PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Baldridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rey Mesterio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mesterio has chosen Be A Warrior as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Baldridge
vs
Mesterio

182 cm
30
180 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

175 cm
27
175 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

CEC Nutrition Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcus Baldridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rey Mesterio!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baldridge shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mesterio's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Baldridge tries to free his leg and advance position but Mesterio is retaining full guard.
Mesterio is trying to control the position but Baldridge postures up.
Baldridge working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mesterio's head.
Baldridge scoring with punches to the head and body.
Baldridge postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Baldridge wants to control from the top but Mesterio keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baldridge slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mesterio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Baldridge content to stall in guard here.
Baldridge distracts Mesterio with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Baldridge trying to control but Mesterio is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baldridge is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Baldridge working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mesterio has momentary wrist control but Baldridge slips an elbow through the middle.
Baldridge is working Mesterio over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Baldridge 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.
Baldridge is in close to Mesterio's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Baldridge trying to control the position from guard on top but Mesterio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baldridge wants to pass the guard but Mesterio is keeping the position.
Baldridge postures up and lands a big shot to Mesterio's brow.
Mesterio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baldridge content to stall in guard here.
Baldridge working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baldridge passes Mesterio's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mesterio trying to control but Baldridge postures up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Baldridge thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Baldridge drops an elbow to the side of Mesterio's head.
Baldridge working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Baldridge seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Baldridge is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Baldridge slips a nice elbow through Mesterio's hands, connecting with Mesterio's forehead.
Baldridge wants to take a breather but Mesterio is having none of it.
Baldridge seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Baldridge scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Mesterio trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mesterio looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baldridge winds up and cracks Mesterio with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mesterio has hold of Baldridge's hands but Baldridge slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Baldridge trying to control from half guard but Mesterio is working away.
Mesterio really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baldridge. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Baldridge takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ground and pound from Baldridge.
Baldridge working Mesterio over with strikes.
Baldridge takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
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!
Nice strikes from Baldridge there.
Baldridge drops an elbow to the side of Mesterio's head.
Baldridge stalling.
Baldridge working over Mesterio with some ground and pound. Mesterio looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Baldridge lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baldridge seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Baldridge is trying to control. Mesterio wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Baldridge working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Still in half guard, Baldridge seems content to control.
Baldridge scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Baldridge drops an elbow to the side of Mesterio's head.
Nice strikes from Baldridge there.
Mesterio taking some punishment here, with Baldridge in his half guard.
Baldridge working over Mesterio with some ground and pound. Mesterio looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Baldridge wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mesterio keeps working.
Mesterio trying to hold on to Baldridge's head to control him but Baldridge postures up.
Baldridge winds up and cracks Mesterio with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Baldridge landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mesterio tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Baldridge in particular looking to stall.
Baldridge lands strikes from half guard.
Nice strikes from Baldridge there.
Baldridge scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Baldridge lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
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!
Nice strikes from Baldridge there.

Mesterio is rocked!
Mesterio taking some punishment here, with Baldridge in his half guard.
Mesterio is still in real trouble! Can Baldridge finish him?
Baldridge looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mesterio with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Baldridge lands with a punch from half guard.
Baldridge scores with a big shot! Mesterio's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Mesterio! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Marcus Baldridge!
Marcus Baldridge decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.