PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brady Baird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Young Tupac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Brady Baird has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Baird
vs
Tupac

175 cm
24
177 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

176 cm
26
179 lbs
14 - 14 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brady Baird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Young Tupac!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baird wants to clinch up but Tupac keeps it at a distance.

Baird scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Tupac gets back to half guard.
Baird works his foot free and advances to mount.
Tupac blocking the ground and pound.
Tupac is wriggling around trying to escape.
Baird in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Tupac gets back to half guard.
Baird looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Tupac regains full guard. Nicely done.
Tupac looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baird is one step ahead there.

Tupac looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Baird trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tupac's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tupac is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Baird defends well.
Baird scoring with some ground and pound.
Baird postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Baird avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tupac avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Baird has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Baird thows a big elbow that misses.

Tupac looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tupac looks gassed!

Baird avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Baird trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Baird's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Baird lands a couple of digs.

Baird got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tupac has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Baird has managed to get both his arms back between Tupac's legs - danger averted.

Tupac is working an open guard so Baird takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Baird gets a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tupac keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Baird slows the pace down in half guard.
Tupac looks like he's trying to stand up.
Baird tries to stand and escape but Tupac is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tupac tries to roll over but Baird keeps him under control.

Tupac looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tupac blocks a head kick by Baird.
Baird tries to clinch up but Tupac circles away and keeps his distance.
No joy there for Baird, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tupac misses with a takedown attempt

and Baird decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tupac's guard.

Baird stands up from Tupac's guard - Baird perhaps looking for a knockout.
Tupac slips a straight right by Baird.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baird scores with a takedown into Tupac's guard.
Baird landing some decent shots from guard.

Tupac looking for a guillotine here but Baird defends easily.

Tupac is working an open guard so Baird takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Baird closes the distance and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Baird cracks Tupac with a nice body shot.

Baird ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Baird no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Baird is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brady Baird dominated that round.
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.

Baird gets a takedown into half guard.
Baird throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Tupac looking for submissions off his back.
Tupac is looking to improve his position.
Baird throwing shots but Tupac is blocking nicely.
Baird lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tupac tries to get to full guard but Baird has control of the leg.
Brady Baird overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nice strikes from Baird there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Baird connects with a nice short shot to Tupac's temple.
Tupac is breathing heavily.
It looks like Baird is going to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tupac manages to get to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baird accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Baird postures up in Tupac's guard and throws a big left but Tupac blocks it.
Baird is looking to stand up but Tupac won't let him.

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

Tupac is looking for a triangle here but Baird uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Baird has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Baird throws a hook to the side of Tupac's head but Tupac sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird fails with the takedown

and Tupac counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Tupac drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Baird dives on top into guard.
Baird cracks Tupac with a solid left hand.

Tupac is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Baird defends well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Baird lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tupac has a closed guard, preventing Baird from standing up.
Baird controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baird connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tupac's guard.

Tupac is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Baird preventing the sweep.

Tupac has his foot on Baird's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Baird works his way back into a safe position though.
Baird working some strikes from top position.
Baird content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Tupac escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Baird gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Baird with a nice head shot there.

Tupac looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Baird stands up from Tupac's guard - Baird perhaps looking for a knockout.

Baird changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tupac looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baird is putting a hurting on Tupac here, landing some big shots from side control.
Baird is putting a hurting on Tupac here, landing some big shots from side control.

Baird decides to stand back up.
Baird misses with the combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Baird.

Baird gets caught flat footed, as Tupac shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tupac drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Baird dives on top into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baird trying to control the position from guard on top but Tupac is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brady Baird dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Baird misses with a two punch combination.

Baird gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tupac to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Tupac drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Baird manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tupac has Baird in his guard.
Baird advances position into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tupac is trying to improve his position.
Baird grinds an elbow into Tupac's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baird decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Baird scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Baird scores with a couple of short elbows.
Tupac is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Baird decides to stand back up. Baird steps back and let's Tupac get back to his feet.
Baird fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baird throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Baird closes the distance and clinches.

Baird manages to break the clinch.
Tupac gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Baird counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tupac is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Baird is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Tupac taking shots to the head.
Baird lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Baird punishing his opponent with strikes.
Tupac is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tupac is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A nice elbow there by Baird.
Baird postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Tupac looks a forlorn figure.

Baird jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Tupac manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Tupac manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird is looking to take a break and control but Tupac is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Tupac actively working from the bottom here.

Tupac looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Baird maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Tupac could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Baird has cracked it and Tupac is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Baird!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Brady Baird!