PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Russel Baird (ranked 4725 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Toews (ranked 3257 p4p, 342 weight class). Toews has chosen Till I Collapse as his entrance music. Jonathan Toews will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Baird
vs
Toews

153 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Russel Baird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jonathan Toews!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Toews moves into the clinch.
Baird blocks a body shot from Toews.
Baird tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Toews is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Baird tries for a takedown but Toews manages to get underhooks.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Baird takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Toews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Toews darts in and clinches Baird up against the cage.

Baird pulls Toews into guard.
Baird really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Toews trying to control but Baird is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toews tries to free his leg and advance position but Baird is retaining full guard.

Toews stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toews ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baird moves away.

Toews gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Baird to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Baird throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Toews works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Toews has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Baird has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Toews is pressed up against the cage. Baird has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Toews down to the mat. Toews avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russel Baird. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Toews shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Baird is trying to defend but Toews finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Toews is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Baird sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toews wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baird keeps working.
Baird wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Toews is keen to just control but Baird is a slippery customer.
Baird is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Baird is trying is best to control the position here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toews tries a head kick but it misses.

Toews clinches.

Toews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Toews fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baird, pushing him back against the cage.

Toews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Toews clinches up with Baird and pushes him back against the cage.
Toews stops a takedown attempt from Baird.

Toews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Toews. Baird does a little dance to reset his feet.
Toews connects with a body shot.
Baird looks for a takedown but Toews sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Toews darts in and clinches Baird up against the cage.
Baird is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Toews pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Baird could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Toews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Toews pushes Baird up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Toews manages to break the clinch.

Baird bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Toews tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Baird wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Baird goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Toews has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Baird but great work by Toews.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baird is breathing heavily.
Baird tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Toews wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Toews dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Toews, as that shot connected.

It looks like Russel Baird has been cut.

Toews clinches up against the cage.

Toews manages to break the clinch.
Jonathan Toews seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Toews slaps away a takedown attempt from Baird, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Toews moves into range and clinches up with Baird.
Baird is trying to force a seperation but Toews has the dominant position.

Toews drags the fight down to the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baird preventing the sweep.
Baird throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Toews works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Toews looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Toews has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baird lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Jonathan Toews has got the better of the ground game so far.
Toews is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Baird is controlling him.

Toews had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Baird defends it easily.
Toews lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Toews wants to stand but Baird is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Baird tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Toews wants to control from the top but Baird keeps moving.
Baird looking for a sweep. Not yet Baird, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird keeping moving, preventing Toews from controlling successfully.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Toews has Baird pressed against the cage, preventing Baird from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Baird is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Toews is defending well.

Toews pulls guard effortlessly.
Baird postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Baird postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Baird stopping the sweep attempt from Toews.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baird is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Baird stands up and waves to Toews to follow him.

Toews moves into the clinch.

Toews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Toews takes the fight into the clinch.
Baird changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Toews fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russel Baird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Toews moves into range and clinches up with Baird.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Toews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Russel Baird's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Baird ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Toews moves away.

Baird shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Toews is trying to defend but Baird finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Toews makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Toews fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baird, pushing him back against the cage.
Toews content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Baird tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Toews just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jonathan Toews seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Baird keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Toews's efforts to push away.
Toews gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Baird.
Toews wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Toews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Toews fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baird, pushing him back against the cage.

Toews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Toews rushes Baird and presses him up against the cage.
Baird is trying to drag Toews to the mat but Toews just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russel Baird. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Baird has clasped his hands together around Toews's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Toews tries to escape but Baird is in control.

Baird tries for a kimura but Toews is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toews regains half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Toews tries to roll over but Baird keeps him under control.
Toews keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Baird stops Toews from getting back to his feet.

Baird is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Toews doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Baird.
Toews is trying to stand.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Toews manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Baird looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Toews working a defensive guard here.
Toews wants to sweep here but Baird controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baird postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Toews is looking to stand up but Baird isn't so interested in that idea.
Toews utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Toews preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Toews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Toews shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Baird is trying to defend but Toews finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonathan Toews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Toews 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonathan Toews!
An out of breath Jonathan Toews thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.