PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dennis Baker (ranked 5360 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roronoa Zoro (ranked 5443 p4p, 0 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.

Baker
vs
Zoro

167 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
21
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dennis Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roronoa Zoro!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Chad Campbell and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zoro lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Baker backs up against the cage.

It looks like Dennis Baker has been cut.
A jab from Baker misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Baker.
Zoro wants to get back to his feet but Baker is dominant here and he's now got Zoro's back!

Baker has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Baker is hanging on to Zoro's back as he tries to escape.
Baker loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Zoro hold on?
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!

Baker has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Baker tightening his grip on Zoro, looking for the choke.
Zoro wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baker is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Zoro is defending well though. Baker let's go of the attempt for now.
Zoro is in bad spot here.

Baker patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Zoro wants to get back to his feet.

Baker is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Zoro trying to get back to his feet but Baker is in full control for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoro turns into Baker and is now in his guard.
Baker might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Baker is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Zoro looking to sit in guard and control but Baker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zoro striking off his back but it's not causing Baker any problems.

Zoro working for submissions but it's allowed Baker to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Zoro actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baker is looking for a kimura here.

Baker is working for a kimura but Zoro is defending it quite comfortably.

Zoro actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zoro tries to get to full guard but Baker has control of the leg.

Baker is looking for a kimura here.
Baker wants to control but Zoro is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baker keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Baker prevents Zoro from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dennis Baker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dennis Baker's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zoro gets caught flat footed, as Baker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Zoro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Baker is aware though and is defending well.

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

Zoro pushes Baker off and scrambles back to his feet.

Baker drives through with a takedown into guard.

Zoro manages to escape and get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dennis Baker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Baker scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker wants to control but Zoro is keeping him busy.
Baker is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Baker prevents Zoro from standing back up.
Baker takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Baker seems to be looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zoro is staying active underneath Baker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Baker seems to be looking for submissions.
Zoro wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.

Baker changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zoro looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Zoro sneaks out the side door and pushes Baker away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Baker shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Baker showed some decent athleticism there.

Zoro kicks off Baker and gets to his feet.

Zoro scores with a takedown into Baker's guard.
Zoro trying to control the position from guard on top but Baker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zoro stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Baker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zoro is looking for the big counter here.

Baker gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Baker has a closed guard, preventing Zoro from standing up.
Zoro with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zoro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zoro trying to control the position from guard on top but Baker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zoro throws an elbow that misses. Baker uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zoro's guard. Nice move by Baker!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zoro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Roronoa Zoro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baker is stalling in the full guard.

Baker gets to his feet - Zoro follows without any prompting.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zoro.
Zoro in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Baker is trying to control Zoro's posture but Zoro avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roronoa Zoro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dennis Baker's cut.
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!

Zoro feints and as Baker raises his hands in defense, Zoro changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Baker throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Zoro escapes and throws Baker's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Baker is looking for a sweep.
Zoro throws a strike aimed at the side of Baker's head but Baker avoids it well.
Zoro working the ground and pound but Baker is defending the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zoro throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Zoro in side control, throwing shots but Baker defends.
Baker regains half guard.
Baker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zoro.

Baker looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zoro stands up from half guard.

Zoro manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Baker on his heels. He'll look to pass Baker's guard now, I'm sure.
Zoro postures up in Baker's guard and throws a big left but Baker blocks it.
Zoro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Zoro decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Baker misses with a combination
and Zoro counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoro scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Zoro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Baker shoots in for a double leg but Zoro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zoro swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Baker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
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!

Zoro feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Zoro chips away with some ground and pound.
Zoro slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Zoro is trying to get an arm triangle but Baker is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoro throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zoro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Zoro is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Baker has escaped the position, nice work there.
Baker is trying to control Zoro's posture but Zoro avoids it.

Zoro goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Baker has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Zoro but great work by Baker.

Baker is trying to get an arm triangle but Zoro is defending well.
Zoro manages to work his way to half guard, despite Baker's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Baker is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Zoro gets full guard.
Baker could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Baker wants to control from the top but Zoro keeps moving.
Baker won't allow Zoro to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roronoa Zoro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zoro has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roronoa Zoro!