PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Baptiste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Van King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baptiste kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Akala-You ain't a killer. Baptiste is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baptiste
vs
King

195 cm
22
218 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

195 cm
22
270 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Baptiste!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Van King!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

King instigates a clinch.
Baptiste is breathing heavily.
King is leaning against Baptiste and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

King breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Baptiste throws a head kick but King moves out of range.
King scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
King fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

King closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
King tries to land knees in the clinch but Baptiste avoids the damage to the body.
King stalling in the clinch.
King drops down looking for an ankle pick but Baptiste pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Baptiste as King shoots in.
Paul Baptiste has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Van King.
King misses with a kick to the body.

Baptiste tries to keep at a distance but King has taken the fight into the clinch.
King cracks Baptiste with a nice body shot.
King lands a right hand that snaps the head of Baptiste backwards.
King manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Baptiste wants to break free but King has control.
Good body shot from King.
King lands a body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from King.
King trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
King lands with a left to the head.

King manages to break the clinch.
Paul Baptiste is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Baptiste tries a head kick but it misses.
King fails with a takedown attempt.
Paul Baptiste seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baptiste throws a sloppy head kick and King moves out of range easily.
Baptiste stuffs the takedown attempt from King. King gets slowly back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from King.
King scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Baptiste stuffs the takedown.
Baptiste throws a head kick but King moves out of range.

King moves into range and clinches up with Baptiste.
King misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Baptiste.
King tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Baptiste smiles and moves away.
Baptiste rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but King moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice takedown defense from Baptiste. No joy for King on that attempt.
Baptiste throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by King.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King moves into range and clinches up with Baptiste.
King looking for a takedown.
King prevents Baptiste from breaking the clinch.
King is trying to break free.
King lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The is referee keeping an eye on King - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
King lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
King misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Baptiste.
King wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
King is stalling here.
A hook to the body from King.
King misses with an elbow strike.
King wants to break the clinch but can't.
King wants to break free but Baptiste has control.
King drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Baptiste gets the underhooks and prevents it.
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!
King has had enough of the clinch but Baptiste keeps him there for the moment.
King wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
King wants to break free but Baptiste has control.
King wants to break the clinch but can't.
King keeps control of Baptiste as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
King works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King can't break the clinch.
Baptiste keeps control of King as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
King wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
King lands a shoulder strike.
King drops down looking for an ankle pick but Baptiste pulls his leg out and moves away.
Baptiste misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
King fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Baptiste stuffs the takedown attempt from King. King gets slowly back to his feet.
King dodges the punch combination from Baptiste.
King cracks Baptiste with an open hand slap.
King looks for a takedown but Baptiste sprawls well.
Baptiste swinging wilding here.
Nice sprawl there from Baptiste as King shoots in.
King blocks a head kick by Baptiste.

King gets a clinch.

King manages to break the clinch.
King avoids the head kick by Baptiste.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

King breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King misses with a takedown attempt - Baptiste sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Baptiste throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

King takes the fight into the clinch.
Baptiste tries to break the clinch but King is controlling the position.

King manages to break the clinch.

King gets a clinch.
Baptiste avoiding damage as King throws knees to the body.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
King misses with a low kick.
Baptiste throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
King lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Baptiste backwards.
King wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

King jumps into guard, dragging Baptiste to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they both work up against the meshing.
King is trying to keep Baptiste in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van King dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

King misses with a wild body shot.
King wants to slow Baptiste down by chopping away at his legs.
King shoots in for a takedown but Baptiste shows good takedown defense.

King has Baptiste up against the cage in a clinch.
Baptiste keeps control of King as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

King breaks from the clinch.
King avoids the head kick by Baptiste.
King lands a nice shot to the body.
Oooh a lovely combination from King sends Baptiste down but not out. King dives into side control looking to finish.

Baptiste is rocked!

It looks like Paul Baptiste has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
King working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Oh Baptiste is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
King fails to land a wild elbow strike.
King sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Baptiste is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Baptiste seems to have got his legs back now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
King tries to stand but Baptiste is controlling his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King wants to control but Baptiste is keeping him busy.
Baptiste wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
King wants to control but Baptiste is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
An elbow from King crashes against the mat.
King looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Baptiste is avoiding damage well.
King trying to control the action but Baptiste is working from the bottom.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King taking a break here but Baptiste is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
King throwing shots but Baptiste is blocking nicely.
King is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Baptiste is not content to let King control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van King showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Paul Baptiste's cut.
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!

