PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Broland McEnroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh 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.

McEnroe
vs
Baxter

168 cm
18
149 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
21
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Broland McEnroe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josh Baxter!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baxter forces McEnroe back against the cage and clinches.
McEnroe has Baxter pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Baxter manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
McEnroe fails to pull guard.
McEnroe tries to pull guard but Baxter won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Broland McEnroe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baxter prevents a takedown attempt there.

Baxter jumps guard.
McEnroe wants to control from the top but Baxter keeps moving.
McEnroe tries to free his leg and advance position but Baxter is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baxter escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McEnroe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baxter can't keep his opponent in guard - McEnroe advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Baxter looking for submissions off his back.
McEnroe content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

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.
McEnroe passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Baxter!
McEnroe controlling the pace for now.

McEnroe goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Baxter is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter postures up.
Baxter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Baxter with a flurry of punches that miss.
McEnroe keeping moving, preventing Baxter from controlling successfully.

McEnroe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Baxter with a flurry of punches that miss.

McEnroe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McEnroe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McEnroe is breathing heavily.
Baxter closes the distance and clinches up with McEnroe, looking for a takedown. Baxter pushes McEnroe against the cage but McEnroe circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

McEnroe shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. McEnroe showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McEnroe is looking to advance position but Baxter won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Broland McEnroe will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Excellent takedown into side control there by McEnroe.
McEnroe wants to control for a moment but Baxter uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

Baxter is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Baxter is working for a kimura but McEnroe is defending it quite comfortably.
McEnroe trying to hold on to Baxter's head to control him but Baxter postures up.
Baxter is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baxter is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
McEnroe keeps control of the position for the meantime.
McEnroe is trying to control but can't.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McEnroe shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Baxter's guard.
McEnroe looking to pass the guard.
McEnroe trying to control the position from guard on top but Baxter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McEnroe throws a big right hand that misses.
McEnroe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McEnroe advances position into side control!
Baxter is working to avoid the ground and pound but McEnroe connects with a decent elbow.
Baxter is not content to let McEnroe control the position.
Baxter gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
McEnroe controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baxter is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, McEnroe has taken his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Broland McEnroe dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by McEnroe.
McEnroe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baxter keeps working.

McEnroe is trying to get an arm triangle but Baxter is defending well.
McEnroe advances to mount.
McEnroe controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baxter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McEnroe is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Baxter has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Baxter!
Baxter controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Baxter trying to control but McEnroe is working from the bottom.

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.

Baxter is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! McEnroe is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! McEnroe has escaped and now he's on top!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McEnroe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Baxter keeping full guard, as McEnroe tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McEnroe is working hard here to advance position.
Baxter can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McEnroe controls the pace.
McEnroe trying to control but Baxter is working from the bottom.
McEnroe pushes down on Baxter's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Baxter trying to control 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.
McEnroe is pressing down on Baxter's thigh, looking to free his foot. Baxter is holding on for now.

McEnroe is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
McEnroe works his foot free and advances to mount.
Josh Baxter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Broland McEnroe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McEnroe sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Broland McEnroe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McEnroe, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Broland McEnroe!