Baby moves out of range.
Baby tried to counter with a leg kick but Baxter avoided it.
Baxter throws a hook but Baby avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baby does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Baby looks to land a body kick but Baxter moved away.
Baby tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Baxter is able to avoid easily.
Baby wants to slow Baxter down by chopping away at his legs.
Baxter drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Baby defends it well.
Baby throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baxter swings for the body but Baby moves out of range.
Baby ducks right into an uppercut from Baxter.
Baby misses with a head kick.
Baxter throws a series of punches but Baby moves out of range.
Baby lands with a thumping leg kick.
Baby motions for Baxter to come forward. Baby throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Baby takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Big Baby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baxter avoids the head kick by Baby.
Baxter let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Big Baby will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Baby ducks under a wild hook from Baxter.
Baby tries to land a leg kick but Baxter saw it coming and moves away.
Baxter takes a kick to the side of the head.
Baby tries a head kick but it misses.
Baby misses with a straight right.
Baby's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Baxter connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Baby scrambles back to his feet.
Baxter misses with a lunging right hand
and Baby counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Baxter swings for the body but Baby moves out of range.
Baby closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Baxter's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Baxter checks the leg kick.
Baxter takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Baby does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Baby lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baby throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Baby misses with an attempted mid kick.
Baby avoids the body shot from Baxter.
Baby looks to throw the jab but Baxter is out of range.
Baxter tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Baxter misses with a right hand
and Baby counters with an outside leg kick.
Good leg kick by Baby there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Baby misses with a head kick.
Baxter keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Baby throws a leg kick but Baxter sees it coming and moves out of range.
Baxter with the counter takedown but Baby avoids it easily.
Baby throws a low kick but Baxter moves out of range easily.
A big right from Baxter misses.
Baxter takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baby lands with a kick to the ribs.
Baby throws a leg kick

and Baxter counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Baxter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baby is keeping the position for now.
Baby trying to control the position.
Baxter controls from within his opponent's guard.
Baby working a defensive guard here.

Baby is working an open guard so Baxter takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A low kick from Baby misses
and Baxter counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter staying out of range there.
Baby throws a head kick but Baxter moves out of range.
Baby tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Baxter was well out of range. Poor timing from Baby.
Baby lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Big Baby is winning the standup battle so far.
Baby is looking to score with low kicks.
Baby tries to land a body kick

and Baxter counters with a single leg into guard. Baby didn't expect that.
Baby is looking to sweep but instead, Baxter has passed into half guard.
Dax Baxter has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baby tries to roll over but Baxter keeps him under control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baby trying to control but Baxter postures up.
Baxter looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baxter's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baby trying to hold on to Baxter's head to control him but Baxter postures up.
Baby is looking to improve his position.
Baxter trying to control the pace.
Baby is controlling Baxter's trapped leg to prevent Baxter from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Big Baby will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Baby throws a nice inside leg kick.
Baby uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Baxter.
A low kick from Baby is predictable there

and Baxter counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Baby!

Baxter decides to stand back up. Baxter steps back and let's Baby get back to his feet.
Baby misses with a body kick.
Baby throws a leg kick that is checked

and Baxter counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Baby!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baby is looking for a sweep.

Baxter stands up.
Baby misses with a leg kick

so Baxter counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Baby looking for a sweep. Not yet Baby, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baby trying to control the position.
Baxter controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Baxter slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Baby looking for a sweep. Not yet Baby, not yet.
Baby is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Baby keeping moving, preventing Baxter from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Baxter keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Baby misses with a hook. Baxter ducked under it nicely.
Big Baby is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Baby throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A lazy body kick from Baby

and Baxter counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Baby tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Baxter manages to move to mount!
Baxter takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Baby wants to control but Baxter is having none of it.
Baby working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter controlling from the full mount.
Baxter wants to control the pace but Baby is squirming around nicely.
Baxter controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four 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.
Baby gets back to half guard.
Baby is positioning himself well to prevent Baxter advancing to mount.

Baxter decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Baby's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Baxter connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Baby scrambles back to his feet.
Baby turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Baby pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baby throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A low kick from Baby misses

and Baxter decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Baby's guard.
Baxter controls from within his opponent's guard.
Dax Baxter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baby not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dax Baxter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Baby has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Big Baby!
Big Baby seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.