PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Brian Baker (ranked 18072 p4p, 22251 weight class) and Connor McDavid (ranked 597 p4p, 585 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baker
vs
McDavid

190 cm
36
220
18 - 14 - 2

185 cm
25
225
6 - 1 - 0

World class boxer
Cardio machine

Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Connor McDavid!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDavid connects with a looping right hand.
McDavid wants to clinch up but Baker keeps it at a distance.
Baker throws a big counter combination but McDavid scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
McDavid misses with a right hand
and Baker makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Baker throws a left and a right that both miss
and McDavid connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McDavid misses with a wild combination.
McDavid with a hook.
McDavid connects with the punch.
McDavid works the jab nicely.
McDavid fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Baker has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
McDavid's corner calls for a 1-2. McDavid obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDavid throws a hook but Baker blocks it.
It looked like Baker wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
McDavid lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baker circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A telegraphed right hand from Baker misses the target.
McDavid scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
McDavid misses with a looping left.
McDavid throws a lazy right hand but Baker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McDavid throws a shot to the body.
A clash of legs there as Baker blocks the low kick.
McDavid lands with a thumping leg kick.
McDavid throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McDavid lands a jab to the head.
Baker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Baker throws a hook to the side of McDavid's head but McDavid sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McDavid looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker staying out of range there.
Baker slips a straight right by McDavid.
McDavid misses with a hook
and Baker counters with a left to the body.
Baker works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

McDavid closes the distance and pushes Baker back into the ropes.
Baker tries to circle away but McDavid has him pinned against the ropes.
McDavid is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
McDavid tries to throw a body punch but Baker avoids it by throwing McDavid back against the ropes.
McDavid lands a nice uppercut.
Baker is trying to stall.
Baker blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McDavid dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

McDavid rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Baker moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Baker defending well as McDavid loads up on a big left hand.

McDavid drives through and clinches with Baker against the ropes.
McDavid misses with a punch on the inside.
McDavid lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Baker or not.
McDavid misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Baker.
McDavid tries a body shot but Baker blocks it.
McDavid misses with a knee strike.
McDavid swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDavid effectively controlling the action here.
Baker avoiding damage as McDavid throws knees to the body.
McDavid throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bakers head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDavid throws a head punch that misses.
McDavid working aggressively here.
Baker is trying to push McDavid away but McDavid has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
McDavid is trying to maintain a safe position but Baker gets an underhook and turns McDavid into the ropes.

Baker breaks the clinch.
McDavid lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Baker takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McDavid lands with an uppercut that bounces Baker off the ropes and back into range.
A chopping leg kick lands by McDavid.

McDavid has Baker up against the ropes in a clinch.
Baker blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
McDavid makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
McDavid fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Baker breaks from the clinch.
Baker swings for the body but McDavid moves out of range.
It seemed like McDavid was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McDavid cracks Baker with a right hand to the side of the head.
Baker ducks under a wild hook from McDavid.
Baker chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before McDavid can pounce on him.
McDavid will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
McDavid misses with an uppercut
and Baker counters with a left to the body.
Connor McDavid seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baker feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits McDavids jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
McDavid waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Baker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McDavid 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!

Baker throws a wild body kick that McDavid sees coming a mile off.
McDavid lands a nice looking body shot.
Well,Baker is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
McDavid works the jab nicely.
Baker uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McDavid.
It looked like Baker wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Baker misses with a head kick.
McDavid looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Brian Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McDavid throws a sloppy body shot
and Baker counters with a lovely shot to the body.
McDavid lands with a hook. Baker tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
McDavid slips a jab from Baker.
McDavid doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDavid works Baker's body with a nice hook.
Baker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McDavid.
McDavid jabs at Baker's body.
McDavid catches Baker with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker lands a jab to McDavid's midsection.
McDavid throws a hook but Baker blocks it.
A good leg kick by McDavid.
McDavid swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
It looked like Baker was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from McDavid.
McDavid throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Baker counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps McDavid thinking.
McDavid bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Baker's head backwards.
Jab by Baker.
Baker doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McDavid clobbers Baker with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
McDavid misses with a left hand
and McDavid takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Connor McDavid has been cut.
A solid leg kick lands there for McDavid.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice defenses there by Baker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDavid is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Baker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
It looked like Baker was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from McDavid.
Nice cross by McDavid.
McDavid throws a quick inside leg kick.
McDavid misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baker.
Connor McDavid seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDavid throws a poor cross that misses
and Baker counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
McDavid takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baker blocks a jab.
Baker is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Baker clips McDavid with a right and a left that makes him do the chicken dance for a couple of seconds. He touched his left hand down on the canvas so the referee steps between the fighters to give McDavid a standing 8 count before we can continue the bout.

McDavid is rocked!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baker throws a nice looking combination but McDavid bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice uppercut lands for McDavid. That snapped Baker's head back.
Baker walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McDavid throws a leg kick that is checked
and as McDavid tries to reset, Baker cracks him with a perfect counter right hand that drops him to the mat! McDavid is trying to get up but he's doing the chicken dance and face plants back to the floor - that's enough for the referee and he's called the bout! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Brian Baker!