PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Brian Baker (ranked 18229 p4p, 22313 weight class) and Connor McDavid (ranked 757 p4p, 768 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Baker
vs
McDavid

190 cm
39
220
23 - 21 - 2

185 cm
28
225
12 - 4 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Granite chin

CHURCH OF ZOIDBERG - FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

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 23 - 21 - 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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Connor McDavid!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDavid lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Baker swings for the body but McDavid moves out of range.
Baker misses the shot to the body.
McDavid is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Baker with a body shot.
Baker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McDavid was well out of range. Poor timing from Baker.
Baker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McDavid.
McDavid lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Baker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Baker connects with the punch.
McDavid throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McDavid uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Baker.
Baker defending well as McDavid loads up on a big left hand.
Baker misses with a telegraphed body shot
and McDavid connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDavid feints and then cracks Baker's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Baker down.
McDavid rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Baker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Baker uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McDavid.
Baker was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
McDavid throws a head kick but Baker moves out of range.
McDavid slips a jab and a cross from Baker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McDavid.
McDavid scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
McDavid wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Baker just misses with a punch to the body.
Baker misses with a body shot.
McDavid throws a low kick, looking for Baker's leg but Baker calmly moves out of range.
A big right from McDavid misses.
And Baker counters with a quick kick to the body but McDavid blocks it.
Baker circles away from the clinch attempt.

McDavid has closed the distance and engaged Baker in a clinch.
Baker blocks a body shot from McDavid.
Baker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McDavid is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Baker is defending well for now.
McDavid told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Baker misses with a body punch.
A shot in the inside from McDavid.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDavid struggles to land a body shot inside as Baker controls his hands.
McDavid misses with the head strike.
Baker throws a punch but it's blocked by McDavid.
McDavid managing to block the knees to the body from Baker.
Baker is trying to stall.
McDavid lands with a short shot to the head.
McDavid goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Baker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Baker lands the left hand.
McDavid fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Baker takes a jab right on the kisser.
McDavid throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.
And that is 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!

Baker moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
McDavid uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Baker has time to react.
Connor McDavid seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDavid throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Baker sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Baker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McDavid misses with a looping right.
McDavid tests Baker's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McDavid scores with a jab.
Baker swings widly with a right hand
and McDavid counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McDavid lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McDavid blocks a head kick by Baker.
Decent striking displayed by Baker there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
McDavid takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A looping hook to the body misses from McDavid. Baker does a little dance to reset his feet.
McDavid with the inside leg kick.
McDavid on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDavid throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Baker stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Baker on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
McDavid keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Baker throws a hook but McDavid blocks it.
Connor McDavid seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McDavid scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Baker throws a left and a right that both miss
and McDavid counters with a low kick, right behind Baker 's knee.
McDavid comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
McDavid lets loose with a powerful body kick. Baker will feel that in the morning.

Baker gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McDavid lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Baker blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McDavid lands a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McDavid missing with knees to the body.
McDavid lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baker manages to break the clinch.
McDavid looks to land a left hand but Baker moved out of range nicely.
Baker lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McDavid scores with a hook to the body. Baker takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Baker on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Baker loads up on a big right hand but McDavid slips the punch.
McDavid has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Baker throws a body punch but McDavid moves out of range.
It seemed like McDavid was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Baker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McDavid.
It looked like Baker was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from McDavid.
McDavid feints and then cracks Baker's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Baker down.
McDavid drops his hands momentarily and Baker takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Baker just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab from McDavid finds it's way through Baker's defenses.
McDavid blocks a jab.
And that is 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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McDavid swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McDavid swings away with a body shot that misses
and Baker counters with a right hand to the body.
McDavid loads up on a big right hand but Baker slips the punch.
McDavid throws a lazy uppercut
and Baker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Baker misses with a body shot
and McDavid counters with a good low kick that Baker was not able to check.
Baker stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McDavid.
Brian Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A telegraphed right hand from McDavid misses the target.
McDavid throws a nice inside leg kick.
McDavid moves in looking to clinch but Baker pushes him off.
McDavid tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Baker was well out of range. Poor timing from McDavid.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDavid scores with the left hand. Baker knows he should have avoided that one.
Baker moves away from the strike by McDavid.
Baker moves out of range of the strikes.
Baker takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Decent striking displayed by Baker there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker staying out of range there.
McDavid fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baker manages to avoid it.
A counter left hand to the body from Baker misses its target.
McDavid scores with a jab to the head.
Baker is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Baker throws a body shot but no joy.
Baker cracks McDavid with an open hand slap.
Baker takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Baker is looking to wear down McDavid with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
McDavid thumps Baker with a low kick.
McDavid lands with a hook. Baker tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
McDavid looks to throw the jab but Baker is out of range.
McDavid missing with a left hand there. Baker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McDavid throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Baker stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Baker darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Baker ducks under a wild hook from McDavid.
Baker takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baker misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McDavid throws a lazy uppercut

and Baker counters with a really nice, stiff jab that drops McDavid onto his ass. He'll have to take the mandatory count from the referee but he's back on his feet and he seems OK to continue.
McDavid throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Baker counters with a big uppercut that drops McDavid face first to the mat! Will he beat the count?! He's struggled up to his knees on 7 but it doesn't look like he's going to make it... he's been counted out! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Brian Baker!