PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Schaefer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Groomph Baenre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baenre comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Thunderstorm is coming your way! kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ben Schaefer could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Groomph Baenre's chin.

Schaefer
vs
Baenre

178 cm
29
178 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

170 cm
26
175 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Schaefer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Groomph Baenre!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Wagner Zegers and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schaefer throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Baenre's waist but Baenre gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Schaefer off to one side.

Schaefer gets the takedown into side control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Schaefer goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Baenre has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Schaefer but great work by Baenre.
Schaefer tries to buck Baenre off but Baenre is having none of it.
Baenre really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Schaefer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Schaefer regains half guard.
Schaefer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baenre is thwarting Schaefer's attempts to control the position.
Baenre is looking to take a break and control but Schaefer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Schaefer wants to control but Baenre is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Schaefer looking for submissions off his back.
Baenre performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schaefer trying to control here.

Schaefer looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Baenre pushes past his half guard into mount!
Schaefer regains half guard.
Schaefer trying to get back to full guard but Baenre takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Schaefer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schaefer is working hard here to advance position.
Schaefer looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
I really don't envy Schaefer right now.
Schaefer turns into Baenre and is now in his guard.
Schaefer trying to control the position from guard on top but Baenre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Schaefer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Schaefer works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Schaefer is trying to work for a kimura but Baenre is defending well.
Schaefer is looking to take a break and control but Baenre is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Schaefer is looking to pass Baenre's guard but actually Baenre recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Schaefer dominated that 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.

Schaefer's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Schaefer duly obliges.

Baenre takes the fight into the clinch.
Baenre misses with a knee strike.
Baenre tries to land a knee to the head but Schaefer blocks with his arms.
Schaefer goes for a takedown attempt but Baenre pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Baenre throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Schaefer blocks the leg kick.

Schaefer feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Schaefer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Baenre swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Schaefer wants to control from the top but Baenre keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schaefer tries to free his leg and advance position but Baenre is retaining full guard.
Schaefer trying to control but Baenre is working from the bottom.

Ben Schaefer has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Schaefer lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Baenre lands with a hook. Schaefer tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schaefer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Schaefer takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Baenre throws a leg kick but Schaefer sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Baenre throws the kick towards the body but Schaefer avoids it.
Schaefer fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A big right from Schaefer misses.
Baenre lands a nice leg kick that just misses Schaefer's sensitive parts.
Baenre scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Schaefer misses the target.
A solid body kick from Baenre.
Schaefer takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Ben Schaefer has been cut.
Baenre pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Baenre looks for the body kick but Schaefer saw that one coming.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baenre bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baenre lands a head kick. Schaefer smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Groomph Baenre will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ben Schaefer's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Baenre swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Schaefer sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Baenre throws a solid leg kick but Schaefer takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Baenre.
Baenre will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Schaefer falls off balance throwing a combination
and Baenre finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Baenre finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Baenre fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Schaefer is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schaefer shoots in looking for a takedown. Baenre tries to sprawl out of it but Schaefer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Baenre manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Baenre looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Baenre throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Schaefer thuds a left hand into Baenre's body.
Schaefer misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baenre thows a body kick. Schaefer tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Schaefer checks a leg kick nicely.
Baenre misses with a head kick.
Schaefer misses with a wild body shot.
Baenre is looking to clinch.
Schaefer takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Baenre wants to land a leg kick but Schaefer is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baenre misses with a leg kick
letting Schaefer counter with a right hand.
Schaefer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Schaefer moves out of range as Baenre throws a body kick.
Schaefer shoots in but no luck this time.
Baenre wants to slow Schaefer down by chopping away at his legs.
Schaefer throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Baenre's waist but Baenre gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Schaefer off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Schaefer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed right hand from Schaefer misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baenre fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Baenre throws a low kick but Schaefer moves out of range easily.
Baenre gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Schaefer counter with a right hand.
Groomph Baenre seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Schaefer shoots in for a double leg but Baenre sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A jab from Schaefer does it's job there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baenre throws a nice outside leg kick.
Baenre looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Groomph Baenre comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Baenre 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Groomph Baenre!
After the big win, Groomph Baenre made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Valhalla Fight Wear and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.