PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Baker (ranked 494 p4p, 697 weight class) and Wilhelm Strauss (ranked 77 p4p, 102 weight class). Baker's entrance music is When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin. A fine choice. Strauss has chosen Root Of All Evil as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Wilhelm Strauss was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Baker
vs
Strauss

179 cm
32
177
15 - 12 - 0

174 cm
41
181
33 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Carnage Clothing
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeff Baker!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Wilhelm Strauss!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker misses with a hook.
Baker throws a hook but Strauss blocks it.
Strauss defending well as Baker loads up on a big left hand.
Good shot there by Strauss.
Baker misses with a lunging right hand
and Strauss connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Strauss slips a straight right by Baker.
Baker throws a head kick but Strauss moves out of range.
Baker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strauss moves away.
Strauss misses with a leg kick.
Baker appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Strauss misses with an uppercut.
Baker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Strauss.
Baker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Strauss swings for the body but Baker moves out of range.
Strauss with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strauss lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Baker takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Baker lands a lovely overhand right.
Baker lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Strauss circles away quickly and effectively.
Baker has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Strauss feints a jab promting Baker to slip. Strauss then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Baker slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A telegraphed right hand from Strauss misses the target.
Strauss uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Baker.
Baker looks to land a left hand but Strauss moved out of range nicely.
Strauss does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Jab, jab by Baker - just one landing.

It looks like Wilhelm Strauss has been cut.
Baker throws a body punch but Strauss moves out of range.
Strauss takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good leg kick by Strauss.
Strauss scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Strauss clobbers Baker with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker lands a nice leg kick that just misses Strauss's sensitive parts.
Strauss ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Strauss throws a hook to the side of Baker's head but Baker sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Baker misses with a body kick.
Wilhelm Strauss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baker attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Baker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Strauss.
Baker is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Strauss.
Baker takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Baker lands with a kick to the ribs.
Baker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Strauss throws out the jab.
Baker slips under a jab.
A leg kick checked by Strauss.
Strauss scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Baker feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Baker avoids a kick to the body.
Baker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Strauss throws a looping overhand right but Baker ducks down to avoid it.
Baker swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baker throws a solid leg kick but Strauss takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Baker.
Strauss connects with a crisp jab.
Strauss dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Baker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Strauss.
Strauss lands the left hand.
Baker rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Strauss counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Baker throws a lazy right hand but Strauss sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Strauss scores with a hook to the body. Baker takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Strauss lands a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strauss scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Strauss swings widly with a right hand
and Baker counters with a nice uppercut.
Baker throws a jab but it's blocked by Strauss.
Baker throws a body shot but no joy.
Strauss slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Baker walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Strauss throws a solid leg kick but Baker takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Strauss.
Baker moves out of range as Strauss strikes.
Baker takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Strauss scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Baker doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A solid leg kick lands there for Strauss.
Baker comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Baker moves out of range as Strauss strikes.
Baker appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Baker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Strauss was well out of range. Poor timing from Baker.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wilhelm Strauss dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wilhelm Strauss's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A jab from Baker misses.
Strauss misses with a double jab.
Strauss lands with a good body shot.
Baker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Strauss throws out the jab.
Baker keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Baker went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Baker misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Strauss makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Strauss does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Baker is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Baker throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Baker with a jab.
Strauss misses with an uppercut. Baker saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strauss fakes the leg kick and cracks Baker in the body.
Baker looks to throw a body kick
and Strauss counters with a straight right hand.
Baker just misses with a punch to the body.
Strauss uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Baker.
Strauss appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strauss throws a poor cross that misses
and Baker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wilhelm Strauss seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Strauss scores with a push kick.
Strauss checks a leg kick.
Baker dodges the punch combination from Strauss.
Baker misses with a hook
and Strauss counters with a stiff right hand.
Strauss bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Baker's head backwards.
Baker throws a series of punches but Strauss avoids them all with ease.
Strauss moves out of range of the leg kick from Baker.
Baker moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Baker dodges the punch combination from Strauss.
Baker looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Strauss connects with the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strauss throws a front kick aimed at Baker's knee but Baker avoids it well.
Baker is looking to counter with a body kick.
Strauss throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Baker was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Baker might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice defenses there by Baker.
