PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Seck Diop (ranked 4632 p4p, 5270 weight class) and Brenton Baxter (ranked 463 p4p, 484 weight class). Seck Diop looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Diop
vs
Baxter

190 cm
25
190
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
25
185
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers standup

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seck Diop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brenton Baxter!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diop takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Baxter lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diop circles away quickly and effectively.
Baxter looks to land a right hand but Diop moved out of range.

Diop closes the distance and clinches.
Diop lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Diop breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Diop, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Baxter fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Diop on the side of the head.
Baxter lands a glancing blow to the side of Diop's head.
We've been told by Diop's head coaches at Cozad MMA Las Vegas that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Diop forces Baxter back against the cage and clinches.
Baxter looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Baxter wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Baxter tries to throw a body punch but Diop avoids it by throwing Baxter back against the cage.
Baxter tries to break free but Diop pushes him back against the cage.
Diop keeps control of Baxter as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Diop wants to get back to striking at distance but Baxter won't allow it.
Baxter looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Baxter tries to land a knee to the head but Diop blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter can't break the clinch.
Baxter misses with a punch on the inside.
Diop is trying to break the clinch but Baxter has him pressed against the cage.
Diop has Baxter pressed against the cage, preventing Baxter from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Baxter struggles to land a body shot inside as Diop controls his hands.
Baxter can't break the clinch.
Baxter wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Baxter is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Baxter can't break the clinch.
Diop is trying to break the clinch but Baxter is controlling him.
Diop is trying to break the clinch but Baxter is controlling him.
Baxter tries to break the clinch but Diop is controlling the position.
Baxter is trying to push Diop away but Diop has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Diop manages to break the clinch.
Baxter misses with a body shot.

Diop pushes Baxter up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two 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.
Baxter is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Diop is defending well for now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diop.
Baxter blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Diop lands a hook that snaps the head of Baxter backwards.

Diop escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baxter with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Baxter slips under a jab.
Baxter throws a series of punches but Diop moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Baxter.
Diop feinted with a counter takedown.
Baxter throws a head kick that Diop semi-blocks.
Baxter keeps Diop at a distance using the push kick.
Baxter connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Diop momentarily.
Diop throws a looping overhand right but Baxter ducks down to avoid it.
Baxter connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Diop drives through and clinches with Baxter against the cage.
Baxter keeps control of Diop as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Baxter wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Diop has him pressed against the cage.
Diop prevents Baxter from breaking the clinch.
Baxter is trying to push Diop away but Diop has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Baxter is trying to break the clinch but Diop is controlling him.
Baxter tries to work over Diop's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Diop wants to get back to striking at distance but Baxter won't allow it.
Diop prevents Baxter from breaking the clinch.
A short left from Diop.
Baxter keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Diop's efforts to push away.
Baxter is looking to break free of the clinch but Diop has double underhooks.
Baxter tries to stall but Diop uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Diop's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Baxter keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Diop's efforts to push away.
Diop lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Diop lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Baxter wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Diop has him pressed against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Baxter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Diop gets through Baxter's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Baxter has a couple of punches blocked by Diop.
Diop lands a nice uppercut.
Baxter wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Baxter throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Diop blocks it with crossed arms.
A frustrated look appears on Baxter's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Seck Diop will probably get the nod.
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.

Diop closes the distance and clinches.
Baxter wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Baxter can't break the clinch.
Baxter is trying to break free.
Diop keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Baxter's efforts to push away.
Diop lands with a light punch inside.
Diop is looking to break free of the clinch but Baxter has double underhooks.
Baxter wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Diop gets through Baxter's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Diop misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Baxter takes a shot to the head.
Baxter is trying to force a seperation but Diop has the dominant position.
Seck Diop has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Diop lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Baxter is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter is trying to push Diop away but Diop has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Baxter tries to work over Diop's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Baxter is trying to break free.
Diop wants to break the clinch but can't.
Diop lands with a right to the head.
Baxter is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Diop breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diop 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.
Diop will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Baxter lands a head kick!
Baxter lands with a nice combination. Diop backs away looking to recover.
Baxter throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Diop.
Diop throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baxter comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Diop throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Baxter.
It looked like Diop was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Diop dodges the punch combination from Baxter.

