PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Simon Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Winkler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Winkler has chosen Mortal Kombat as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Baker
vs
Winkler

185 cm
21
175 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

198 cm
27
176 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simon Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Henry Winkler!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Winkler cracks Baker with an open hand slap.
Winkler connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Baker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch but Winkler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No joy there for Winkler, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Winkler lands a nice shot that snaps Baker's head back.
Winkler throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Winkler just misses with a punch to the body.
Winkler swings for the body but Baker moves out of range.
Baker walks into a jab.
Baker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Winkler with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Winkler lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Baker shoots in looking for a takedown but Winkler manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Baker's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Baker misses with a takedown
and Winkler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simon Baker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winkler fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Baker looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Baker wants to clinch.
Winkler getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Winkler is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Baker has managed to clinch.
Baker drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Winkler gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Baker is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Winkler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Winkler cracks Baker with a right hand to the side of the head.
Baker looks for a takedown but Winkler sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winkler connects with a crisp jab.
A decent looking cross lands there for Winkler.
Baker moves to clinch but Winkler breaks away
and Winkler counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Winkler throws a series of punches but Baker moves out of range.
Simon Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baker moves to clinch but Winkler breaks away
and Winkler counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baker fails with a takedown attempt.
Winkler connects with a jab.
Baker walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Winkler lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Winkler lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baker drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Baker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Winkler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Winkler seems keen to control Baker's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Winkler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Winkler wriggles free and stands up.
Baker closes the distance and clinches up with Winkler, looking for a takedown. Baker pushes Winkler against the cage but Winkler circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Baker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Winkler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Winkler is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Baker had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winkler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Baker rushes Winkler and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Baker can't get the takedown.
Baker holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Winkler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Winkler has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Baker shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Winkler defends it nicely.
Winkler throws out a powerful jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Winkler misses with a looping left.
Baker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Baker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Winkler.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Winkler dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Baker takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Winkler connects with a right hand. Baker shakes it off.
Baker doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Winkler counters with a left to the body.
Winkler stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A left lands for Winkler.
Winkler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Baker.
Baker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Baker shoots for a double leg takedown but Winkler sprawls well. He's pushed Baker's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simon Baker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baker moves forwards but Winkler connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Winkler is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Baker looks to clinch
and Winkler counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Baker with a lazy takedown attempt
and Winkler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Baker is rocked!
Winkler is stalking Baker. Baker circles to his left. Keeps circling left. Bam! Straight right from Winkler, and it's lights out! Baker really payed the price for that rookie mistake.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Henry Winkler!
Henry Winkler gave a mention to Red Bills clothing in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).