PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Flaherty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Flaherty
vs
Baker

182 cm
21
163 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
168 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Flaherty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Baker!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Dean Styles and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick lands there from Baker.

Flaherty is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Baker's half guard.

Baker manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Flaherty keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Baker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Baker working Flaherty over with knees to the body.
Baker with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Flaherty wants to get back to striking at distance but Baker won't allow it.
Baker lands a nice knee to the body.
Baker landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Flaherty is breathing heavily.
Flaherty wants to stall.
Baker with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Flaherty tries for a takedown but Baker manages to get underhooks.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flaherty has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Baker avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Baker.
Baker lands a knee to the body.
Flaherty takes a knee right on the jaw!

Baker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Baker as Flaherty shoots in.
Baker appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Flaherty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baker chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A slapping body kick lands there for Baker.
Flaherty on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Baker scores with a head kick. Flaherty tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flaherty misses with a takedown attempt - Baker sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Joe Baker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Baker there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Flaherty misses with a wild combination.
A nice inside leg kick there by Baker. That's going to slow Flaherty down.
Flaherty on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Flaherty on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Flaherty takes a kick to the side of the head.
Nice takedown defense from Baker. No joy for Flaherty on that attempt.
A good leg kick by Baker.
Flaherty is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Baker lands a nice leg kick that just misses Flaherty's sensitive parts.
Baker has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Flaherty is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Baker lands with a nice body kick.
Good leg kick by Baker there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Baker throws a head kick that half lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker lands with a nice body kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Baker.
Baker lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Flaherty on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Baker. Baker obviously looking to wear him down.
Baker fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Flaherty.
Nice body kick there by Baker.
An inside leg kick lands from Baker.
Flaherty misses with a jab to the body
and Baker counters with a nice low kick that buckles Flaherty's knee momentarily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Baker.
Flaherty on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Baker. Baker obviously looking to wear him down.
A slapping body kick lands there for Baker.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baker fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Flaherty.
An inside leg kick lands from Baker.
Flaherty is trying hard to land a takedown here. Baker sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Flaherty's calf.
Baker throws a quick inside leg kick.
Baker feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Flaherty's calf.
Flaherty throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Baker's waist but Baker gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Flaherty off to one side.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Baker.
That kick from Baker tenderised Flaherty's leg. Flaherty is trying to keep his angry face on.
Baker lands a nice leg kick that just misses Flaherty's sensitive parts.
Flaherty tries to clinch up but Baker circles away and keeps his distance.
Baker thinks about the counter body kick.
Baker with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A solid leg kick lands there for Baker.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A low kick from Flaherty misses
and Baker counters with an inside leg kick.
Baker lands with a nice body kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Flaherty crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Baker - the referee stops the clock and Flaherty gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Baker. Flaherty manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Baker chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Baker dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Baker throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Flaherty closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Baker's guard.
Baker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Flaherty manages to get himself to full guard.

Baker wanted to stand there but Flaherty had control of the position.

Baker stands and steps away. Flaherty gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Baker takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Baker scoring well with a low kick there.
Baker scores with a leg kick.
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!
A chopping leg kick lands by Baker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Flaherty fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Baker avoids it really well and circles away.
Flaherty will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Flaherty takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Baker connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Flaherty loads up on a big right hand but Baker slips the punch.
Flaherty tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Alex Flaherty is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baker lands with a kick to the temple. Flaherty shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Flaherty with a poor takedown
and Baker counters with a slapping leg kick.
Baker lands a leg kick that knocks Flaherty off balance momentarily.
Baker connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flaherty has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Baker.
Baker is looking to slow Flaherty down with leg kicks.
A head kick misses from Baker.
A quick step to the side and Flaherty tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baker throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Baker throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Baker. That's going to slow Flaherty down.
A nice leg kick lands there from Baker.
Flaherty steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Baker. That one must have hurt.
Baker lands with a kick to the ribs.
A chopping leg kick lands by Baker.
Baker is looking to slow Flaherty down with leg kicks.
That kick from Baker tenderised Flaherty's leg. Flaherty is trying to keep his angry face on.
Baker scores with a nice body kick.
Baker throws a leg kick which misses Flaherty's front leg but catches the back leg as Flaherty tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flaherty takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Joe Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A thudding body kick lands there by Baker!
Nice body kick from Baker.
Baker lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Baker throws a quick inside leg kick.
Baker feints and then cracks Flaherty's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Flaherty down.
Baker lands a high kick!
That kick from Baker tenderised Flaherty's leg. Flaherty is trying to keep his angry face on.
Baker scores with a leg kick.
Flaherty has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Baker.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Baker.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Flaherty walks forward, straight into a front kick from Baker.
Flaherty tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Baker defends well and Flaherty ends up having to push Baker into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Flaherty. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Flaherty is rocked!
Flaherty's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Baker lands a nice looking body kick.
Oh Flaherty is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Flaherty takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A thudding body kick lands there by Baker!
Baker throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Flaherty crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Baker - the referee stops the clock and Flaherty gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Baker. Flaherty manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Baker throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Baker looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Flaherty takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Baker throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Flaherty seems to have got his legs back now.
Baker cracks the inside of Flaherty's front leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Flaherty tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Baker counters with a low kick, right behind Flaherty 's knee.
Baker lands with a thumping leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Baker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Baker 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!

A nice inside leg kick there by Baker. That's going to slow Flaherty down.
Baker stuffs the takedown.
Flaherty tries to bum rush Baker with a series of wild strikes but Baker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Baker lands a front kick.
Baker fakes the leg kick and cracks Flaherty in the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Baker.
A chopping leg kick lands by Baker.
Flaherty takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Baker throws a nice outside leg kick.
Baker explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Baker is looking to slow Flaherty down with leg kicks.
Baker turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A good leg kick by Baker.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice leg kick lands there from Baker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker lands a head kick!
Baker throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Baker throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Baker feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Flaherty's calf.
A slapping leg kick lands for Baker.
Flaherty walks forward, straight into a front kick from Baker.
Flaherty takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Baker connects with a leg kick. Flaherty looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Baker delivers a nice body kick.
Baker scores with a kick to the midsection.
Baker lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baker looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker scores with a leg kick.
Baker scores with a head kick.

Flaherty closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Baker manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Baker lands with a kick to the ribs.
Baker lands a nice leg kick that just misses Flaherty's sensitive parts.
Joe Baker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Baker connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Baker thuds his shin into the meat of Flaherty's side.
A slapping leg kick lands for Baker.
Baker delivers a nice body kick.
Baker moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Baker. That's going to slow Flaherty down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker blocks the body kick.
Flaherty stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Baker.
Baker throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Flaherty's head.
Flaherty throws a left and a right that both miss
and Baker counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Baker thows a body kick. Flaherty tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Baker leaves Flaherty with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Baker throws a head kick that half lands.
Baker feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Flaherty's calf.
Baker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Flaherty takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Joe Baker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baker lands a head kick. Flaherty smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Flaherty rushes Baker and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flaherty tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Flaherty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baker putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Flaherty in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Baker is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Baker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Flaherty misses with some punches.
Baker with a knee to the head.
Flaherty can't find room to land a body shot as Baker controls the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Flaherty looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Alex Flaherty has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baker blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Baker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Baker has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 25:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 25:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Baker!
Joe Baker decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.