PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jan Janssen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Janssen has chosen DJ Madman - Meisje zo lelijk als de nacht as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Jan Janssen will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Baker
vs
Janssen

185 cm
25
177 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
181 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bryan Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jan Janssen!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Wagner Zegers and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baker fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Janssen sprawls well initially but Baker persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Janssen wants to get back to his feet.
Baker is pressing down on Janssen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Janssen is holding on for now.
Janssen is trying to get back to full guard.
Janssen is trying to stand up here but Baker is controlling him well.
Baker trying to control the action but Janssen is working from the bottom.

Janssen is defending against the submission attempts here by Baker.
Janssen is trying to maintain the position but Baker is very close to passing his half guard.
Baker content to control rather than advance.
Baker wants to control but Janssen is keeping him busy.
Baker is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Baker has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Janssen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker looking to pass the guard.
Baker sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Janssen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Janssen pushes Baker off and gets back to his feet.
Janssen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Janssen loads up on a big right hand but Baker slips the punch.
Janssen just misses with a punch to the body.
Janssen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Baker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Janssen's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Janssen duly obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Janssen as he avoids it easily.
Nice shot lands for Baker.
Janssen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Janssen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Baker.
Janssen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Janssen throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Baker.
Janssen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baker moves away.
Janssen tries to clinch but Baker moves out of range.

Janssen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Baker to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Janssen is trying to control the position but Baker postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Baker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Janssen is keeping the position for now.
Janssen is trying to keep Baker in close.
Baker passes Janssen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Janssen wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Baker is trying to control the action in half guard but Janssen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Janssen is looking to improve his position.
Janssen wants to get back to his feet.
Baker is just content to waste time from the top position. Janssen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Baker preventing the sweep.
Baker trying to control but Janssen is working from the bottom.
Janssen wants to sweep but no luck.
Baker trying to control but Janssen is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bryan Baker.
Janssen lands with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Janssen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Janssen lands with a shot to the body.
Baker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryan Baker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Janssen misses with the combination.
Janssen throws a series of punches but Baker moves out of range.

Baker closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Janssen to the mat! Janssen manages to get full guard.
Baker slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Janssen wants to sweep but no luck.
Baker postures up.
Baker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Janssen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Janssen keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Baker dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Baker closes the distance and clinches up with Janssen, looking for a takedown. Baker pushes Janssen against the cage but Janssen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Baker shoots in and gets a takedown into Janssen's guard.
Janssen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baker is one step ahead there.
Baker wants to pass the guard but Janssen is keeping the position.
Baker stopping the sweep attempt from Janssen.
Baker wants to control from the top but Janssen keeps moving.
Baker won't allow Janssen to get back to his feet.
Baker tries to free his leg and advance position but Janssen is retaining full guard.
Baker won't allow Janssen to get back to his feet.
Janssen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Janssen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Janssen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Janssen misses with a hook.
Janssen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Baker decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Janssen's guard.
Janssen is breathing heavily.
Baker wants to control from the top but Janssen keeps moving.
Janssen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Baker trying to control but Janssen is working from the bottom.
Baker sitting in guard here, content to control.
Baker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bryan Baker.

Janssen moves into the clinch.
Janssen has had enough of the clinch but Baker keeps him there for the moment.
Janssen wants to break free but Baker has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Janssen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Baker manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Baker tries to pull guard but Janssen won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryan Baker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Janssen tries to break the clinch but Baker is controlling the position.
Janssen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Baker lands with a short shot to the head.
Janssen is looking to break free of the clinch but Baker has double underhooks.
Baker pressing his opponent against the cage.
Janssen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Janssen wants to break free but Baker has control.

Baker pulls guard effortlessly.
Baker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Baker is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Janssen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Baker looking for a guillotine here but Janssen defends easily.
Janssen trying to control but Baker is working from the bottom.
Janssen is stalling in the full guard.
Janssen wants to stand but Baker is controlling his posture from full guard.
Baker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Janssen is one step ahead there.
Baker on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Baker tries to get out of the position.
Baker is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jan Janssen was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Baker fails to land the takedown.

Baker takes the fight into the clinch.

Baker is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Janssen can't fight it off and eventually Baker manages to take the fight to the floor. Janssen looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Janssen working a defensive guard here.
Baker pushing down on Janssen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Janssen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Janssen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Janssen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baker is one step ahead there.
Baker looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Baker 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. This is the final round!

Baker moves out of range of the strikes.
Janssen throws a right and a left that Baker avoids nicely.
Baker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Janssen as he jumps to the side.
Jan Janssen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Janssen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Janssen scores with a hook to the body. Baker takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A looping hook to the body misses from Janssen. Baker does a little dance to reset his feet.
Janssen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Baker was well out of range. Poor timing from Janssen.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Baker.
Janssen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Baker counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Baker passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Janssen struggling a bit here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Baker thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Janssen regains half guard.
Janssen manages to get to full guard.
Baker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Janssen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Janssen wants to stand but Baker is controlling the position.
Janssen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Janssen is thwarting Baker's attempts to control the position.
Janssen tries to stand and escape but Baker is controlling the position.
Janssen wants to pass the guard but Baker is defending well.
Baker is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Janssen is working away from the top position though.
Janssen wants to take a breather but Baker is having none of it.
Bryan Baker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Baker on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Janssen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Baker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Janssen wants to free his trapped foot but Baker is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Janssen trying to control from half guard but Baker is working away.
Baker keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Janssen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Baker's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Janssen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Baker dives on top into guard.
Baker trying to control but Janssen is working from the bottom.
Baker stands and throws Janssen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Baker trying to control the position but Janssen is working away.
Baker postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Janssen throws Baker to one side and escapes!
Bryan Baker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Baker fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryan Baker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Janssen misses.

Janssen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Baker to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Baker is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Janssen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Baker is aware though and is defending well.
Janssen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Janssen keeping full guard, as Baker tries to pass.

Janssen working for a triangle but Baker defends it easily.
Janssen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bryan Baker.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Baker, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Baker!