PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Conan Barbarian (ranked 2207 p4p, 247 weight class) and Jonny Baker (ranked 2892 p4p, 317 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barbarian
vs
Baker

188 cm
24
163 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

174 cm
28
157 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Conan Barbarian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jonny Baker!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbarian throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barbarian throws a poor cross that misses

and Baker counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Baker is taking a breather. Barbarian says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Barbarian kicks off Baker and gets to his feet.
Barbarian throws a nice looking combination but Baker bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barbarian swinging wildly here.
Baker changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Conan Barbarian is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker slips a straight right by Barbarian.
Barbarian throws a good cross that connects.
Barbarian throws a left and a right that both miss
and Baker counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Barbarian throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barbarian will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Baker doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Barbarian looks to score with a jab to the body but Baker is just out of range.
Baker let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Baker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barbarian lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Baker backs up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbarian throws a right and a left that Baker avoids nicely.
Baker doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Baker has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Baker has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barbarian rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Baker moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barbarian looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Barbarian misses with a few strikes there.
Conan Barbarian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barbarian falls off balance throwing a combination

and Baker counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Barbarian looking to control.
Barbarian can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Baker controls the pace.
Baker won't allow Barbarian to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbarian is trying to keep Baker in close.
Baker content to stall in guard here.
Let's hope that Baker has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
It looks like Baker might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Baker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Barbarian preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barbarian will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Baker sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Barbarian working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Baker.

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.
Barbarian is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Baker is controlling him.
Barbarian wants to sweep but no luck.
Baker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Barbarian fails to land with a series of punches.
Baker with the counter takedown but Barbarian avoids it easily.
Barbarian throws a nice looking combination but Baker bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
It seemed like Baker was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Barbarian looks to score with a jab to the body but Baker is just out of range.
Baker now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Barbarian throws a left and a right that both miss

and Baker counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Baker.
Barbarian wants to stand and escape but Baker is having none of it.
Baker connects with a couple of short punches.
Baker not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Baker stops Barbarian from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conan Barbarian dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Barbarian rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Baker moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Baker is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Barbarian with a body shot.
Baker has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Barbarian finds it's way round the side to connect with Baker's head.
Conan Barbarian is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barbarian misses with a wild body shot.
Barbarian steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Baker.
A counter left hand to the body from Barbarian misses its target.
Barbarian will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice straight punches there by Barbarian. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Barbarian.
Barbarian throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbarian throws a combination that misses
and Baker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barbarian really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Barbarian misses with a leg kick

and Baker counters with a single leg into guard. Barbarian didn't expect that.
Jonny Baker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Baker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Baker content to stall in guard here.
Baker scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Baker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barbarian can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Baker controls the pace.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Baker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker tries to free his leg and advance position but Barbarian is retaining full guard.
Barbarian is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Baker can do to turn this around?
Baker stands and throws Barbarian's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The referee asks Baker politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Baker prefers to stall for the moment though.
Barbarian sneaks back into half guard.
Ground and pound from Baker.
Baker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Baker seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Baker is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barbarian defending well though.
Baker with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Baker working over Barbarian with some ground and pound. Barbarian looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Baker not doing much here.
Baker scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Barbarian wants to get back to full guard.
Baker controlling the pace.

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.
Barbarian tries to kick Baker off but Baker keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Baker in particular looking to stall.
Baker stops Barbarian from getting back to his feet.
Baker trying to control the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Barbarian connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baker throws an overhand right that lands on Barbarian's shoulder, as Barbarian tries to avoid the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Baker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Barbarian throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Baker tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Barbarian throws a right hand that Baker ducks under and follows up with a left that Baker also avoids with ease.
Baker throws a hook to the side of Barbarian's head but Barbarian sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barbarian moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Jonny Baker has been cut.
A punch combination from Barbarian misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Baker! But no joy.
Some wild striking there from Barbarian.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbarian misses with a two punch combination.
Baker drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Barbarian defends it well.
Barbarian misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbarian falls off balance throwing a combination
and Baker counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Barbarian looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barbarian misses with a looping left.
Barbarian misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Baker throws a counter combo.
Baker dodges the punch combination from Barbarian.
Baker let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Barbarian throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Baker drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Barbarian defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Barbarian.
Barbarian is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Barbarian fails to land with a series of punches.
Barbarian lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A combination from Barbarian does no damage.
Barbarian throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Baker is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Barbarian swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Baker counters with a single leg into guard. Barbarian didn't expect that.
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!
Barbarian has momentary wrist control but Baker slips an elbow through the middle.
Baker passes Barbarian's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Baker connects with a nice short shot to Barbarian's temple.
Baker controlling the pace.
Barbarian on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker content to control rather than advance.
Baker wants to pass the guard but Barbarian is defending well.
Baker looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Barbarian wants to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Baker lands a nice short elbow.
Baker slips a nice elbow through Barbarian's hands, connecting with Barbarian's forehead.

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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Baker in particular looking to stall.
Baker has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Baker controlling from mount.
Baker is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Barbarian can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Baker lands a heavy elbow.
Baker sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Barbarian squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Baker takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Baker with the ground and pound from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Conan Barbarian.
I think Barbarian 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conan Barbarian!