Strauss lands a nice shot to the body.
Baker uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Strauss has time to react.
Strauss avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Baker buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Strauss throws a push kick but Baker slaps the foot to one side.
Baker chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Baker cracks Strauss with an open hand slap.
Strauss lands a nice looking body kick.
Baker misses with a body shot.
Strauss has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Strauss misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Strauss.
Strauss swings for the body but Baker moves out of range.
Baker throws a body shot but no joy.
Baker swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Strauss counter with a right hand.
Strauss scores with a shot to the body.
An inside leg kick from Baker misses.
Strauss misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baker.
Baker staying out of range there.
Baker misses with a low kick.
Baker slips a jab from Strauss.
Strauss tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Baker was well out of range. Poor timing from Strauss.
Baker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Baker connects with a good right hand that stumbles Strauss. Strauss circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Baker lands a head kick. Strauss smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baker lands with an overhand left.
Strauss chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Baker can pounce on him.
Strauss misses the shot to the body.
Strauss scores with a nice head shot.
Strauss lands with a thumping leg kick.
Strauss connects with an inside leg kick.
Baker uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Strauss.
Strauss works over Baker's head and body with a nice combination.
Nice uppercut lands for Baker. That snapped Strauss's head back.
Strauss wants to land a leg kick but Baker is out of range.
Baker takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wilhelm Strauss showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Wilhelm Strauss's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Strauss throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Strauss uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Baker.
Baker on the wrong end of a nice hook.
We've been informed that Strauss has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
A good leg kick by Baker.
Baker moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Strauss throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Baker counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Baker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Strauss throws the kick towards the body but Baker avoids it.
Baker takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strauss misses with a double jab
and Baker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Strauss throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.
Strauss throws a series of punches but Baker avoids them all with ease.
Strauss scores with a crisp jab that stopped Baker in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strauss throws a looping overhand right but Baker ducks down to avoid it.
Baker checks a leg kick.
Baker gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Baker lands with a shot to the body.
Strauss tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Baker was well out of range. Poor timing from Strauss.
A head kick by Strauss misses
and Baker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Strauss lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Baker looks to throw the jab but Strauss is out of range.
A good leg kick by Baker.
Strauss on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Baker. Baker obviously looking to wear him down.
Baker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Strauss.
Strauss throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strauss walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Baker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Strauss was well out of range. Poor timing from Baker.
Strauss's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nice defenses there by Baker.
Baker swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Strauss misses with a low kick.
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!
Strauss scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Baker doesn't seem bothered though.
Baker on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Strauss lands a nice leg kick that just misses Baker's sensitive parts.
Strauss avoids the body shot from Baker.
Strauss connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Baker takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Strauss throws a nice outside leg kick.
Strauss scores with a leg kick.
Baker takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strauss tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Baker was well out of range. Poor timing from Strauss.
Baker lunges at Strauss with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Strauss's hand.
Baker moves away from the strike by Strauss.
Baker misses the jab.
Strauss misses with the combination.
Strauss takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A head kick misses from Baker.
Strauss scores with a crisp jab that stopped Baker in his tracks.
Strauss misses with the combination.
Strauss misses with a body shot.
Baker throws a big counter combination but Strauss scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker needs to keep his hands up - Strauss had a free shot at his head there.
Strauss throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Baker to counter with a crisp jab.
Strauss displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Baker throws out the jab.
Baker throws a head kick that Strauss semi-blocks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baker misses with an uppercut. Strauss saw that one coming.
Strauss doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Strauss lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Strauss lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Baker backs up against the cage.
Strauss takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Strauss avoids the head kick by Baker.
Strauss misses with a kick to the body.
Baker was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Strauss misses with a few strikes there.
Strauss fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baker manages to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Wilhelm Strauss just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Wilhelm Strauss's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Baker checks a leg kick.
Baker throws a looping overhand right but Strauss ducks down to avoid it.
Danga de danga de dang - Baker scores with a four punch combination!
Strauss throws a right and a left that Baker avoids nicely.
Strauss lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baker circles away quickly and effectively.
Baker closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Strauss swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Strauss takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Strauss misses with a double jab
and Baker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Strauss looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Strauss throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Strauss changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strauss on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Baker. Baker obviously looking to wear him down.
