PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edwin Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sebaastian Struve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baker comes to the ring accompanied by Mortal Kombat- Afu Ra. Edwin Baker has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Baker
vs
Struve

180 cm
20
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

179 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Edwin Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sebaastian Struve!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A nice inside leg kick there by Baker. That's going to slow Struve down.
Baker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Struve.
Baker shoots in and drives through. Struve sprawls well.
A jab from Struve finds it's way through Baker's defenses.
Baker throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Nice body kick from Baker.
Struve circles away from the clinch attempt.
Edwin Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Struve is looking to slow Baker down with leg kicks.

Struve closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Baker to the mat! Baker manages to get full guard.
Struve tries to free his leg and advance position but Baker is retaining full guard.

Baker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Struve defends it easily.
Baker is pulling down on Struve's head to control his posture.
Struve stands up over Baker, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Struve throws a big right hand that misses.

Baker is looking for a triangle but Struve pushes his legs off easily.
Baker manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker wants to control the pace but Struve is squirming around nicely.
Struve tries to reverse the position but Baker maintains control.
Struve wants to control but Baker is having none of it.
Struve keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Baker looking to control but Struve is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Struve is desperately trying to improve his position but Baker has a good base and remains in mount.
Baker avoids the attempt from Struve to control.

Baker working for a guillotine from mount but Struve is in no mood to give up.
Baker can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Struve is looking to escape.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Struve tries to improve his position but instead Baker has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Struve is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Baker gets his way!
Struve rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Struve is trying to get back to full guard.
Baker tries to stand but can't do so whilst Struve controls his leg.
Baker trying to mount his opponent but Struve defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Struve trying to hold on to Baker's head to control him but Baker postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Struve blocks a head kick by Baker.

Struve shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Baker napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Baker wants to control but Struve postures up.
Struve scores with a couple of short elbows.
Baker regains half guard, as Struve was trying to land strikes.
Struve thows a huge punch but Baker dodges it nicely.
Baker wants to get back to full guard.
Struve missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Baker is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Struve shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Baker trying to control from the bottom.

Struve is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Baker defends it well.
Baker wants to get back to full guard.

Struve looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Baker is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Struve's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Struve's back!
Struve is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve just trying to survive but Baker is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Struve showing good submission defense here.
Will Baker go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Baker is trying to stick to Struve's back but Struve is turning into Baker. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Baker's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Struve.
Baker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Struve postures up in Baker's guard and throws a big left but Baker blocks it.
Baker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Struve is one step ahead there.
Baker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Baker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Baker gets caught flat footed, as Struve shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Baker is adopting a defensive guard.

Baker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Struve doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Struve manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Baker is trying to keep Struve in close.
Struve throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Baker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Struve looking to sit in guard and control but Baker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Struve is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struve has his hands on Baker's head, controlling the position.
Baker postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Baker defending well as Struve loads up on a big left hand.
Struve misses with a two punch combination.
Struve uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Baker.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Struve swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Baker is looking to slow Struve down with leg kicks.
Struve checks a leg kick.
Struve moves out of range of the body kick from Baker.
Baker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

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.
Struve slips a jab and a cross from Baker.
Struve blocks a head kick by Baker.
Struve with a nice cross.
Struve connects with a jab.
Struve circles away from the clinch attempt.

Struve feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Baker has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Struve can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Struve thows a big elbow that misses.
Struve wants to pass the guard but Baker is keeping the position.
Baker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Struve stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Baker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Baker looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sebaastian Struve showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Struve rushes Baker and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Baker stalling in the clinch but Struve improves position.
Struve is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Baker pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Struve breaks from the clinch.
Baker misses with a head kick.
Baker misses with a wild combination.
Baker lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Struve circles away quickly and effectively.
Baker tried to score with a low kick but Struve checks it.
Baker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Edwin Baker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baker fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Struve is out of range.

Struve darts in and clinches Baker up against the ropes.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Baker seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Struve is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Struve lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Struve blocks the elbow strike.
Struve dodges an elbow strike from Baker.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Baker throws an elbow but misses.
Struve tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Struve lands an elbow inside.
Baker taking a breather.
Baker tries to pull guard but Struve holds him up against the ropes and eventually Baker drops back down to his feet.
Baker jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Struve walks away with a smile on his face. Baker gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Struve.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Struve. Baker shrugs it off though.
Baker thows a leg kick but Struve checks it

and Struve counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Baker!
Baker wants to control but Struve is having none of it.
The referee warns Baker that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Baker wants to control but Struve is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Struve.

Struve wants to finish this one by submission but Baker is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Struve.
Struve has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Baker regains half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Baker is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Struve pulls his head out easily.
Edwin Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struve stalling away here and it's allowed Baker to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Baker keeping moving, preventing Struve from controlling successfully.
Struve postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Baker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Struve defends it easily.
Sebaastian Struve has got the better of the ground game so far.
Struve stopping the sweep attempt from Baker.
Struve loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sebaastian Struve is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struve wants to control from the top but Baker keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Baker throws a leg kick but Struve sees it coming and moves out of range.
Struve blocks the body kick.
Baker looks for the body kick but Struve saw that one coming.
Struve cracks Baker with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Baker tries a head kick but it misses.

Struve darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Baker is trying to control but can't.
Struve wants to take a breather but Baker is having none of it.
Baker trying to control but Struve postures up.
Baker wants to get back to full guard.
Struve controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker trying to control from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Baker throws a series of punches but Struve avoids them all with ease.

Struve is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Baker's half guard.
Baker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Struve is working away from the top position though.
Baker flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Struve controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sebaastian Struve comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Struve 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sebaastian Struve!