PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dan Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Hanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hanson comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Kasinova - What They Want kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Dan Baker could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mark Hanson's chin.

Baker
vs
Hanson

198 cm
22
260 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
256 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Hanson!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baker fails in his attempt to clinch.

Baker clinches up with Hanson and pushes him back against the cage.
Hanson prevents Baker from breaking the clinch.
Baker can't break the clinch.
The is referee keeping an eye on Baker - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Baker is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hanson is keeping busy.
Baker taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hanson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Baker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hanson has him pressed against the cage.

Hanson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hanson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Baker parries the strikes from Hanson easily there. Hanson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Baker to escape.
Baker can't do much from the bottom here.
Hanson controls the position from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanson is looking to take a break and control but Baker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hanson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Baker is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Baker tries to clinch there but Hanson circles away.
Baker misses with a takedown attempt

and Hanson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hanson.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Hanson has eaten all the pies!

Hanson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hanson shoots and misses

and Baker counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Baker.
Baker with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

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.
Baker with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hanson tries to pull guard but Baker won't allow it.
Baker tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hanson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Baker is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hanson is keeping busy.
Baker is breathing heavily.

Hanson breaks the clinch.
Baker tries to clinch

and Hanson counters with a shoot takedown. Baker fights it but they end up in guard.
Hanson wants to control from the top but Baker keeps moving.
Baker is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Baker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hanson controlling from the top position.
Baker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hanson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hanson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanson wants to pass the guard but Baker is keeping the position.
Hanson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Baker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Baker wants to sweep but no luck.
Hanson distracts Baker with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hanson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Baker is proving hard to escape from.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Hanson darts in and clinches Baker up against the cage.
Baker fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Baker tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hanson wants a takedown but no success here.
Dan Baker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Hanson.
Hanson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Baker just stands there and leans against the cage.
Baker drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hanson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hanson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hanson throws a head kick but Baker moves out of range.
Hanson is looking to clinch.
Baker closes the distance looking to clinch

and Hanson counters with a single leg into guard. Baker didn't expect that.
Baker trying to keep a closed guard but Hanson is proving a slippery customer.
Hanson wants to get up but he can't break Baker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Hanson dominated that round.
That's time! Baker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hanson has his takedown stuffed

and Baker holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Baker throws a knee to the head but misses.
Baker with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Hanson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Baker is trying to control but can't.
Hanson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baker keeps working.
Baker gets back to full guard.
Baker is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Baker looking to control.
Hanson is breathing heavily.
Hanson wants to pass the guard but Baker is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hanson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hanson is fending him off so far but Baker persists. Nope, Hanson circles away and we're back to standing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hanson blocks a head kick by Baker.
Baker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hanson doesn't manage to clinch there - Baker circles away.
Hanson with a poor takedown
and Baker counters with a nice uppercut.
Baker clinches but Hanson breaks the clinch

and Hanson counters with a takedown into side control.
Hanson working away.

Hanson decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hanson moves into the clinch successfully.

Hanson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Baker uses from the top position.

Hanson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Hanson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Baker clinches but Hanson breaks the clinch

and Hanson counters with a shoot takedown. Baker fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Baker manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Baker tries to control but Hanson wriggling away.
Baker is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hanson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker is really struggling to control Hanson but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Baker working for a guillotine from mount but Hanson is in no mood to give up.
Baker takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Hanson is trying to break free.
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Dan Baker just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Baker dodges the punch combination from Hanson.
Hanson wants to clinch up but Baker keeps it at a distance.
Baker clinches but Hanson breaks the clinch

and Hanson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Baker misses with a knee strike.

Baker manages to break the clinch.
Baker tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hanson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hanson.
Baker wants to stall.
Baker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hanson has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baker tries to pull guard but Hanson won't allow it.

Hanson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Hanson stands up.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch but Hanson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Hanson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Baker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hanson moves into range and clinches up with Baker.

Hanson breaks from the clinch.
Hanson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hanson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Baker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hanson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Baker as he jumps to the side.

Hanson scores with a takedown into Baker's guard.
Hanson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Baker looking for a sweep. Not yet Baker, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hanson stands up from Baker's guard - Hanson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Baker wants to clinch
and Hanson counters with a solid body kick.
Hanson misses with a shot to the body

and Baker counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hanson's guard now.
Hanson trying to keep a closed guard but Baker is proving a slippery customer.
Hanson keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.
Baker won't allow Hanson to get back to his feet.
Baker wants to control from the top but Hanson keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Hanson scores with a kick to the midsection.

Hanson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hanson preventing the sweep.
Baker trying to control the position.
Hanson wants to stand but Baker has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Baker is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Baker working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker wants to sweep here but Hanson controlling him for the moment.
Baker being controlled here, momentarily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Baker looks to clinch

and Hanson counters by clinching up.
Baker is trying to break free.
Hanson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Baker is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Dan Baker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Hanson.
Hanson has Baker pushed against the cage.

Hanson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Hanson keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.
Baker looking to pass the guard.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hanson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Baker trying to control but Hanson is working from the bottom.
Baker preventing the sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Baker wants to clinch up but Hanson keeps it at a distance.
Hanson wants to clinch up but Baker keeps it at a distance.
Baker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hanson shoots and misses
and Baker counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Baker clinches but Hanson breaks the clinch

so Hanson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hanson is fighting to break Baker's control of his arms but Baker is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Dan Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baker trying to control the position.
Hanson pushing down on Baker's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Hanson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hanson 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Hanson!