PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brady Baird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hokkus Pokkus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pokkus has chosen Pantera - Walk as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Baird
vs
Pokkus

175 cm
27
177 lbs
12 - 19 - 0

185 cm
25
181 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
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 12 - 19 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brady Baird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hokkus Pokkus!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Illya Tyunina and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baird doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pokkus counters with an inside leg kick.
Baird avoids the head kick by Pokkus.
Pokkus throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Baird lands a jab to Pokkus's midsection.
Pokkus tries to clinch up but Baird circles away and keeps his distance.
An inside leg kick from Pokkus misses.

Pokkus clinches up against the cage.
Baird tries for a takedown. No joy.
Pokkus misses with a knee to the head.
Baird throws an elbow that misses.
Baird avoiding damage as Pokkus throws knees to the body.
Pokkus gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Baird.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brady Baird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pokkus pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baird's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Pokkus working Baird over with knees to the body.
Baird misses with a punch on the inside.
Baird is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Baird is trying to push Pokkus away but Pokkus has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Baird trying to land knees to the body.

Baird breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Baird looks to land a combination but Pokkus avoids it well.
Baird fails to land the takedown.
Baird thows a leg kick but Pokkus checks it
and Pokkus counters with a good low kick that Baird was not able to check.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pokkus scores with a jab. Baird acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hokkus Pokkus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Baird tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pokkus sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Baird somewhat.
Baird will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Baird takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Brady Baird has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Pokkus clinches.
Pokkus working Baird over with knees to the body.
Pokkus with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Baird is pushing Pokkus up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Pokkus lands a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokkus lands a knee to the body.
Pokkus keeps control of Baird as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Baird tries for a takedown. No joy.
Baird is breathing heavily.
Baird can't break the clinch.
Pokkus looking to throw knees to the head but Baird is blocking nicely.
Pokkus prevents a body shot from Baird.
Pokkus looking to throw knees to the head but Baird is blocking nicely.
Pokkus blocks a body shot from Baird.
A short left from Baird.
Pokkus throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pokkus misses with a knee strike.
Pokkus using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Baird has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pokkus throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Baird blocks it with crossed arms.
Pokkus lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Baird can't find room to land a body shot as Pokkus controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokkus connects with a nasty looking knee right to Baird's face.
Pokkus misses with a knee to the head.
Pokkus looking to throw knees to the head but Baird is blocking nicely.
Baird managing to block the knees to the body from Pokkus.
Baird struggles to land a body shot inside as Pokkus controls his hands.
Pokkus stops a takedown attempt from Baird.
Pokkus with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pokkus tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pokkus throws a knee to the head but misses.
Baird drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pokkus pulls his leg out and moves away.
Baird will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baird's jab looks to have found its range, popping Pokkus under the eye.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hokkus Pokkus dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brady Baird's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pokkus is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Baird.
Pokkus tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Baird manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Baird lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Pokkus tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baird paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baird changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pokkus tries to avoid it but Baird manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pokkus to the ground. Pokkus escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A low kick from Baird misses
and Pokkus counters with an inside leg kick.
Pokkus darts in trying to clinch
letting Baird counter with a right hand.

Pokkus clinches with his opponent.
Baird tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pokkus avoids it.
Baird drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pokkus gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Baird fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brady Baird. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pokkus breaks from the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Pokkus as Baird shoots in.
Baird looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pokkus moves in looking to clinch but Baird pushes him off.
Baird throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pokkus counters with a nice low kick that buckles Baird's knee momentarily.
Pokkus tries to close the distance and clinch but Baird swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Baird has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baird tries to clinch up but Pokkus circles away and keeps his distance.
Hokkus Pokkus seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baird throws a leg kick
and Pokkus counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pokkus gets a clinch.
Baird wants to break free but Pokkus has control.
Pokkus scores with a knee to the head.
Pokkus's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Pokkus landing knees to the head.
Pokkus is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pokkus displaying some good clinch control by pressing Baird up against the cage.
Baird tries a body shot but Pokkus blocks it.

Pokkus's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Baird throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pokkus.
Pokkus fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pokkus is fending him off so far but Baird persists. Nope, Pokkus circles away and we're back to standing.
Baird throws a low kick, looking for Pokkus's leg but Pokkus calmly moves out of range.
Baird shoots in and drives through. Pokkus sprawls well.
Good work by Pokkus as he checks the leg kick.
Baird throws a right and a left that Pokkus avoids nicely.
Pokkus connects with a solid leg kick.
Pokkus tries to clinch there but Baird circles away.
Horrible takedown by Baird or perhaps it was just good defense by Pokkus which made him look bad.
Baird misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Pokkus moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokkus crunches a lovely knee into Baird's ribcage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baird takes a knee right on the jaw!
Pokkus lands a good knee to the midsection. Baird won't want to take too many of those.
Pokkus tries to land a knee to the head but Baird blocks with his arms.
Pokkus trying to land knees to the body.
Pokkus will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Baird up against the cage.
Pokkus tries a knee to the head but Baird blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baird trying to control the position but instead, Pokkus has worked for underhooks and has pushed Baird into the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hokkus Pokkus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brady Baird's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Baird.
Pokkus fails with an attempt to clinch.
Brady Baird seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pokkus closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Baird successfully pulls guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Pokkus stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Baird.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pokkus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Baird shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Baird tries to clinch up.
Baird misses with a body punch
and Pokkus counters with a nice leg kick.
Brady Baird is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pokkus uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Baird.

Pokkus rushes Baird and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pokkus is pushing Baird up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Pokkus blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pokkus leaning against his opponent.
Pokkus misses with a knee strike.
Pokkus missing with knees to the body.
Baird drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pokkus pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brady Baird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pokkus wants to clinch up but Baird keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird misses with a lunging right hand
and Pokkus counters with a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Baird.
Baird misses with a double jab
and Pokkus counters with a body kick.
Pokkus tries to clinch up but Baird circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pokkus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pokkus scores with a head kick.
Pokkus throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baird will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baird throws a combination that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pokkus paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baird throws a right hand that Pokkus ducks under and follows up with a left that Pokkus also avoids with ease.
Brady Baird has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Pokkus moves into the clinch.
Pokkus misses with a knee to the head.
Pokkus lands a good knee to the midsection. Baird won't want to take too many of those.
Pokkus holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Baird taking a breather.
Pokkus lands a good knee to the midsection. Baird won't want to take too many of those.
Pokkus has Baird pressed against the cage.
Nice elbow from Pokkus.
Pokkus avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baird breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pokkus tries to clinch there but Baird circles away.
Baird tries to close the distance and clinch but Pokkus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Baird tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pokkus was well out of range. Poor timing from Baird.
Pokkus leaves Baird with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pokkus tries to clinch but Baird moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pokkus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pokkus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hokkus Pokkus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pokkus 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hokkus Pokkus!