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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Balthazar Baker (ranked 1418 p4p, 509 weight class) and John Edmonds (ranked 187 p4p, 71 weight class). Edmonds is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus. Balthazar Baker could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to John Edmonds's chin.
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| 195 cm
32
190
15 - 11 - 0 |
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185 cm
36
190
35 - 23 - 1 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed |
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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 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Balthazar Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Edmonds!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Francis DeMontford and Ron Honeybunn.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Edmonds.
Baker with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Edmonds to score with a decent uppercut.
Edmonds shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Baker's guard.
Baker throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Baker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Edmonds passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edmonds is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Baker is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Baker regains half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Edmonds is trying to control the action in half guard but Baker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Baker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Edmonds wants to pass to mount but Baker is defending the position.
Edmonds wants to take a breather but Baker is having none of it.
Edmonds has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Edmonds can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Baker is looking 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.
Edmonds might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Baker haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Edmonds wants to take his opponent's back but Baker doesn't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker is desperately trying to improve his position but Edmonds has a good base and remains in mount.
Edmonds working for a guillotine from mount but Baker is in no mood to give up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edmonds looking to control but Baker is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Baker bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Baker throws a big elbow that misses.
Baker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Edmonds is trying to keep Baker in close.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Edmonds gets back to half guard.
Baker thows a huge punch but Edmonds dodges it nicely.
Edmonds trying to control but Baker postures up.
Edmonds avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Baker.
Edmonds wants to control but Baker is keeping busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Edmonds on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Baker looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Edmonds with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Baker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but John Edmonds will probably get the nod.
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.
Edmonds throws out a leg kick but Baker moves out of range and Edmonds only half commits.
Edmonds has a takedown stuffed.
Baker misses with a two punch combination.
A decent looking cross lands there for Edmonds.
Edmonds throws a right and a left that Baker avoids nicely.
Edmonds tries to land a leg kick but Baker saw it coming and moves away.
Edmonds bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edmonds throws a hook but Baker blocks it.
Edmonds lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Baker backs up against the cage.
Baker staying out of range there.
Edmonds connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Baker. Beautiful body shot.
Edmonds ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baker moves away.
Edmonds rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Baker counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Edmonds thinking.
Baker is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Edmonds.
Baker looks to land a left hand but Edmonds moved out of range nicely.
Edmonds tries to bum rush Baker with a series of wild strikes but Baker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Edmonds shoots in and drives through. Baker sprawls well.
Baker has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Edmonds finds it's way round the side to connect with Baker's head.
Baker slips under a jab from Edmonds.
A counter left hand to the body from Baker misses its target.
Edmonds swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Baker connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A slow jab from Edmonds misses its intended target.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edmonds fails to land with a series of punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Edmonds throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
John Edmonds seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Edmonds shoots in and bounces Baker off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Baker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Edmonds is one step ahead there.
Edmonds trying to control the position from guard on top but Baker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Edmonds looking to sit in guard and control but Baker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Baker has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Edmonds had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Baker defends it easily.
Baker distracts Edmonds with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Edmonds is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baker is working Edmonds over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Baker is in close to Edmonds's body, working some short punches and elbows.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edmonds had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Baker defends it easily.
Baker is working Edmonds over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Edmonds tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Edmonds has momentary wrist control but Baker slips an elbow through the middle.
Edmonds keeping full guard, as Baker tries to pass.
Baker pushes down on Edmonds's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Baker working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Edmonds wants to control but Baker is keeping busy.
Edmonds has hold of Baker's hands but Baker slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but John Edmonds will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
Edmonds scores with a punch to the head.
Edmonds scores with a hook.
Edmonds throws a poor cross that misses
and Baker makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Edmonds misses with a shot to the body
and Baker counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Edmonds lands a left hand that snaps the head of Baker backwards.
Baker scores with a hook to the body.
Edmonds swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Baker is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Baker lands a body shot in the clinch.
Edmonds is fighting off a takedown attempt but Baker is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Edmonds to the mat. Edmonds regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Baker wants to control from the top but Edmonds keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Edmonds takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baker with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Baker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Baker working some strikes from top position.
Baker postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Edmonds is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Baker, into his guard.
Edmonds looking to sit in guard and control but Baker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Baker is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Baker is in close to Edmonds's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Edmonds is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Baker lands a couple of elbows.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Baker throws an elbow that misses. Edmonds uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Baker's guard. Nice move by Edmonds!
Baker striking off his back but it's not causing Edmonds any problems.
Edmonds wants to control from the top but Baker keeps moving.
Baker wants to sweep here but Edmonds controlling him for the moment.
Baker keeping full guard, as Edmonds tries to pass.
Baker keeping moving, preventing Edmonds from controlling successfully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edmonds looking to pass the guard.
Edmonds advances to half guard.
Baker trying to control from the bottom.
Edmonds is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Baker wants to control but Edmonds is keeping busy.
John Edmonds is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
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.
Edmonds trying to control the pace.
Edmonds is keen to just control but Baker is a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Edmonds stalling away here and it's allowed Baker to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Balthazar Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edmonds trying to control the position from guard on top but Baker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that's the end of the fight!
Balthazar Baker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Edmonds has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Topper Green scores the fight 29:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 30:27
The fight is ruled a draw!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
38% |
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