PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dom Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joonas Karjalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karjalainen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Eminem: Go to Sleep kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Dom Baker has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Baker
vs
Karjalainen

225 cm
26
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

171 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Strikefirst Nutrion

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dom Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joonas Karjalainen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karjalainen missing with a left hand there. Baker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Karjalainen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Baker at a distance.
Karjalainen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Baker lands a high kick!
Baker lands a nice hook to Karjalainen's body. Karjalainen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Baker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Baker clinches.
Baker working hard to break the clinch.
Karjalainen lands an uppercut.
Karjalainen can't break the clinch.
Karjalainen is trying to force a seperation but Baker has the dominant position.
Baker tries to circle away but Karjalainen has him pinned against the cage.
Baker misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Baker.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Karjalainen takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Karjalainen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Baker with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Baker with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Baker can't break the clinch.

Karjalainen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Karjalainen avoids a punch combination nicely.

Baker clinches.
Baker tries to circle away but Karjalainen has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Karjalainen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Baker tries to move into range but Karjalainen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Baker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Karjalainen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Karjalainen misses with a hook. Baker ducked under it nicely.
Baker throws a head kick but Karjalainen moves out of range.
Karjalainen blocks a leg kick.
Baker really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Karjalainen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Baker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Baker goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baker throws a front kick aimed at Karjalainen's knee but Karjalainen avoids it well.
Baker looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Karjalainen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Karjalainen lunges at Baker with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Baker's hand.
A left and a right from Karjalainen both land. Nice combination.
Karjalainen lands with a right hand.
Karjalainen moves out of range as Baker throws a body kick.
Baker loads up on a big right hand but Karjalainen slips the punch.
Baker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Karjalainen throws an overhand right that lands on Baker's shoulder, as Baker tries to avoid the shot.
A slow jab from Karjalainen misses its intended target.
Karjalainen looks to land a left hand but Baker moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Baker on the side of the head.
Baker gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Baker throws a shot from downtown. Karjalainen moves away and avoids it.
Baker looks to clinch
and Karjalainen counters with a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karjalainen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Baker moves out of range of the strikes.
Karjalainen looks to throw the jab but Baker is out of range.
Baker tries to clinch but Karjalainen is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karjalainen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Karjalainen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Baker counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Karjalainen might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Baker buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
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 Dom Baker will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Karjalainen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Baker.
Dom Baker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karjalainen scores with a punch to the head.
Baker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Karjalainen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Joonas Karjalainen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Karjalainen misses with a straight right.
Karjalainen misses the jab.
Baker lands a high kick!
Baker has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Karjalainen finds it's way round the side to connect with Baker's head.
Some wild striking there from Baker.
Karjalainen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Baker connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A big left from Baker misses.
Baker tries to clinch up but Karjalainen circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Baker doesn't manage to clinch there - Karjalainen circles away.
Karjalainen misses with a straight left.
Karjalainen throws a right hand that misses
and Baker counters with a head kick.
Karjalainen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Karjalainen throws an off balance right hand
and Baker counters with a solid body kick.
Baker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Karjalainen takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Baker drops his hands momentarily and Karjalainen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Baker has closed the distance and engaged Karjalainen in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Baker with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Baker landing knees to the head.

Baker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baker lands with an uppercut that bounces Karjalainen off the cage and back into range.
Karjalainen slips under a jab from Baker.
Baker is looking to clinch but Karjalainen is avoiding it.
Baker throws a low kick but Karjalainen avoids it.
Baker wants to clinch.
Karjalainen cracks Baker with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker slips a straight right by Karjalainen.
Baker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karjalainen moves away.
Karjalainen throws a right hand that misses
and Baker counters with a one-two to the body.
Baker defending well as Karjalainen loads up on a big left hand.
Karjalainen lands a head shot.
Baker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baker moves away from the strike by Karjalainen.
A nice inside leg kick there by Baker. That's going to slow Karjalainen down.
Karjalainen connects with a single shot there.
Baker throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen throws a big shot that misses.
Karjalainen misses with a hook. Baker ducked under it nicely.
Karjalainen throws a right hand that misses
and Baker counters with a slapping leg kick.
Karjalainen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A slow jab from Karjalainen misses its intended target.

Baker has taken the fight to the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baker with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Karjalainen tries to break free but Baker pushes him back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baker wants to break the clinch but can't.
Karjalainen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Baker has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Baker dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Karjalainen looks to throw the jab but Baker is out of range.
Baker looks to throw the jab but Karjalainen is out of range.
Baker misses with a body shot
and Karjalainen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice straight punches there by Karjalainen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Karjalainen.
Karjalainen throws a shot from downtown. Baker moves away and avoids it.
Karjalainen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Baker.
Baker tries to clinch up but Karjalainen circles away and keeps his distance.
Danga de danga de dang - Karjalainen scores with a four punch combination!
Baker misses with a low kick.
Baker throws a head kick but Karjalainen moves out of range.
Baker doesn't manage to clinch there - Karjalainen circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karjalainen scores with a shot to the body.
Baker takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Karjalainen throws out a loose jab but Baker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Karjalainen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Baker moves into range and clinches up with Karjalainen.
Baker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Karjalainen.
Baker tries to break free but Karjalainen pushes him back against the cage.
Baker throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Karjalainen blocks it with crossed arms.

Karjalainen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Baker misses.
Karjalainen misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Baker throws out the jab.

Baker has Karjalainen up against the cage in a clinch.
Karjalainen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Baker up against the cage.
Baker is trying to break the clinch but Karjalainen has him pressed against the cage.
Baker looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Karjalainen takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Baker working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker can't break the clinch.
Baker has Karjalainen pressed against the cage, preventing Karjalainen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Karjalainen can't break the clinch.
Baker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Karjalainen.

Karjalainen manages to break the clinch.
Karjalainen blocks a head kick by Baker.
A telegraphed right hand from Karjalainen misses the target.
Karjalainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baker.
Baker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karjalainen paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Baker staying out of range there.
Baker fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Karjalainen is out of range.
Joonas Karjalainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karjalainen avoids the body shot from Baker.
Karjalainen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Baker dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Karjalainen. That did some damage!
Baker tries to clinch there but Karjalainen circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baker looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Baker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dom Baker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Karjalainen lands a jab-cross combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joonas Karjalainen.
I think Baker has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dom Baker!