PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Balthazar Baker (ranked 973 p4p, 596 weight class) and Gurizuri Nakamura (ranked 132 p4p, 84 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Baker
vs
Nakamura

195 cm
32
190
15 - 10 - 0

168 cm
33
186
20 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Fast

Brooklyn Apothecary
Fantasy Threads (Laundry 15%)

Fantasy Threads (Laundry 15%)
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Balthazar Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gurizuri Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Steve Erwin and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura avoids the body shot from Baker.
Nakamura tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nakamura takes a swing at Baker's ribcage but misses.
Nakamura swings for the body but Baker moves out of range.
Nakamura scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nakamura misses with a hook. Baker ducked under it nicely.
Baker swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Nakamura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Baker was well out of range. Poor timing from Nakamura.
It looked like Baker was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Nakamura.
Baker lands a nice shot to the body.
Baker takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baker.
A quick step to the side and Baker tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nakamura swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baker was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Baker throws a sloppy body shot

and Nakamura counters with a shoot takedown. Baker fights it but they end up in guard.
Nakamura is looking to work some ground and pound but Baker has wrist 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.
Nakamura with a flurry of punches that miss.
Baker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nakamura works over Baker with some ground and pound from guard.
Nakamura postures up in Baker's guard and throws a big left but Baker blocks it.
Nakamura landing with the ground and pound.
Nakamura postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nakamura postures up.
Nakamura working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Baker is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nakamura is aware though and is defending well.
Nakamura has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nakamura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Baker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Baker doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Nakamura throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakamura throwing strikes but missing.
Baker throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nakamura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nakamura throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Baker works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Nakamura working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Nakamura trying to control but Baker is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Nakamura tries to clinch but Baker is having none of it.
Baker was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Baker fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Nakamura fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baker, pushing him back against the cage.
Nakamura tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Baker.
Baker tries a body shot but Nakamura blocks it.
Nakamura goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Baker lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Nakamura.
Nakamura has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A right handed body shot lands from Baker.
Nakamura lands a body shot in the clinch.
Nakamura blocks a body shot from Baker.
Baker tries to throw a body punch but Nakamura avoids it by throwing Baker back against the cage.
Baker can't get the takedown.
Nakamura gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Baker.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Baker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nakamura goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nakamura misses with a body punch.
Baker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Baker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nakamura tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Nakamura.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baker can't find room to land a body shot as Nakamura controls the action.
A short left from Nakamura.
Nakamura misses with a punch to the body.
Baker tries a body shot but Nakamura blocks it.
Nakamura tries to work over Baker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Nakamura fails to land.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Baker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Baker digs a right hand into Nakamura's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Nakamura's gas tank.
Nakamura lands a right hand that snaps the head of Baker backwards.
Nakamura prevents a body shot from Baker.
Baker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Baker tries to throw a body punch but Nakamura avoids it by throwing Baker back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Baker gets caught napping as Nakamura dives in and scores a takedown. Baker manages to retain guard.
Baker will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nakamura with a nice head shot there.
Nakamura postures up in Baker's guard and throws a big left but Baker blocks it.
Nakamura is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Baker is rocked!
Nakamura loads up on a big left hand. Baker felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Nakamura looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Baker can't hide his disappointment, as Nakamura celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gurizuri Nakamura!