Diop drives through and clinches with Baxter against the cage.
Baxter has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Baxter wants to get back to striking at distance but Diop won't allow it.

Diop escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baxter fails to land with a series of punches.
Baxter thuds a left hand into Diop's body.
Baxter lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Baxter connects with a body shot that sends Diop's belly button to the back.
Baxter swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter connects with a right hand. Diop shakes it off.
A nice combination there by Diop.
Baxter tries to bum rush Diop with a series of wild strikes but Diop uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Baxter throws a series of punches but Diop moves out of range.
Diop attempts a counter takedown but Baxter avoids it well and moves away.
Baxter throws a quick inside leg kick.
Diop fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baxter looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Baxter wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Diop has him pressed against the cage.
Baxter landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Diop breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Baxter lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Seck Diop is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diop throws a nice looking combination but Baxter bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baxter connects with an inside leg kick.
Baxter lets loose with a powerful body kick. Diop will feel that in the morning.
Baxter lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Baxter scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Baxter will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Diop crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Baxter - the referee stops the clock and Diop gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Baxter. Diop manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
No joy there for Diop, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Baxter is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Diop with a body shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Baxter as he connects with a hook.
Baxter is looking to slow Diop down with leg kicks.
Sloppy strikes from Diop. Those never looked like landing.
Baxter rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Diop moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brenton Baxter will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A left and a right from Baxter both land. Nice combination.
Diop misses with a series of wild punches.
As Diop backs off Baxter throws a huge counter combo but Diop manages to avoid it all.
Baxter fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A telegraphed right hand from Diop misses the target.
Diop ducks under a wild hook from Baxter.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Baxter is trying to push Diop away but Diop has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter wants to break the clinch but can't.
A head punch on the inside from Diop fails to land.
Baxter is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Diop wants to get back to striking at distance but Baxter won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baxter lands a left hand that snaps the head of Diop backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diop lands a left hand that snaps the head of Baxter backwards.
Diop is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Diop looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Diop lands an uppercut.

Diop pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Baxter!
Diop avoids the body shot from Baxter.
Diop keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Baxter.
Baxter throws a quick inside leg kick.
Baxter ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A combination from Baxter does no damage.
Baxter throws a front kick that sends Diop stumbling back into the cage.
Baxter throws a body punch but Diop moves out of range.

Diop has closed the distance and engaged Baxter in a clinch.
Diop misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short uppercut from Diop.
Diop takes a knee to the side of the body.
Baxter prevents Diop from breaking the clinch.
Baxter has had enough of the clinch but Diop keeps him there for the moment.
Baxter is trying to break free.

Diop breaks the clinch.
Baxter throws a right hand that Diop ducks under and follows up with a left that Diop also avoids with ease.

Baxter gets tackled into the cage by Diop. Diop maintains the clinch.
Baxter tries to circle away but Diop has him pinned against the cage.
Baxter is trying to break the clinch but Diop is controlling him.
Baxter working hard to break the clinch.
Baxter misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Diop.
A nice left hand lands by Diop.
Diop wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Baxter has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter working hard to break the clinch.
Baxter working hard to break the clinch.
Baxter can't break the clinch.
Diop lands a hook to the side of the head.
Baxter takes a shot to the head.
Diop lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Diop wants to break free but Baxter has control.
Diop wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Baxter has him pressed against the cage.
Baxter throws a punch but it's blocked by Diop.
Baxter keeps control of Diop as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Baxter tries to break the clinch but Diop is controlling the position.
Diop wants to get back to striking at distance but Baxter won't allow it.
Baxter's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diop lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Baxter is trying to break free.
Diop wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Baxter has him pressed against the cage.
Diop working hard to break the clinch.
Diop lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Baxter backwards.
Baxter misses with some punches.
Baxter is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Diop lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Baxter backwards.
Diop lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Diop tries to break free but Baxter pushes him back against the cage.
Diop lands a left hand that snaps the head of Baxter backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baxter has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Diop misses with a short punch on the inside.
Diop keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Baxter's efforts to push away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seck Diop showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Diop has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Seck Diop!