PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Macadam Baird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luiz Fernando Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Baird
vs
Fernando Gonzalez

183 cm
22
175 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

183 cm
26
177 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Hellbent, Inc.™

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Macadam Baird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luiz Fernando Gonzalez!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baird fails with the takedown
and Gonzalez counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gonzalez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Baird moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Baird moves into range and clinches up with Gonzalez.
Baird is looking to break free of the clinch but Gonzalez has double underhooks.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Baird shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gonzalez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Gonzalez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Baird in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gonzalez trying to control the position.
Baird throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Baird's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gonzalez is on top in guard.
Gonzalez postures up.
Gonzalez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gonzalez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gonzalez trying to control the position from guard on top but Baird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baird looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gonzalez is one step ahead there.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gonzalez throwing strikes but missing.
Gonzalez is looking to work some ground and pound but Baird has wrist control.

That's two 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.
Baird keeping moving, preventing Gonzalez from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Baird fails with the takedown

and Gonzalez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Baird won't be happy with that.
Gonzalez tries to score with some ground and pound. Baird controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Baird managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gonzalez.
You can see the frustration on Baird's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Baird tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Baird is not content to let Gonzalez control the position.
Baird tries to improve position but can't.
Gonzalez misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gonzalez's best efforts.
Baird wants to get back to full guard.
Baird regains full guard. Nicely done.
Baird looking for a sweep. Not yet Baird, not yet.
Gonzalez thows a big elbow that misses.
Baird looking to control.
Gonzalez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baird is keeping the position for now.
Baird seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gonzalez postures up in Baird's guard and throws a big left but Baird blocks it.
Gonzalez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Baird has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Gonzalez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gonzalez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Baird is trying to keep Gonzalez in close.
Gonzalez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gonzalez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Baird manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gonzalez manages to get himself to full guard.
Gonzalez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Gonzalez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Luiz Fernando Gonzalez will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Baird shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gonzalez counters with a left to the body.
Gonzalez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gonzalez connects with an inside leg kick.
Luiz Fernando Gonzalez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gonzalez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Baird closes the distance and clinches up with Gonzalez, looking for a takedown. Baird pushes Gonzalez against the cage but Gonzalez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gonzalez throws out a leg kick but Baird moves out of range and Gonzalez only half commits.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baird gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gonzalez counters with a nice low kick that buckles Baird's knee momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Macadam Baird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gonzalez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baird with a poor takedown

and Gonzalez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Baird's guard now.
Gonzalez lands a couple of elbows.
Gonzalez wants to control from the top but Baird keeps moving.
Gonzalez tries to free his leg and advance position but Baird is retaining full guard.
Gonzalez forces his way into half guard.
Gonzalez trying to control from half guard but Baird is working away.
Baird is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Gonzalez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gonzalez is trying to control. Baird wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Baird is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Baird is trying to maintain the position but Gonzalez is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Baird trying to control but Gonzalez postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Gonzalez prevents Baird from improving his position.
Baird manages to get to full guard.
Gonzalez trying to control the position from guard on top but Baird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baird trying to keep a closed guard but Gonzalez is proving a slippery customer.
Baird tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez content to stall in guard here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Baird shoots in and gets a takedown into Gonzalez's guard.
Baird throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gonzalez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gonzalez working a defensive guard here.
Gonzalez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Gonzalez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Baird defends it easily.
Baird working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gonzalez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baird stopping the sweep attempt from Gonzalez.
Baird thows a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baird trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Baird postures up.
Baird postures up in Gonzalez's guard and throws a big left but Gonzalez blocks it.
Baird postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Baird postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gonzalez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Baird, into his guard.
Gonzalez trying to control the position from guard on top but Baird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gonzalez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luiz Fernando Gonzalez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Baird doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gonzalez finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Gonzalez just misses with a punch to the body.
Gonzalez throws a leg kick but Baird sees it coming and moves out of range.

Baird decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Baird thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gonzalez's head.
Gonzalez has his hands clasped together around Baird's back. He's all about the action.
Baird missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Luiz Fernando Gonzalez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baird trying to control the action but Gonzalez is working from the bottom.
Baird throwing shots but Gonzalez is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Baird lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gonzalez seems keen to control Baird's posture.

Gonzalez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Baird doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Baird manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Baird lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Baird forces his way into half guard.
Baird is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gonzalez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Baird seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gonzalez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gonzalez is trying is best to control the position here.
Baird not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Gonzalez to regain full guard.

Gonzalez working for a triangle but Baird defends it easily.
Baird lands a couple of elbows.
Baird with a flurry of punches that miss.
Baird trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Baird throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Baird keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gonzalez's head.
Baird stopping the sweep attempt from Gonzalez.
Baird trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez controls Baird momentarily but Baird frees himself.
Gonzalez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Gonzalez 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.
Baird wants to control from the top but Gonzalez keeps moving.
Baird postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Baird postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Baird stopping the sweep attempt from Gonzalez.
Baird missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Baird postures up in Gonzalez's guard and throws a big left but Gonzalez blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gonzalez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Baird drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gonzalez dives on top into guard.
Gonzalez postures up in Baird's guard and throws a big left but Baird blocks it.
Macadam Baird has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baird has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Baird is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gonzalez looking for submissions off his back.
Gonzalez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Baird.

Gonzalez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gonzalez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baird sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gonzalez defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Macadam Baird showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gonzalez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luiz Fernando Gonzalez!