PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brian Baker (ranked 3562 p4p, 347 weight class) and Gustav Rinaldi (ranked 5746 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Baker
vs
Rinaldi

190 cm
34
220 lbs
12 - 11 - 2

198 cm
29
205 lbs
6 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brian Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gustav Rinaldi!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rinaldi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Baker looking to score a takedown here. Rinaldi is defending well but Baker drives through and ends up in Rinaldi's guard.
Our spies down at at UnderGround Training Facility inform us that Rinaldi has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Rinaldi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baker stopping the sweep attempt from Rinaldi.
Rinaldi keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.
Baker pushes down on Rinaldi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Baker tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rinaldi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baker seems to be looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Baker seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker wants to pass to mount but Rinaldi is defending the position.
Rinaldi trying to control here.
Baker wants to free his trapped foot but Rinaldi is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Rinaldi is defending against the submission attempts here by Baker.

Baker decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Baker shoots in but Rinaldi avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Baker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Baker has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Factory in the buildup to the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Baker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baker throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rinaldi's waist but Rinaldi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Baker off to one side.
Gustav Rinaldi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rinaldi slaps away a takedown attempt from Baker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Baker shoots in for a takedown but Rinaldi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Baker looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rinaldi is fending him off so far but Baker persists. Nope, Rinaldi circles away and we're back to standing.
A swing and a miss from Rinaldi.
Rinaldi slaps away a takedown attempt from Baker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Baker shoots for a double leg takedown but Rinaldi sprawls well. He's pushed Baker's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rinaldi steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Baker.
Baker is breathing heavily.
Baker fails with a takedown attempt.
Baker sets himself, and Rinaldi steps forward looking for the clinch! Baker avoids it this time.
Baker shoots in for a takedown but Rinaldi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker shoots in but Rinaldi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rinaldi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Baker misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Baker closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rinaldi circles away.
Rinaldi wants to counter with a clinch but Baker pushes him away.
Baker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rinaldi swivels and escapes.
Rinaldi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rinaldi slaps away a takedown attempt from Baker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rinaldi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Brian Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baker closes the distance and clinches up with Rinaldi, looking for a takedown. Baker pushes Rinaldi against the cage but Rinaldi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Baker shoots in but Rinaldi avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi doesn't manage to clinch there - Baker circles away.

Rinaldi forces Baker back against the cage and clinches.
Baker keeps control of Rinaldi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Baker is trying to pull guard but Rinaldi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rinaldi is trying to break the clinch but Baker has him pressed against the cage.

Baker jumps into guard, dragging Rinaldi to the mat.
Rinaldi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rinaldi throws a big elbow that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rinaldi wants to control from the top but Baker keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rinaldi postures up in Baker's guard and throws a big left but Baker blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Rinaldi 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.

Baker tries for a takedown but Rinaldi circles away easily

and Rinaldi counters with a single leg into guard. Baker didn't expect that.

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

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

Baker working for a triangle but Rinaldi defends it easily.
Rinaldi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rinaldi trying to control but Baker is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinaldi tries to free his leg and advance position but Baker is retaining full guard.

Baker has his foot on Rinaldi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rinaldi works his way back into a safe position though.
Rinaldi postures up in Baker's guard and throws a big left but Baker blocks it.
Rinaldi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Baker is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rinaldi defends well.

Baker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rinaldi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rinaldi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Baker has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rinaldi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Baker is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rinaldi is aware though and is defending well.
Baker being controlled here, momentarily.
Rinaldi stands up over Baker, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

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

Baker looking for a guillotine here but Rinaldi defends easily.
Rinaldi trying to control but Baker is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rinaldi controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Baker shoots in but Rinaldi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Baker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baker fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted 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.
Baker ducks under a wild hook from Rinaldi.
No luck for Baker with that takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Rinaldi's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Rinaldi leaves Baker with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gustav Rinaldi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Baker tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rinaldi defends well and Baker ends up having to push Rinaldi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Rinaldi. Those never looked like landing.
Rinaldi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Baker.
Baker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rinaldi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Baker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rinaldi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Baker moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice takedown defense from Rinaldi. No joy for Baker on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Rinaldi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Baker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rinaldi.
Baker shoots in for a double leg but Rinaldi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rinaldi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Rinaldi clinches.
Rinaldi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Baker keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rinaldi's efforts to push away.

Baker ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Baker no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Rinaldi trying to control but Baker is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Baker keeping moving, preventing Rinaldi from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Rinaldi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Baker has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rinaldi has managed to get both his arms back between Baker's legs - danger averted.
Rinaldi trying to control the position from guard on top but Baker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rinaldi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Baker haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Baker dives in and grabs Rinaldi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rinaldi pushes down on Baker's head and hops out.
Rinaldi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Baker tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rinaldi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Baker somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Baker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baker shoots in but Rinaldi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No luck for Baker with that takedown attempt.
Baker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rinaldi.
Jab, jab by Rinaldi - just one landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi stuffs the takedown attempt from Baker. Baker gets slowly back to his feet.
Baker shoots and misses
and Rinaldi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Baker misses with a takedown

so Rinaldi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Brian Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rinaldi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rinaldi wants to control from the top but Baker keeps moving.

Rinaldi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rinaldi is working Baker over with some ground and pound from side control.
Baker tries to improve position but can't.

Rinaldi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baker is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustav Rinaldi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rinaldi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gustav Rinaldi!