PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Hill (ranked 4231 p4p, 4278 weight class) and James Baxter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hill
vs
Baxter

182 cm
18
190
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
195
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Hill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Baxter!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hill blocks a head kick by Baxter.
A slapping body kick lands there for Baxter.
Baxter is looking to slow Hill down with leg kicks.
Baxter moves in looking to clinch but Hill pushes him off.
Baxter swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hill throws a counter high kick but Baxter was just alert enough to avoid it.
Hill throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hill scoring well with a low kick there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hill takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Hill checks a leg kick.
It appears Hill was looking to counter with a kick there.
Hill moves out of range of the body kick.
Hill thinks about countering with a head kick.
Hill pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter tries to score with a low kick but Hill moves his leg out of the way.
A low kick lands for Baxter.
Baxter tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hill paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hill takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Baxter looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Baxter fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hill has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hill takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Baxter throws the kick towards the body but Hill avoids it.
Baxter throws a front kick aimed at Hill's knee but Hill avoids it well.
Baxter just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHill.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill checks a leg kick.
Baxter tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hill throws a counter high kick but Baxter was just alert enough to avoid it.
Baxter throws a leg kick but Hill sees it coming and moves out of range.
Baxter walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hill checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hill lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Hill throws a head kick but Baxter moves out of range.
Baxter looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hill thinks about countering with a head kick.
A good leg kick by Baxter.
Baxter thuds his shin into the meat of Hill's side.
Baxter throws a push kick but Hill slaps the foot to one side.
Hill jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Baxter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter throws a head kick but Hill moves out of range.
Hill is looking to counter with head kicks.
A low kick from Hill misses
and Baxter counters with an inside leg kick.
Baxter is looking to chop away at Hill's legs.
Baxter takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Baxter throws a front kick aimed at Hill's knee but Hill avoids it well.
A bone on bone clash there as Hill blocks the leg kick.
Hill throws a sloppy head kick and Baxter moves out of range easily.
Baxter throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Baxter just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHill.
Hill throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baxter throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hill sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Baxter wants to clinch up but Hill keeps it at a distance.
A chopping leg kick lands by Baxter.
Baxter throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A thudding body kick lands there by Baxter!
Hill pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baxter waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hill.
Baxter will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Baxter scores with a kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baxter attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Baxter just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHill.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Baxter dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Baxter fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hill will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Hill moves out of range as Baxter throws a body kick.
Hill throws a quick counter head kick but Baxter was just out of range.
Nice body kick from Baxter.
Hill misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hill throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
James Baxter seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baxter is looking to clinch but Hill is avoiding it.
James Baxter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baxter is looking to clinch but Hill is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter throws a head kick that misses.
Hill avoids a kick to the body.
Hill tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter throws an overhand right that lands on Hill's shoulder, as Hill tries to avoid the shot.
Baxter misses with a low kick.
Hill misses with a kick to the body.
A head kick from Baxter lands but Hill takes it in his stride.
Baxter throws a solid leg kick but Hill takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Baxter.
Hill is looking to counter with head kicks.
Hill blocks a low kick nicely.
Hill tries a head kick but it misses.
Hill misses with a head kick.
Hill has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Hill 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill blocks a leg kick.
Baxter waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hill.
Baxter just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHill.
Baxter with the inside leg kick.
Baxter tries to clinch up.
Hill throws a quick counter head kick but Baxter was just out of range.
A head kick by Baxter misses
and Hill makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Baxter really felt that one!
A head kick from Baxter lands but Hill takes it in his stride.
Hill looks for the body kick but Baxter saw that one coming.
Baxter only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Hill checks a low kick from Baxter.
Hill thinks about countering with a head kick.
Baxter attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hill looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
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!
Baxter throws a leg kick but Hill checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill misses with a head kick.
Baxter throws a leg kick but Hill sees it coming and moves out of range.
Baxter tries to close the distance and clinch but Hill swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hill looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Baxter just misses with a punch to the body.
Hill throws a quick counter head kick but Baxter was just out of range.
Crunch! Baxter slams his shin into Hill's torso.
Baxter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Baxter looks for the body kick but Hill saw that one coming.
Hill throws a counter high kick but Baxter was just alert enough to avoid it.
Baxter looks to land a body kick but Hill moved away.
Hill throws a counter high kick but Baxter was just alert enough to avoid it.
Baxter tries a head kick but it misses.
Hill is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hill moves out of range of the body kick from Baxter.
Baxter lands a front kick.
A head kick misses from Hill.
Baxter moves to clinch but Hill breaks away
and Hill counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Baxter is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baxter looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hill thinks about countering with a head kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baxter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Baxter 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!

Hill avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Baxter throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Hill counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Baxter is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Baxter is looking to chop away at Hill's legs.
Hill chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Baxter can pounce on him.
Hill tries a head kick but it misses.
Hill backing away here, and Baxter unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A good leg kick by Baxter.
Baxter looks to score with a jab to the body but Hill is just out of range.
Hill lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter throws a half hearted mid kick.
Baxter throws a wild body kick that Hill sees coming a mile off.
Hill tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Baxter throws out a counter right but Hill avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Baxter throws a front kick that sends Hill stumbling back into the cage.
Baxter chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Baxter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Baxter has managed to clinch.
Hill digs a right hand into Baxter's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Baxter's gas tank.
Hill tries a body shot but Baxter blocks it.
Hill tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Baxter smiles and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baxter looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hill lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Baxter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James Baxter is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baxter blocks a head kick by Hill.
Hill on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Baxter. Baxter obviously looking to wear him down.
Baxter lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A big left from Baxter misses.
Baxter just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHill.
Hill steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Baxter. That one must have hurt.
Baxter throws a wild body kick that Hill sees coming a mile off.
Hill moves out of range of the leg kick from Baxter.
Hill feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Baxter tries to land a leg kick but Hill saw it coming and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baxter tries a head kick but it misses.
Hill thinks about countering with a body kick.
Baxter misses with an attempted mid kick.
A leg kick checked by Hill.
Baxter tries to clinch up.
Baxter throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Baxter throws a front kick aimed at Hill's knee but Hill avoids it well.
Hill looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Baxter finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Baxter shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hill throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baxter tries to land a leg kick but Hill saw it coming and moves away.
Hill is looking to counter with head kicks.
Baxter throws a body kick that misses.
Baxter avoids the head kick by Hill.
Baxter throws a big shot that misses.
Hill looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Baxter blocks a head kick by Hill.
Baxter lets loose with a powerful body kick. Hill will feel that in the morning.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baxter walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hill checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
John Hill has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baxter connects with a solid leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Baxter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Baxter 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Baxter!