PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Tauer (ranked 3144 p4p, 421 weight class) and Brian Baker (ranked 2124 p4p, 311 weight class). Brian Baker is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Tauer
vs
Baker

200 cm
28
219 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
28
220 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steven Tauer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brian Baker!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Baker avoids the body shot from Tauer.
Baker staying out of range there.
Brian Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baker throws a right hand that Tauer ducks under and follows up with a left that Tauer also avoids with ease.
Baker scores with a sloppy right hand. Tauer should have avoided that one.
Baker takes a swing at Tauer's ribcage but misses.
Baker takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Baker misses with a low kick as Tauer jumps back.
Tauer throws a big shot that misses.

Baker gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tauer to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Baker is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tauer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baker is keeping the position for now.
Tauer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Baker trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tauer stops Baker from standing up.
Tauer preventing the sweep.
Tauer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tauer looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker keeping moving, preventing Tauer from controlling successfully.
Tauer preventing the sweep.
Baker lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Tauer is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Baker defends well.
Baker passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tauer is not content to let Baker control the position.
Tauer is looking to regain half guard here but Baker keeps moving and retains side control.

Baker decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Brian Baker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Baker thuds his right hand into Tauer's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Baker throws a leg kick but Tauer sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Baker uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tauer.
Baker misses with a looping right.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tauer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tauer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Baker backwards.
Tauer misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tauer lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Baker backwards.
Baker tries to work over Tauer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tauer swings wildly with an uppercut but Baker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tauer avoids the elbow strike from Baker, against the cage.
Tauer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tauer misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tauer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tauer lands with a left to the head.
Baker lands a right hand.
Baker throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tauer blocks it with crossed arms.
Tauer tries to work over Baker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tauer misses with a body punch.
Tauer wants a takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Baker fails to land.
Tauer lands a body shot.
Tauer definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Tauer is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Baker pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tauer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Baker working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker gets through Tauer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tauer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Baker tries to work over Tauer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Baker lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baker misses with some punches.
Baker creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Tauer on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A short uppercut from Tauer.
Tauer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tauer blocks an uppercut.
Baker can't break the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tauer blocks an elbow strike from Baker.
Tauer working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Baker swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tauer blocks an uppercut.
Tauer can't find room to land a body shot as Baker controls the action.
Tauer stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A nice left hand lands by Tauer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Steven Tauer will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Decent striking displayed by Tauer there.
A cross from Baker lands.
Baker throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

so Tauer counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Baker is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tauer is controlling him.
Baker looking for a sweep. Not yet Baker, not yet.
Tauer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Baker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tauer looking to pass the guard.
Baker keeping moving, preventing Tauer from controlling successfully.
Tauer won't allow Baker to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tauer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Baker slips under a jab.

Tauer feints and as Baker raises his hands in defense, Tauer changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tauer won't allow Baker to sweep him here.
Baker is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tauer is controlling him.
Baker keeping moving, preventing Tauer from controlling successfully.
Baker wants to stand up but Tauer is controlling him.
Baker working a defensive guard here.
Baker wants to stand up but Tauer is controlling him.
Baker working a defensive guard here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker wants to stand and escape but Tauer is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Baker defending well as Tauer loads up on a big left hand.
Tauer slips a jab from Baker.
Baker swinging wildly here.
Baker throws a hook but Tauer blocks it.

Tauer fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Baker to the ground. Tauer is now in Baker's guard.
Baker wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Tauer manages to pass to side control.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tauer trying to control from half guard but Baker is working away.
Tauer trying to mount his opponent but Baker defends it.
Tauer is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker works his way to full guard. Good work.
Baker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Baker is wriggling around but Tauer manages to pass to half guard.
Tauer not doing much here.
Baker is trying to stand back up but Tauer is controlling him
Baker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tauer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tauer moves nicely into side control.
Baker is looking to get back to his feet here but Tauer is keeping cool and he's managed to take Baker's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tauer has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Baker has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Baker rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Baker kicks Tauer off and gets back to his feet.
Tauer on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tauer fails with a takedown attempt.
Baker looks to land a left hand but Tauer moved out of range nicely.
Tauer attempts a counter takedown but Baker avoids it well and moves away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baker tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tauer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Tauer dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Baker throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Baker scores with a nice head shot.
Brian Baker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baker gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tauer.
Baker misses with a head kick.
Tauer feinted with a counter takedown.
Tauer missing with a left hand there. Baker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tauer doesn't manage to clinch there - Baker circles away.
A jab lands there for Baker.
Baker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tauer was well out of range. Poor timing from Baker.
Tauer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A head kick misses from Baker.
A chopping leg kick lands by Baker.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baker scores with a punch to the head.
Tauer keeps the fight on the outside.
Baker throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Tauer.
Brian Baker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Danga de danga de dang - Baker scores with a four punch combination!
Tauer blocks a head kick by Baker.
Tauer appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tauer misses with a straight right.

Tauer closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Baker quickly recovers to half guard.
Tauer is keen to just control but Baker is a slippery customer.
Tauer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Baker defending well though.
Baker tries to roll over but Tauer keeps him under control.
Baker felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Tauer controlling the pace.

Baker is defending against the submission attempts here by Tauer.
Baker is looking for a sweep. Tauer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Baker keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tauer wants to control but Baker is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Tauer manages to mount him!
Tauer content just to control the position here.
Tauer thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Baker is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Baker is still trying to improve position.
Baker is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tauer thowing shots but they're missing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tauer prevents Baker from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tauer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Baker is looking to escape.

Tauer looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Tauer takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Baker is squirming around, avoiding Tauer's attempts to control the action.
Baker is working to get back to half guard.
Baker is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tauer tries to control but Baker wriggling away.
Baker slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Tauer is looking for a kimura here.

Tauer is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Baker is trying to get back to full guard.
Baker is trying to stand back up but Tauer is controlling him

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brian Baker.
I think Tauer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Steven Tauer!
A very excited looking Steven Tauer rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.