PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edward Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ryan
vs
Baker

189 cm
23
199 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

184 cm
23
194 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Christopher Ryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Edward Baker!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ryan as he avoids it easily.

Ryan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Baker sprawls well initially but Ryan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Ryan is looking for a kimura but Baker is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ryan to get the leverage.

Baker is defending against the submission attempts here by Ryan.
Ryan tries to pass to full mount but Baker defends it.
Baker makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Baker.

Baker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ryan defends it easily.

Ryan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Baker manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan is desperately trying to improve his position but Baker has a good base and remains in mount.
Ryan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ryan wants to improve his position but Baker is controlling well.
Ryan is working hard here to advance position.
Ryan manages to get to full guard.
Baker pushes down on Ryan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ryan is trying to get back to full guard.
Baker looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Baker tries to pass to full mount but Ryan defends it.
Ryan is looking for a sweep. Baker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ryan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ryan keeping full guard, as Baker tries to pass.

Ryan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ryan is breathing heavily.
Baker slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Baker working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Baker is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ryan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ryan is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Ryan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ryan wants to get back to full guard.
Baker is pressing down on Ryan's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ryan is holding on for now.
Baker passes to full mount!
Baker takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

Ryan fending off the submission attempt from Baker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryan turns into Baker and is now in his guard.
Ryan passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Ryan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Baker is trying to improve his position.

Ryan tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ryan has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Ryan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Baker is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Baker sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
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 Christopher Ryan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Baker fails with the takedown

and Ryan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Baker's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ryan forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ryan 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 looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Baker tries to roll over but Ryan keeps him under control.
Baker is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Ryan 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 trying to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.

Ryan is working for a submission of some sort.

Baker looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ryan tries for a takedown but Baker sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ryan counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ryan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Baker is looking to regain half guard here but Ryan keeps moving and retains side control.
Baker sneaks back into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Ryan dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Baker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ryan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Ryan wants to work for an arm triangle but Baker is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Baker tries to roll over but Ryan keeps him under control.
Christopher Ryan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan works his way into side control.
Baker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Baker is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ryan's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Ryan is working for a kimura but Baker is defending it quite comfortably.
Ryan works his way into full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ryan working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Baker is desperately trying to improve his position but Ryan has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ryan working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Baker is trying to escape the mount.
Baker regains half guard.
Ryan passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Baker!
Baker is working to get back to half guard.
Baker manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Ryan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ryan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Ryan wants to work for an arm triangle but Baker is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Baker is trying to get back to full guard.

Ryan is looking for a kimura but Baker is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ryan to get the leverage.

Ryan is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Baker sees it coming and defends easily.
Baker moves into full guard.
Ryan preventing the sweep.

Ryan is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Baker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ryan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Edward Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baker throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Christopher Ryan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ryan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Christopher Ryan!