Baker scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Baker missing with a left hand there. Strauss was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Strauss ducks right into an uppercut from Baker.
Strauss throws a lazy uppercut
and Baker counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Strauss looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Crunch! Strauss slams his shin into Baker's torso.
Baker with a nice calf kick.
A swing and a miss from Strauss.
Strauss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Baker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Strauss swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Strauss throws a sloppy head kick and Baker moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strauss buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Strauss fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Baker is out of range.
Strauss digs a good body shot into Baker's ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Baker has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Baker there as he acknowledges the shot.
Strauss misses with a series of wild punches.
Strauss blocks a low kick nicely.
Nice shot lands for Strauss.
Strauss displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Baker throws out the jab.
Strauss delivers a nice body kick.
A big right from Strauss misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker throws the left hand but Strauss avoids the punch easily.
Baker misses with a leg kick.
Strauss connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Strauss misses with a double jab.
Baker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Strauss was well out of range. Poor timing from Baker.
Baker looks to score with a jab to the body but Strauss is just out of range.
Baker throws a leg kick but Strauss checks it.
Strauss takes a swing at Baker's ribcage but misses.
Strauss misses with a low kick.
Strauss lands a jab.
Some wild striking there from Strauss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Strauss.
Strauss misses with a few strikes there.
An inside leg kick lands from Baker.
A punch combination from Strauss misses.
Baker misses with a hook to the body
and Strauss counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Strauss will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Strauss connects with a right hand. Baker shakes it off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baker throws the kick towards the body but Strauss avoids it.
Baker on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Strauss. Strauss obviously looking to wear him down.
Baker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Wilhelm Strauss will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Wilhelm Strauss's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Baker uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Strauss.
A cross from Strauss lands.
Baker avoids a kick to the body.
Baker lands a nice shot to the body.
Baker looks to land a right hand but Strauss moved out of range.
Baker connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Strauss's hands.
Baker attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Baker scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Strauss throws a hook to the side of Baker's head but Baker sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker moves out of range of the strikes.
A slow jab from Strauss misses its intended target.
Baker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Strauss pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Strauss.
Strauss looks to land a left hand but Baker moved out of range nicely.
Strauss throws a leg kick but Baker sees it coming and checks it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Baker misses the target.
Strauss connects with a leg kick.
Baker looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Strauss changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Baker cracks Strauss with a right hand to the side of the head.
Baker chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Strauss can pounce on him.
Strauss showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Baker.
Strauss follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Strauss cracks Baker with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Jeff Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strauss throws a series of punches but Baker avoids them all with ease.
Strauss on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Strauss takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Strauss works over Baker's head and body with a nice combination.
Baker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Strauss jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Strauss throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Wilhelm Strauss is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Strauss looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Strauss. Baker does a little dance to reset his feet.
Baker throwing a counter right hand but Strauss manages to avoid it.
Baker smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Strauss jabs at Baker's body.
Strauss misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Strauss misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Strauss misses the target.
Baker misses with an uppercut
and Strauss counters with a low kick, right behind Baker 's knee.
Strauss moves out of range as Baker strikes.
Nice shot lands for Strauss.
Baker walks forward, straight into a front kick from Strauss.
Strauss keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Baker throws a body shot but no joy.
A low kick from Strauss misses
and Baker counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Baker looks to land a left hand but Strauss moved out of range nicely.
Strauss throws a leg kick that is checked
and Baker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Strauss darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Baker throws a nice outside leg kick.
Strauss throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Baker takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A swing and a miss from Baker.
Baker lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Strauss at a distance.
Baker throws a leg kick but Strauss moved away.
Strauss lands a really nice looking cross but Baker seems unphased.
A head kick misses from Strauss.
Baker clobbers Strauss with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Baker takes a swing at Strauss's ribcage but misses.
Strauss comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Wilhelm Strauss.
Well Strauss 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 45:50
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 45:50
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wilhelm Strauss!
Wilhelm Strauss is the new welterweight champion!
Our winner, Wilhelm Strauss, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Jeff Baker was interviewed post fight and said 'I'm trying to get back into ring shape and failed with this camp. I'll be back. I'm dedicated to getting back to where I need to be.'.