PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Eagle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baker comes to the cage accompanied by Eye of the Tiger. The key to victory for Joe Baker has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Baker
vs
Eagle

189 cm
22
251 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

205 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joe Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stephen Eagle!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker misses with a double jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Baker checks a leg kick.
Baker closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Baker is looking to clinch.
Baker throws a series of punches but Eagle moves out of range.
Baker cracks Eagle with a right hand to the side of the head.
Baker misses with a two punch combination.
Baker misses with a series of wild punches.
Eagle is looking to clinch but Baker is avoiding it.

Eagle moves into range and clinches up with Baker.

Baker manages to break the clinch.
Baker looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Eagle shoots in looking for a takedown. Baker tries to sprawl out of it but Eagle keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Baker manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Eagle dodges the punch combination from Baker.
Eagle changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Baker tries to avoid it but Eagle manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Baker to the ground. Baker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Baker tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Baker fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big left from Eagle misses.
Baker misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baker takes the fight into the clinch.
Baker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Baker keeps control of Eagle as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Eagle prevents Baker from breaking the clinch.

Eagle successfully pulls guard.
Baker postures up in Eagle's guard and throws a big left but Eagle blocks it.
Eagle wants to sweep but no luck.
Eagle is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Baker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Baker content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Eagle tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Baker drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Baker decides to stand back up. Baker steps back and let's Eagle get back to his feet.
Eagle checks a leg kick.
Baker swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Baker gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Eagle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eagle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Baker looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Eagle has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Eagle won't allow Baker to get back to his feet.
Eagle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Baker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Eagle doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Eagle manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Baker is breathing heavily.
Eagle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baker is keeping the position for now.
Eagle is in close to Baker's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Baker pulls Eagle in close to prevent any damage.
Eagle has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Baker is proving hard to escape from.
Baker striking off his back but it's not causing Eagle any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eagle wants to stand but Baker has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Eagle stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Eagle looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Baker fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Eagle is out of range.
Baker throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Eagle.
Eagle scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Baker misses with a wild combination.
Baker misses with a series of wild punches.
Eagle swats away the attempt to clinch by Baker.
Joe Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch but Eagle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Baker scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A nice combination there by Eagle.
Baker misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Baker lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Eagle just misses with a punch to the body.
Eagle stuffs the takedown.

Eagle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Baker is in all sorts of trouble here.
Baker regains half guard.
Baker landing a few short strikes.

Eagle is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Baker doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Eagle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Eagle landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
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 Joe Baker will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Eagle has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Eagle misses with a takedown attempt - Baker sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Eagle slips a jab and a cross from Baker.
Baker works over Eagle's head and body with a nice combination.
Nice sprawl there from Baker as Eagle shoots in.
Baker throws a right and a left that Eagle avoids nicely.
Baker attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Eagle closes the distance and clinches up with Baker, looking for a takedown. Eagle pushes Baker against the cage but Baker circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Joe Baker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Eagle.
Baker scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Eagle stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Baker.
Eagle takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Baker moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Eagle walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Baker tries to clinch but Eagle is having none of it.
Eagle shoots in and drives through. Baker sprawls well.
Joe Baker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baker misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Baker scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Eagle dodges the punch combination from Baker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Baker.
Baker throws a right hand that Eagle ducks under and follows up with a left that Eagle also avoids with ease.
Baker bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Eagle's head.
Baker throws a combination that misses
enabling Eagle to counter with a crisp jab.
Eagle is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Baker.
Eagle takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Jab by Eagle.
Baker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Eagle as he avoids it easily.
Baker misses with a low kick as Eagle jumps back.
Baker misses with a leg kick.
Baker misses with a double jab.
Baker misses with a two punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Baker.
Baker slips under a jab from Eagle.
Baker falls off balance throwing a combination

and Eagle counters with a shoot takedown. Baker fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Eagle gets to his feet. Baker looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eagle misses with a takedown
and Baker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
No joy there for Baker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Baker throws a series of strikes that have Eagle backpedaling.
Eagle swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baker darts in trying to clinch

and Eagle counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Eagle decides to stand up.
Baker swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Eagle counters with a stiff right hand.
Baker fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Eagle is out of range.
Eagle throws a combination that misses

and Baker decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Eagle's guard.

