PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rikki Theodosi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronnie Baxter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rikki Theodosi had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 137.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Theodosi
vs
Baxter

177 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rikki Theodosi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ronnie Baxter!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baxter throws a head kick but Theodosi moves out of range.
Theodosi tries to clinch up.
Theodosi lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Ronnie Baxter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Baxter darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Theodosi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Baxter trying to control the pace.
Baxter moves into full mount! Theodosi won't be happy about that!
Theodosi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Baxter lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Theodosi wants to hold on but Baxter pushes him away.

Baxter jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Theodosi manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Baxter is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Theodosi has escaped the position, nice work there.
Baxter looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Theodosi is avoiding damage well.

Baxter decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Baxter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Theodosi as he jumps to the side.
Baxter looks gassed!
Theodosi shoots and misses

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

Baxter decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Theodosi, up you get!
Theodosi throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Theodosi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Theodosi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Baxter's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Theodosi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Baxter is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Baxter wants to stand but Theodosi is controlling the position.
Baxter is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Theodosi trying to control the position from guard on top but Baxter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter is pulling down on Theodosi's head. It's preventing any offense from Theodosi, at least for the moment.
Theodosi trying to control but Baxter is working from the bottom.

Baxter is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Theodosi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Theodosi showed some decent athleticism there.
Theodosi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Baxter on the ground.
Baxter is trying to control but can't.
Baxter is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Theodosi is staying active.
Baxter wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Baxter dominated that round.
That's time! Theodosi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Theodosi shoots in and drives through. Baxter sprawls well.

Baxter shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Baxter seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Baxter preventing the sweep.
Baxter is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Baxter sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter pushes down on Theodosi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Baxter blocks the strikes from Theodosi.
Baxter thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Theodosi's head.
Ronnie Baxter has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baxter moves into full mount! Theodosi won't be happy about that!
Baxter looking to control but Theodosi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.

Baxter is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Theodosi has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Theodosi!
Baxter throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Theodosi wants to stand but Baxter has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Baxter working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Theodosi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Theodosi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Baxter pushes Theodosi off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Theodosi avoids the head kick by Baxter.
Baxter shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Baxter fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Baxter looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Theodosi is fending him off so far but Baxter persists. Nope, Theodosi circles away and we're back to standing.
Rikki Theodosi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronnie Baxter.
A left and a right from Theodosi both land. Nice combination.

Baxter shoots in and bounces Theodosi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baxter trying to control but Theodosi is working from the bottom.
Baxter postures up.
Baxter trying to control the position from guard on top but Theodosi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baxter working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Theodosi's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Baxter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Theodosi wants to clinch but Baxter slips to the side
and Baxter counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Baxter shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Theodosi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Baxter won't be happy with that.
Baxter can't do much from the bottom here.
Baxter trying his best to control but Theodosi has mounted him.
Theodosi avoids the attempt from Baxter to control.
Baxter is in all sorts of trouble here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Theodosi looking to finish Baxter with some ground and pound. This is bad for Baxter!
Theodosi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Baxter is looking to escape.
Baxter working to try and regain half guard.

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.
Theodosi tries to control but Baxter wriggling away.
Baxter tries to buck Theodosi off but he can't manage it.
Baxter really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Theodosi lands a heavy elbow.
Theodosi scoring with strikes but Baxter is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Baxter is not content to let Theodosi control the position.
Baxter is controlling Theodosi's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Baxter moves into full guard.
Theodosi lands a couple of elbows.

That's four 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.
Theodosi preventing the sweep.
Theodosi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Theodosi wants to control from the top but Baxter keeps moving.

Baxter has his feet on Theodosi's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Baxter shoots and misses
and Theodosi counters with a nice body kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Baxter drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Theodosi trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Rikki Theodosi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ronnie Baxter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Theodosi working for a triangle but Baxter defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rikki Theodosi.
I think Baxter has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronnie Baxter! Ronnie Baxter retains his bantamweight title!