PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Baxter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francois Permitis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Baxter
vs
Permitis

185 cm
32
161 lbs
22 - 6 - 0

180 cm
33
190 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 22 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryan Baxter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Francois Permitis!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baxter rushes Permitis and presses him up against the cage.

Baxter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Baxter misses with the combination.
Some wild striking there from Baxter.

Baxter drives through and clinches with Permitis against the cage.

Permitis gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Baxter regains guard.
Permitis trying to control but Baxter is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Permitis is looking to work some ground and pound but Baxter has wrist control.
Baxter trying to control the position here.
Permitis throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Permitis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Baxter keeping full guard, as Permitis tries to pass.
Permitis controlling from the top position.
Permitis has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Permitis drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Baxter manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Permitis has Baxter in his guard.

Baxter got a little sloppy there for a moment and Permitis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Baxter has managed to get both his arms back between Permitis's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Baxter wants to control from the top but Permitis keeps moving.

Permitis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Permitis keeping moving, preventing Baxter from controlling successfully.
Baxter is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Permitis keeping moving, preventing Baxter from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A combination from Baxter does no damage.
Permitis shoots in but no luck this time.
Permitis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Permitis tries to counter with a clinch but Baxter shakes him off and moves away.
Baxter lands with a nice combination. Permitis backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Francois Permitis has been cut.
Baxter will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Permitis takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baxter misses with a wild combination.
Baxter fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baxter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Baxter scores with a head kick. Permitis tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Permitis fails with the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Permitis looks for a takedown but Baxter sprawls well.
Ryan Baxter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francois Permitis.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Baxter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Baxter dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Francois Permitis's cut.
That's time! Baxter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Permitis takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A lazy body kick from Baxter

and Permitis counters with a single leg into guard. Baxter didn't expect that.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Baxter manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Permitis turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Permitis thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

Permitis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Baxter can't do much from the bottom here.
Baxter is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter gets back to half guard.

Permitis is working for a kimura but Baxter is defending it quite comfortably.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baxter gets full guard.
Permitis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Baxter not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Permitis wants to control from the top but Baxter keeps moving.
Francois Permitis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baxter is trying to keep Permitis in close.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Baxter wants to control but Permitis passes easily into half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Permitis has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Baxter tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Permitis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Baxter goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Permitis tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Baxter fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Permitis tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Baxter throws a combination that misses

and Permitis counters with a single leg into guard. Baxter didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Permitis postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Baxter is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Permitis, into his guard.
Permitis keeping full guard, as Baxter tries to pass.

Permitis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Baxter is aware though and is defending well.
Baxter has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Baxter looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

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

Baxter gets to his feet - Permitis follows without any prompting.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Baxter here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Permitis takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baxter misses with a double jab

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

Baxter pushes Permitis off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ryan Baxter will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Francois Permitis's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Baxter scores with a head kick.
Baxter is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Permitis can do to turn this around?
Baxter tries to clinch up but Permitis circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice jab there from Baxter.
The crowd cheers as Baxter lands an impressive looking overhand right. Permitis doesn't seem phased though.
Ryan Baxter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Permitis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Permitis showed some decent athleticism there.

Baxter pushes Permitis off and gets back to his feet.
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!
Permitis swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baxter scores with a nice head shot.
Baxter darts in trying to clinch

and Permitis counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Permitis wants to control from the top but Baxter keeps moving.
Baxter keeping full guard, as Permitis tries to pass.
Baxter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Baxter trying to control the position.
Baxter is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Permitis is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Baxter working a defensive guard here.
Permitis wants to control from the top but Baxter keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Permitis takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That has opened up Francois Permitis's cut even more.
Baxter dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Permitis. That did some damage!
Baxter falls off balance throwing a combination

and Permitis counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Permitis.
Baxter wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Baxter working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter is controlling Permitis's posture.
Permitis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Permitis trying to control but Baxter is working from the bottom.
Permitis landing some decent shots from guard.
Permitis trying to control but Baxter is working from the bottom.

Permitis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Baxter manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Permitis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Baxter throws a series of punches but Permitis moves out of range.
Permitis looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Baxter misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Permitis! But no joy.

Baxter darts in and clinches Permitis up against the cage.
Baxter lands a body shot.
Baxter throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Permitiss head.
Baxter using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Permitis has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Permitis changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Baxter fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Baxter scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Francois Permitis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A right-left combo lands from Baxter.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Baxter showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Baxter, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Baxter!
After the fight, Ryan Baxter was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.