Horrible takedown by King or perhaps it was just good defense by Baptiste which made him look bad.
King shoots in for a takedown but Baptiste shows good takedown defense.
Baptiste misses with a double jab

and King counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by King.
Baptiste can't break the clinch.
Baptiste gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from King.
Paul Baptiste has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Van King.
King wants to break the clinch but can't.
King lands with a left to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for King.
Baptiste gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from King.
Baptiste wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from King.
King trying to land knees to the body.
Van King seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
King throws an elbow but it misses.
Baptiste wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Baptiste prevents the takedown attempt.
Baptiste wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but King has him pressed against the cage.
King missing with knees to the body.
Baptiste can't break the clinch.
King wants to break free but Baptiste has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptiste wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Baptiste wants to get back to striking at distance but King won't allow it.
Baptiste wants to break the clinch but can't.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Baptiste throws a right hand that King ducks under and follows up with a left that King also avoids with ease.
King moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Baptiste lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

King fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baptiste, pushing him back against the cage.
King controlling the action here for a moment.
Baptiste prevents King from breaking the clinch.
The is referee keeping an eye on King - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
With the fighters up against the cage, King throws an elbow but misses.
Baptiste is trying to break free.
Baptiste can't break the clinch.
Baptiste wants to break free but King has control.
Baptiste managing to block the knees to the body from King.
Baptiste wants to get back to striking at distance but King won't allow it.
King wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Baptiste has him pressed against the cage.
King wants to break free but Baptiste has control.
King lands on the inside with an uppercut.
King wants to break the clinch but can't.
King is trying to break free.
Paul Baptiste has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King has Baptiste pressed against the cage.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

King gets a clinch.
King tries to pull guard but Baptiste holds him up against the cage and eventually King drops back down to his feet.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
King throws a low kick but Baptiste avoids it.

Baptiste tries to keep at a distance but King has taken the fight into the clinch.
Baptiste wants to break free but King has control.
King missing with knees to the body.
King can't get the takedown.
King lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Baptiste or not.
King gets through Baptiste's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
King wants to break the clinch but can't.
A hook to the body from King.
Good body shot from King.
King scores with a hook to the body.
King tries to land knees in the clinch but Baptiste avoids the damage to the body.
King wants to break free but Baptiste has control.
King drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Baptiste gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Baptiste has had enough of the clinch but King keeps him there for the moment.
King throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Baptiste prevents a takedown attempt there.

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

King has managed to clinch.
Baptiste managing to block the knees to the body from King.
Baptiste is trying to break free.
King taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
King keeps control of Baptiste as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
King wants to get back to striking at distance but Baptiste won't allow it.
King wants to get back to striking at distance but Baptiste won't allow it.
Baptiste on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Baptiste wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
King controlling the action here for a moment.
Nice body punch from King.
King lands a body punch.
Baptiste has had enough of the clinch but King keeps him there for the moment.
Baptiste prevents King from breaking the clinch.
King is trying to break free.
King can't break the clinch.
King stalling.
A right hand to the body from King.
King goes for a takedown in the clinch but Baptiste prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste tries to break the clinch but King is controlling the position.
King can't break the clinch.
Baptiste prevents the takedown attempt.
Baptiste prevents the takedown attempt.

Baptiste breaks from the clinch.
King throws a low kick but Baptiste avoids it.
Some wild striking there from Baptiste.
King blocks a head kick by Baptiste.
King shoots in and drives through. Baptiste sprawls well.
Van King seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A punch combination from King misses.
No joy there for Baptiste, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
King shoots in and drives through. Baptiste sprawls well.
Baptiste fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Baptiste throws a head kick that misses.
King throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Baptiste misses with a head kick.

Baptiste tries to keep at a distance but King has taken the fight into the clinch.
King lands a nice shot to the body.
King works on Baptiste's body with a couple of short punches.
Baptiste wants to get back to striking at distance but King won't allow it.
King keeps control of Baptiste as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short right from King on the inside.
King wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
King wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
King is trying to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
Van King comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well King 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 25:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 25:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Van King!