PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Buster Baxter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Andre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baxter comes to the cage accompanied by Arthur Theme Song. Andre comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Fort Minor - Remember The Name kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Buster Baxter has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Baxter
vs
Andre

169 cm
20
163 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
170 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Buster Baxter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Andre!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Andre tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick from Andre lands but Baxter takes it in his stride.
Andre fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Andre misses with a jab, cross combination.
Andre misses the jab.
Andre tries to score with a low kick but Baxter moves his leg out of the way.
Horrible takedown by Baxter or perhaps it was just good defense by Andre which made him look bad.
Baxter is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Andre.
Andre tries to bum rush Baxter with a series of wild strikes but Baxter uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter misses with a takedown attempt - Andre sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Baxter shoots in for a takedown but Andre shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buster Baxter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Andre throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Baxter.
Andre lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baxter circles away quickly and effectively.
Baxter dives in and grabs Andre's left leg, looking for a takedown. Andre pushes down on Baxter's head and hops out.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Andre misses with a few strikes there.
Baxter checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Baxter shoots in but Andre avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two 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.
Baxter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Andre's waist but Andre gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Baxter off to one side.
Baxter shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Andre defends it nicely.
Andre throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Baxter.
Baxter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Andre sprawls well. Andre wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Baxter gets slowly back to his feet.
Andre looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andre misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Andre will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Baxter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Andre's waist but Andre gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Baxter off to one side.
Baxter fails with the takedown.

Baxter closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Baxter lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baxter slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Baxter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Andre is keeping the position for now.
Baxter advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Andre dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Andre misses with a two punch combination.
Andre dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Baxter. That did some damage!
A swing and a miss from Andre.
Andre moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Baxter showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Andre.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Andre stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Andre wants it to stay on the feet.
Andre connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baxter shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Andre is trying to defend but Baxter finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Baxter is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Andre is staying active underneath Baxter, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Baxter wants to pass the guard but Andre is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andre pushes Baxter off looking to stand but Baxter dives back in and keeps control.
Baxter looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Baxter not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Baxter is looking for a kimura here.
Baxter is keen to just control but Andre is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Andre looks to land a combination but Baxter avoids it well.
Baxter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Andre sprawls well. Andre wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Baxter gets slowly back to his feet.
Baxter fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buster Baxter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baxter looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

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.
Andre lands a nice leg kick that just misses Baxter's sensitive parts.
Andre swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice takedown defense from Andre. No joy for Baxter on that attempt.
Andre scores with a leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baxter will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Andre swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Andre showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Andre stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Andre wants it to stay on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Baxter.
Andre leaves Baxter with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buster Baxter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baxter will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Andre as Baxter shoots in.
Andre leaves Baxter with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Paulo Andre is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andre stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Andre wants it to stay on the feet.
Andre misses with a series of wild punches.
Andre throws a series of punches but Baxter avoids them all with ease.
Andre throws a sloppy head kick and Baxter moves out of range easily.
Andre fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Baxter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Andre sprawls well. Andre wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Baxter gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Horrible takedown by Baxter or perhaps it was just good defense by Andre which made him look bad.
Andre swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No joy there for Andre, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Andre misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice sprawl there from Andre as Baxter shoots in.
Paulo Andre is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter shoots in and drives through. Andre sprawls well.
Baxter shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Andre feints and then cracks Baxter's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Baxter down.
Andre leaves Baxter with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Andre misses with the combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Baxter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Andre. That's going to slow Baxter down.
Baxter dodges the punch combination from Andre.
Baxter slips a jab and a cross from Andre.
Paulo Andre seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Andre throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Baxter's head.
Buster Baxter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andre keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Andre comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Andre 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Andre!