PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Heller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luis Baptista (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baptista is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Mata Ratos - A Minha Sogra e um Boi. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Heller
vs
Baptista

185 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Red Light Clothing ► Amsterdam!

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Heller!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Luis Baptista!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Heller misses with the combination.
A jab from Heller misses.

Baptista shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Heller's guard.
Baptista wants to control from the top but Heller keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Heller holds on and takes a little breather.
Baptista controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baptista wanted to stand there but Heller had control of the position.
Baptista trying to control the position from guard on top but Heller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heller looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baptista is one step ahead there.
Heller being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heller looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Heller uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Heller throws a jab when Baptista was well out of range.
Heller misses with an uppercut.
Heller throws a head kick but Baptista moves out of range.

Baptista closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Heller tries to roll over but Baptista keeps him under control.
Baptista seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baptista wants to control but Heller is keeping him busy.
Heller keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Heller wants to get back to full guard.
Baptista controlling the action here.
Heller is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baptista keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Heller is not content to let Baptista control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Heller has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Baptista is working away from the top position though.
Baptista tries to pass the half guard into mount. Heller knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Baptista wants to control but Heller is keeping him busy.
Heller looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Baptista doesn't manage to clinch there - Heller circles away.
Heller lands a head kick!

It looks like Luis Baptista has been cut.
Baptista avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Heller is breathing heavily.
Heller throws a head kick but Baptista moves out of range.
Baptista tries to close the distance and clinch but Heller swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Baptista avoids the head kick by Heller.
Baptista closes the distance and clinches up with Heller, looking for a takedown. Baptista pushes Heller against the cage but Heller circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Baptista avoids the head kick by Heller.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Heller throws a sloppy head kick and Baptista moves out of range easily.

Baptista shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Baptista showed some decent athleticism there.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Baptista in particular looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Baptista dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Luis Baptista's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Baptista rushes Heller and presses him up against the cage.
Baptista using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Heller has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Heller is trying to drag Baptista to the mat but Baptista just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Baptista wants to break the clinch but can't.
Heller keeps control of Baptista as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Heller can't break the clinch.

Heller escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baptista slips under a jab from Heller.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heller will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Heller throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Baptista shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Heller's guard.
Heller keeping moving, preventing Baptista from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptista slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Heller not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Heller tries to strike from the bottom.
Baptista is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Baptista stopping the sweep attempt from Heller.
Baptista trying to control but Heller is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Baptista fails with an attempt to clinch.
Heller misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baptista blocks a head kick by Heller.
Ryan Heller is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Baptista tries to close the distance and clinch but Heller swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Baptista gets the takedown into side control.
Baptista remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Baptista's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baptista trying to control the position but Heller is working away.
Baptista slows the pace down.
Baptista wants to control but Heller is keeping him busy.
Heller tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Heller can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Baptista trying to control the position but Heller is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Baptista is looking to clinch but Heller is avoiding it.
Baptista has a takedown stuffed.

Baptista bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Heller's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Baptista has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Heller moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Baptista showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Luis Baptista's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A telegraphed right hand from Heller misses the target.
Baptista fails with the takedown.
Heller misses with the combination.
Heller throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baptista tries to close the distance and clinch but Heller swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Heller misses with a looping right.
Baptista doesn't manage to clinch there - Heller circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heller swinging wilding here.
Baptista avoids the head kick by Heller.
Ryan Heller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baptista throws a head kick but Heller moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Heller.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptista tries to close the distance and clinch up but Heller swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Baptista throws a quick inside leg kick.

Baptista darts in and clinches Heller up against the cage.
Heller can't break the clinch.

Baptista has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Heller uses from the top position.
Baptista seems keen to control Heller's posture.

Baptista has his foot on Heller's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Heller works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baptista is trying to keep Heller in close.
Heller is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Baptista is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Baptista keeping moving, preventing Heller from controlling successfully.
Baptista is trying to keep Heller in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Heller accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Heller decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Baptista, up you get!
Heller misses with a two punch combination.
Baptista rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Heller moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Baptista pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Baptista gets a takedown into half guard.
Luis Baptista has got the better of the ground game so far.

Baptista is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Heller pushes Baptista off looking to stand but Baptista dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heller trying to control here.
Heller is looking to improve his position.
Heller is working hard here to advance position.
Heller flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Heller is looking to control Baptista's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Heller avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Baptista really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Luis Baptista's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A nice combination there by Baptista.
Heller throws a hook but Baptista blocks it.
Baptista tries to clinch but Heller moves out of range.
Heller throws the left hand but Baptista avoids the punch easily.
Heller throws a lazy head kick
and Baptista counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Heller is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Heller throws a sloppy head kick and Baptista moves out of range easily.
Baptista fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Baptista shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Baptista is figuring out what he wants to do next.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Baptista passes into side control, despite Heller's attempt to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heller wants to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Heller's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Baptista happy to just control the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Heller looking for a sweep but Baptista has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Baptista avoids the attempt from Heller to control.

Baptista is working for a guillotine from mount but Heller frees his head quite easily.
Heller is desperately trying to improve his position but Baptista has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heller wants to hold on but Baptista pushes him away.
Heller working to try and regain half guard.
Baptista takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Heller is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Baptista controlling from mount.

Baptista with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baptista looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Baptista dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Luis Baptista's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Heller misses with a double jab.
Heller waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Baptista.
Baptista checks a leg kick.
Heller ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baptista moves away.

Baptista closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Baptista passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Heller!
Heller wants to control but Baptista is having none of it.
Heller tries to buck Baptista off but Baptista takes his back!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptista is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Heller trying to control the hands but Baptista won't let him.
Baptista biding his time, looking for the opening.
Baptista is working the ground and pound. Can Heller escape?
Heller trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Baptista is hanging on to Heller's back as he tries to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Heller showing good submission defense here.
What can Heller do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Baptista avoiding Heller 's attempts to control his hands.
Baptista has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Heller's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heller looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Heller tries to escape the position.
Baptista is not going to allow Heller to sit and survive in this position.
Heller is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Ryan Heller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Baptista biding his time, looking for the opening.
Heller trying to control the hands but Baptista breaks the grip.
Heller tries to break free.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baptista controlling the position well here. Heller rolled but Baptista kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Luis Baptista is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Baptista controlling well, preventing Heller from escaping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luis Baptista comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Baptista winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 45:50
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 45:50
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luis Baptista!
Luis Baptista is the new welterweight champion!