PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Animal Baldwin (ranked 3872 p4p, 5012 weight class) and Rodney Pickard (ranked 485 p4p, 566 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Baldwin
vs
Pickard

178 cm
22
222
5 - 5 - 0

184 cm
20
208
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Determined

Finnish Elite Extreme Science

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Animal Baldwin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodney Pickard!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baldwin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pickard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

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

Pickard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pickard cracks Baldwin with a right hand to the side of the head.
Pickard lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Pickard tries to keep at a distance but Baldwin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Baldwin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pickard avoids it.
Baldwin is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Pickard to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baldwin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pickard fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Animal Baldwin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baldwin moves forwards but Pickard connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pickard scores with a nice head shot.
Horrible takedown attempt by Baldwin or perhaps it was just good defense by Pickard, which made it look bad.
Pickard throws a counter combo.
Pickard tries a head kick but it misses.
Baldwin darts in trying to clinch
and Pickard counters with a stiff right hand.
Baldwin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Baldwin there as he acknowledges the shot.

Baldwin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pickard did well to prevent Baldwin getting side control.
Baldwin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Pickard wants to stand back up but Baldwin manages to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickard pushes Baldwin away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Baldwin gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Baldwin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Pickard to see if he's OK.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pickard is trying to control Baldwin's posture but Baldwin avoids it.

Baldwin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pickard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Pickard is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Baldwin off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pickard doesn't have the hooks in and Baldwin manages to turn into his guard.
Pickard told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Pickard 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.
Pickard is looking to sweep but instead, Baldwin has passed into half guard.
Pickard is trying to control but Baldwin manages to pass to mount!
Pickard really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pickard wants to control but Baldwin is having none of it.
Baldwin lands a big shot there that rocks Pickard but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

It looks like Rodney Pickard has been cut.
Baldwin looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Pickard is in all sorts of trouble here.

Baldwin swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Animal Baldwin!