PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger Baumgartner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Espiridion Araya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Baumgartner
vs
Araya

183 cm
23
192 lbs
6 - 1 - 1

201 cm
23
195 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roger Baumgartner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Espiridion Araya!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baumgartner on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Araya punishes Baumgartner's body with a nice straight punch.
Araya throws the left hand but Baumgartner avoids the punch easily.

Araya gets caught napping as Baumgartner dives in and scores a takedown. Araya manages to retain guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Baumgartner is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Araya trying to control the position here.
Araya is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Baumgartner looking to pass the guard.
Baumgartner wants to control from the top but Araya keeps moving.
We've been hearing good reports from Baumgartner's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Baumgartner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Araya wants to stand and escape but Baumgartner is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Araya throws a big shot that misses.
Araya lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baumgartner circles away quickly and effectively.
Araya ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Araya throws a right hand that Baumgartner ducks under and follows up with a left that Baumgartner also avoids with ease.
Baumgartner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Araya was well out of range. Poor timing from Baumgartner.
Araya looks to land a left hand but Baumgartner moved out of range nicely.
Baumgartner throws out a loose jab but Araya uses good head movement to avoid it.
Araya misses with a wild combination.

Baumgartner throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Araya tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Baumgartner is in Araya's guard.
Baumgartner won't allow Araya to sweep him here.
Araya keeping moving, preventing Baumgartner from controlling successfully.
Baumgartner looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baumgartner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Baumgartner forces his way into half guard.
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!
Araya gets back to full guard.

Araya throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Araya utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Baumgartner looking to sit in guard and control but Araya gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Baumgartner has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Araya can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araya wants to control from the top but Baumgartner keeps moving.
Baumgartner looking for a sweep. Not yet Baumgartner, not yet.
Baumgartner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Araya wants to control from the top but Baumgartner keeps moving.
Baumgartner looking to control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Araya scores with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baumgartner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick misses from Baumgartner.
Baumgartner connects with a body shot that sends Araya's belly button to the back.
A looping hook to the body misses from Araya. Baumgartner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Araya misses with an uppercut. Baumgartner saw that one coming.
Araya lands a glancing blow to the side of Baumgartner's head.

It looks like Roger Baumgartner has been cut.
Araya throws a big shot that misses.
Araya tries to bum rush Baumgartner with a series of wild strikes but Baumgartner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Baumgartner fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Araya sprawls well initially but Baumgartner persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Baumgartner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Araya wants to control but Baumgartner is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Baumgartner landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Araya wants to get back to full guard.
Baumgartner wants to take a breather but Araya is having none of it.
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 Roger Baumgartner will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Roger Baumgartner's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Araya throws a series of punches but Baumgartner moves out of range.
Araya just misses with a punch to the body.
Araya throws a nice looking combination but Baumgartner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Baumgartner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Araya throws a jab but it's blocked by Baumgartner.
Araya throws a nice inside leg kick.
Araya on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Araya misses with a body shot.
Espiridion Araya seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Araya.
Araya looks to throw the jab but Baumgartner is out of range.
Araya scores with a jab to the jaw.
Araya doesn't manage to clinch there - Baumgartner circles away.

Baumgartner shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Baumgartner was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Araya struggling a bit here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Baumgartner tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Baumgartner has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baumgartner is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Araya knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Roger Baumgartner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Araya is trying to control Baumgartner's posture but Baumgartner avoids it.
Araya tries to bench press Baumgartner off him but Baumgartner keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baumgartner thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Baumgartner is looking to take a break and control but Araya is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Who's going to make the next move?
Baumgartner working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Araya manages to work his way to half guard, despite Baumgartner's best efforts.
Baumgartner perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Baumgartner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Araya does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baumgartner is looking for a kimura here.
Araya is trying to stand up here but Baumgartner is controlling him well.
Araya trying to control from the bottom.
Baumgartner is trying to control the action in half guard but Araya is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Baumgartner with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Araya is defending against the submission attempts here by Baumgartner.

Baumgartner is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araya is looking for a sweep. Baumgartner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Baumgartner keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Baumgartner works his foot free and advances to mount.
Araya is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baumgartner punching from mount but Araya doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Baumgartner controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Baumgartner dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Roger Baumgartner's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Araya throws a series of punches but Baumgartner avoids them all with ease.
Araya pivots, looking for a leg kick but Baumgartner is out of range and Araya settles back down.
Araya tries to clinch but Baumgartner is having none of it.
Baumgartner throws a body shot but no joy.
Araya slaps away a takedown attempt from Baumgartner, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Baumgartner avoids the head kick by Araya.
Araya ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Baumgartner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Baumgartner moves out of range of the body kick from Araya.
Araya misses with a right hand
and Baumgartner makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Baumgartner moves out of range as Araya strikes.
Araya dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Baumgartner avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baumgartner connects with the punch.
Araya throws a body punch but Baumgartner moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Araya throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Araya misses with a series of wild punches.
Espiridion Araya seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Araya misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baumgartner.
Baumgartner scores with a nice head shot.
Araya misses with a two punch combination.
Espiridion Araya is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Araya keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Baumgartner lands an overhand right.
Baumgartner lands a lovely overhand right.

Araya is rocked!
Baumgartner cracks Araya with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Araya falls to his knees and Baumgartner doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Roger Baumgartner!
During a confident post fight interview, Roger Baumgartner thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.