PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rusty Gaines (ranked 6664 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Baker (ranked 5195 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas Baker has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rusty Gaines's chin.

Gaines
vs
Baker

225 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

184 cm
25
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rusty Gaines!
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, Thomas Baker!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Reed Andrews and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Rusty Gaines has been cut.
Gaines falls off balance throwing a combination

and Baker counters by clinching up.

Baker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gaines really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gaines looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Baker clinches with his opponent.
Gaines being controlled against the cage.
Gaines tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baker tightens his grip and picks Gaines up, before dumping him to the ground. Gaines manages to land in guard.
Baker throwing strikes but missing.
Baker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gaines. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Baker prevents Gaines from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaines tries to strike from the bottom.
Gaines wants to get back to his feet but Baker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Baker tries to stand but Gaines is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gaines is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Baker gets to his feet. Gaines looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Baker changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gaines looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gaines sneaks back into half guard.
Baker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gaines's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaines is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Baker is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gaines avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Baker.
It looks like Baker is going to stand back up.
Gaines gets full guard.
Gaines tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gaines keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.
Gaines will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Baker throws an elbow that misses. Gaines uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Baker's guard. Nice move by Gaines!

Baker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker controlling Gaines's posture.
Baker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gaines won't allow Baker to sweep him here.
Baker is trying to keep Gaines in close.
Gaines landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four 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.
Gaines won't allow Baker to get back to his feet.
Gaines wants to control from the top but Baker keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Baker shoots in and bounces Gaines off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gaines bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Baker's guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baker trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Baker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rusty Gaines's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Baker tries a head kick but it misses.

Baker shoots in and gets a takedown into Gaines's guard.
Gaines manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baker manages to get himself to full guard.

Baker has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Baker wants to get back to his feet but Gaines passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker has a hand on Gaines's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Gaines takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

Gaines looking for a guillotine from mount but Baker is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaines tries to control but Baker wriggling away.
Gaines landing strikes from the mount and Baker is in trouble!
Baker regains half guard.
Gaines throwing shots but Baker is blocking nicely.
Baker holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Gaines tries to stand and escape but Baker is controlling the position.

That's two 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.
Gaines prevents Baker from standing back up.
Baker is looking for a sweep. Gaines is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gaines is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Baker doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gaines.
Baker is doing well to control the position and prevent Gaines from advancing to side control.
Baker is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker wants to stand back up but Gaines manages to pass into side control.
Baker is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Baker looks to move to half guard but instead Gaines has passed into mount! Damn!
Gaines putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Baker tries to control Gaines's body but Gaines pushes him off. Baker squirms to his side and now Gaines has his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaines has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Baker.
Baker can't escape the position.
Gaines avoiding Baker 's attempts to control his hands.
Baker prevents Gaines from getting a body triangle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Baker defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gaines's arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusty Gaines dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rusty Gaines's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Baker forces Gaines back against the cage and clinches.
Baker stalling.
Gaines fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Baker slowing the pace effectively.

Baker lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Gaines gets full guard.
Gaines is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gaines is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Baker got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gaines has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Baker has managed to get both his arms back between Gaines's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaines is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rusty Gaines overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Baker is looking to improve his position.
Baker is looking to escape.
Gaines working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Baker wants to control but Gaines is keeping busy.
Baker keeping control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaines prevents Baker from standing back up.
Gaines wants to control but Baker is keeping him busy.
Baker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gaines.
Gaines winds up and cracks Baker with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Baker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gaines not doing much here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaines shoots in for a takedown but Baker shows good takedown defense.
Gaines tries to clinch there but Baker circles away.
Gaines is looking to clinch.
Gaines shoots in and drives through. Baker sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rusty Gaines. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Baker has closed the distance and engaged Gaines in a clinch.
Baker taking a breather.

Baker has Gaines pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Baker pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Gaines tumbling to the mat - Baker dives into Gaines's guard.
Baker 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaines is looking to stand up but Baker isn't so interested in that idea.
Baker would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Baker drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gaines manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Baker has Gaines in his guard.

Gaines thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Baker looking for subs off his back but Gaines has passed one foot through into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thomas 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Thomas Baker!