PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Familia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Familia
vs
Baker

225 cm
24
205 lbs
9 - 5 - 1

188 cm
24
215 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Chris Familia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Frank Baker!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Skip Squint and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker misses with a looping right.
Familia misses the jab.
Baker misses with a straight right.
Familia throws a right and a left that Baker avoids nicely.
Familia works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

It looks like Frank Baker has been cut.
Familia throws a jab but it's blocked by Baker.
Familia scores with a punch to the head.
Chris Familia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Familia works the jab nicely.

Baker darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Familia wants to get back to full guard.
Familia manages to get to full guard.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Familia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baker cracks Familia with a solid left hand.
Baker content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Baker won't allow Familia to sweep him here.
Familia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Baker.
Familia keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.
Baker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker thows a big elbow that misses.
Familia really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Baker tries to free his leg and advance position but Familia is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Familia looking for a sweep. Not yet Familia, not yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Familia stuffs the takedown attempt from Baker. Baker gets slowly back to his feet.
Familia looks to throw the jab but Baker is out of range.
Familia cracks Baker with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Baker drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Familia wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Baker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Baker landing with the ground and pound.
Baker working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Familia's head.
Baker thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Familia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baker is working Familia over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Familia will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Familia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Familia is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Baker reverses the position - he's now on top in Familia's guard.
Familia wants to sweep but no luck.
Baker is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Familia has momentary wrist control but Baker slips an elbow through the middle.
Familia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Baker!
Familia postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Baker looks a forlorn figure.
Familia working Baker over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Familia has hold of Baker's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Baker manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Familia is breathing heavily.
Familia throwing strikes here but Baker is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Baker keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Familia with shots to the head and body - Baker looks very uncomfortable down there.
Familia trying to control but Baker is having none of it.
Familia lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker is in all sorts of trouble here.
Baker is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Baker manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Familia is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Familia with shots to the head and body - Baker looks very uncomfortable down there.
Familia working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Baker is squirming around, avoiding Familia's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Familia dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frank Baker's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Familia is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Baker.

Baker shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Familia is trying to defend but Baker finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Baker blocks the strikes from Familia.
Baker lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Familia gets full guard.
Familia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baker manages to get himself to full guard.
Familia wants to pass the guard but Baker is keeping the position.
Baker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Familia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baker has his foot on Familia's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Familia works his way back into a safe position though.
Familia has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Familia throws a strike but Baker rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baker with a nice head shot there.
Familia throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Familia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Baker!
Baker wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Familia.
Familia has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Baker's face.
Familia prevents Baker from getting the reversal.
Familia lands with some strikes.
Baker is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Familia unloading with bombs!
Baker is wriggling around trying to escape.

Familia wants to finish this one by submission but Baker is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Familia.
Baker keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Baker manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker is pressing down on Familia's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Familia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Familia is working Baker over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Familia got a little sloppy there for a moment and Baker has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Familia has managed to get both his arms back between Baker's legs - danger averted.
Familia slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Familia advances nicely into full mount.
Baker can't escape the position.

Familia working for a submission but Baker is keeping him at bay.
Baker is bucking up trying to escape but Familia cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Familia prevents Baker from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Familia is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Baker can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Familia scoring with strikes but Baker is staying in there.
Baker is trying to escape the mount.
Familia lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Familia goes for an armbar but Baker turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Baker.
Baker won't allow Familia to sweep him here.
Baker wants to control from the top but Familia keeps moving.
Baker is working Familia over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Familia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Baker tries to get to full guard but Familia has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Familia dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Frank Baker's cut.
That's time! Familia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Familia is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Baker.
Familia misses with a hook.
Baker ducks under a wild hook from Familia.

Baker looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Familia works his way to full guard. Good work.
Familia wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Familia bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Baker's guard.
Familiais looking to pass into half guard but Baker pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Baker is in guard.
Chris Familia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Baker stopping the sweep attempt from Familia.
Baker working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Familia's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baker content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Familia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Baker gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Baker keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Familia's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker distracts Familia with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Baker with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Baker working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Baker landing some decent shots from guard.
Baker stopping the sweep attempt from Familia.
Baker distracts Familia with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Familia wants to sweep but no luck.
Baker is in close to Familia's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Baker postures up and lands a big shot to Familia's brow.
Baker postures up and lands a big shot to Familia's brow.
Baker is in close to Familia's body, working some short punches and elbows.

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.
Baker scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Familia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Baker!
Baker is trying to escape the mount.
Familia pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Baker manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Baker tries to get to full guard but Familia has control of the leg.
Familia moves nicely into side control.
Familia misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Familia misses with the ground and pound.
Baker sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Familia wants to pass the guard but Baker is defending well.
Baker is looking for a sweep. Familia is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Familia uses his free foot to push down on Baker's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Baker.
Baker working to try and regain half guard.

Familia looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Familia throws some wild stikes that Baker manages to avoid easily.
Familia punching from mount but Baker doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Baker blocking the ground and pound.
Familia misses with a head shot.
Familia trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Familia looking to finish with strikes here!
Familia throwing strikes here but Baker is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Familia lands a heavy elbow.
Baker is wriggling around trying to escape.
Frank Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Familia looking to finish with strikes here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Baker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Familia 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Familia!