Eagle has his feet on Baker's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Baker!

Eagle decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Eagle scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Eagle stands up out of the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eagle with a poor takedown
and Baker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Baker lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Eagle lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Baker backs up against the cage.

Baker is rocked!

Eagle pushes Baker up against the cage in a clinch.
Oh Baker is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Baker can't break the clinch.

Eagle gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Eagle stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Baker throws a combination that misses
and Eagle counters with a stiff right hand.
Baker takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Eagle closes the distance and clinches.
Baker digs a right hand into Eagle's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Eagle's gas tank.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baker tries for a takedown but Eagle manages to get underhooks.
Baker is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Eagle pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Baker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Eagle has him pressed against the cage.
Eagle stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Baker seems to have got his legs back now.
Baker tries to work over Eagle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Baker wants to break free but Eagle has control.

Eagle turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Eagle moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Eagle is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Baker is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eagle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Baker.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Eagle is on top in guard.

Eagle is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Baker is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Baker has escaped and now he's on top!

Eagle pushes Baker off and scrambles back to his feet.
Baker dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Eagle. That did some damage!
Baker works over Eagle's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Baker lands a head shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Baker scores with a four punch combination!
A punch combination from Baker misses.
Baker tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Eagle counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Eagle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

A punch combination from Baker misses.
Eagle misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Eagle misses with a few strikes there.
Baker looks to land a combination. Eagle sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Baker is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Baker stalks Eagle and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Eagle's face. Eagle staggers backwards, shaken.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Baker wants to get back to striking at distance but Eagle won't allow it.
Eagle tries to score a body lock takedown but Baker shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Eagle stops a takedown attempt from Baker.
Baker works on Eagle's body with a couple of short punches.

Baker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Eagle shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Baker but Baker pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Joe Baker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Eagle.
Eagle misses with a two punch combination.
Baker scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Eagle avoids a punch combination nicely.
Joe Baker is winning the standup battle so far.
Baker shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eagle misses with a takedown attempt
and Baker counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Eagle thinking.

Baker tries to keep at a distance but Eagle has taken the fight into the clinch.

Eagle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Left hook, right uppercut from Baker.
Baker misses with the combination.
Eagle has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Baker's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Baker duly obliges.
Baker tries to score with a low kick but Eagle moves his leg out of the way.
Baker looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Eagle is fending him off so far but Baker persists. Nope, Eagle circles away and we're back to standing.
Baker tries to score with a low kick but Eagle moves his leg out of the way.
Baker tries for a takedown but Eagle circles away easily

and Eagle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Baker stops a takedown attempt from Eagle.

Eagle is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Baker can't fight it off and eventually Eagle manages to take the fight to the floor. Baker looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Baker trying to keep a closed guard but Eagle is proving a slippery customer.
Eagle tries to free his leg and advance position but Baker is retaining full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baker is looking for a triangle but Eagle pushes his legs off easily.
Stephen Eagle has got the better of the ground game so far.
Eagle slips nicely into half guard.
Baker looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Baker manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Baker is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Baker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Eagle wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Baker has him pressed against the cage.
Baker prevents Eagle from breaking the clinch.

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

and Eagle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Eagle pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Baker is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Eagle keeps control of Baker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Baker wants to get back to striking at distance but Eagle won't allow it.
Baker is looking to break free of the clinch but Eagle has double underhooks.
Eagle wants a takedown but no success here.
Baker has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Eagle is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Eagle has Baker pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Eagle pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Baker tumbling to the mat - Eagle dives into Baker's guard.
Eagle distracts Baker with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Eagle decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Eagle looks to land a combination but Baker avoids it well.
Baker swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Eagle counters by moving into the clinch.
Eagle changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Baker fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Eagle thuds a left hand into Baker's body.

Eagle gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Eagle breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker falls off balance throwing a combination
and Eagle counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Baker.
Baker throws a right hand that Eagle ducks under and follows up with a left that Eagle also avoids with ease.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Eagle paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baker throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Eagle.

Eagle changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Baker looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Baker sneaks back into half guard.
Eagle is nestled in close to Baker, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Baker is pressing down on Eagle's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Baker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Eagle manages to get himself to full guard.
Baker controls from within his opponent's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Eagle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Stephen Eagle.
I think Eagle 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Eagle!