PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Russel Baird (ranked 6148 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francisco Pendas (ranked 4712 p4p, 0 weight class). Francisco Pendas has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Russel Baird's chin.

Baird
vs
Pendas

153 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Russel Baird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Francisco Pendas!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Chris Saunders and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pendas instigates a clinch.

Pendas gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Pendas seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Baird does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pendas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pendas with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Pendas tries to stand and escape but Baird actually recovers to full guard.
Pendas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baird is adopting a defensive guard.
Baird has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baird keeping moving, preventing Pendas from controlling successfully.
Pendas stopping the sweep attempt from Baird.
Baird really is a fat lump.
Baird has his hands on Pendas's head, controlling the position.

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

Baird gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pendas trying to move into half guard but instead Baird has managed to sweep!

Baird really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Pendas trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird postures up in Pendas's guard and throws a big left but Pendas blocks it.
Baird is standing up over Pendas. Pendas looks to escape but Baird dives into side control.
Pendas 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.

Pendas explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Pendas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Pendas moves into range and clinches up with Baird.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pendas taking a breather.

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

Pendas drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pendas trying to control but Baird is working from the bottom.
Pendas wants to pass the guard but Baird is keeping the position.
Baird has Pendas pulled in close to control his posture.
Baird might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pendas is in close to Baird's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Baird pulls Pendas in close to prevent any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

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.
Baird preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Baird doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pendas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Baird doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pendas counters with a right hand to the body.

Pendas looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Pendas wants to take a breather but Baird is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baird wants to improve his position but Pendas is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francisco Pendas dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pendas drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Baird is looking to reverse the position.
Pendas lands some shots froms side control.
Pendas wants to stand but Baird is controlling his arm.
Baird tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pendas wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baird wants to control but Pendas postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baird manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Baird is not content to let Pendas control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baird trying to control but Pendas postures up.
Francisco Pendas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pendas passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Baird!
Baird is squirming around, avoiding Pendas's attempts to control the action.
Pendas looking to ground and pound but Baird is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pendas wants to control the pace but Baird is squirming around nicely.
Baird keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Baird wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Pendas.
Baird tries to hold on but Pendas pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird is in all sorts of trouble here.

Pendas jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Baird is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Baird and Pendas has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Pendas decides to stand back up. Pendas steps back and let's Baird get back to his feet.
Baird closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pendas circles away.

Pendas 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.

Baird scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Pendas closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Baird quickly recovers to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pendas is trying to control the action in half guard but Baird is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Baird is pressing down on Pendas's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Pendas is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pendas trying to control the position from guard on top but Baird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baird is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francisco Pendas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Baird shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pendas sprawls well. Pendas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Baird gets slowly back to his feet.

Baird closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Baird lands in his opponent's guard.
Baird distracts Pendas with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pendas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Baird missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baird throwing strikes from guard but Pendas blocks nicely.
Baird throws an elbow that misses. Pendas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Baird's guard. Nice move by Pendas!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pendas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baird is keeping the position for now.
Pendas forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Pendas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Pendas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Baird is just riding it out for now. Pendas eventually gives up the hold.
Pendas wants to free his trapped foot but Baird is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Pendas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Baird defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pendas trying to mount his opponent but Baird defends it.
Baird regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Pendas.
Baird pulls Pendas in close to his closed guard and prevents Pendas from doing any damage or advancing position.
Pendas wants to control from the top but Baird keeps moving.
Pendas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pendas stopping the sweep attempt from Baird.

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

Pendas gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Pendas has hold of one of Baird's legs. Baird is fighting the takedown attempt but Pendas gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Pendas wanted to stand there but Baird had control of the position.
Baird pulls Pendas in close to prevent any damage.
Pendas trying to control the position from guard on top but Baird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russel Baird has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Francisco Pendas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pendas looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francisco Pendas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pendas 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francisco Pendas!