PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Turk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lincoln Baxter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lincoln Baxter is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Turk
vs
Baxter

191 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Eric Turk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lincoln Baxter!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Turk leaves Baxter with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Turk seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Baxter tries to clinch but Turk is having none of it.
As Baxter looks to move away, Turk throws a big counter combo but Baxter just gets out of the way.
Baxter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Turk is looking for a counter combo.
Baxter with a lazy takedown attempt

and Turk counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Turk wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Baxter changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Turk fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Eric Turk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lincoln Baxter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter misses with an uppercut
and Turk counters with a two punch combo.
Lincoln Baxter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baxter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Turk as he jumps to the side.
It looked like Turk was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter shoots in for a double leg but Turk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Baxter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Turk went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Baxter with a poor takedown

and Turk counters by clinching up.
Baxter working hard to break the clinch.

Turk ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Turk no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Turk trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Turk is on top in guard.

Baxter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Turk.
Turk pushes down on Baxter's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turk looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Turk decides to stand and escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Turk attempts a counter takedown but Baxter avoids it well and moves away.
Baxter shoots in for a takedown but Turk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Baxter tries to clinch but Turk moves away
and Turk counters with a left and a right that stings Baxter.
Baxter changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Turk tries to avoid it but Baxter manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Turk to the ground. Turk escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Baxter misses the body punch

and Turk counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Turk.
Baxter has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Turk wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Baxter prevents the takedown attempt.
Baxter tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Turk pulls guard effortlessly.
Turk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Baxter's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Turk sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Baxter's guard.
Turk thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Baxter's head.

Turk looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Turk is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Baxter fails with the takedown

and Turk counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Turk.
Turk is leaning against Baxter and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Baxter misses with a punch to the body.
Turk wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Baxter looking for a takedown.
Baxter has a couple of punches blocked by Turk.
Baxter has Turk pressed against the cage, preventing Turk from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Turk pulls guard successfully.
Turk is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Turk perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Turk is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Turk is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We've been informed that Baxter has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Turk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Baxter really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Turk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Turk thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Baxter's head.

Turk escapes and gets back to his feet.
Baxter is looking to clinch.
Turk feinted with a counter takedown.
Eric Turk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baxter with a poor takedown

and Turk counters by clinching up.
Eric Turk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lincoln Baxter.
Turk tries to break free but Baxter pushes him back against the cage.
Baxter tries for a takedown. No joy.
Turk can't get the takedown.
Baxter prevents Turk from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Turk tries to break the clinch but Baxter is controlling the position.
Baxter is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Turk pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Baxter misses with a punch to the body.
Baxter using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Turk has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Turk drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Baxter gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Baxter taking a breather.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Baxter pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Baxter is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Baxter trying to stall but Turk improves his position.

That's four 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 is trying to pull guard but Turk has him pressed against the cage.
Turk trying to land knees to the body.
Turk can't break the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Turk.
Turk drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Turk manages to pull guard.
Turk doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Turk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Baxter's guard.

Turk is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Baxter can do to turn this around?
Turk not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Turk dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Turk keeps the fight on the outside.
Turk throws a big counter combination but Baxter scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Baxter is looking to clinch but Turk is avoiding it.
Turk tries to counter by clinching up but Baxter breaks away and moves out of range.
Baxter lands with a nice combination. Turk backs away looking to recover.
Baxter gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Turk counters with a series of strikes. Baxter will be more careful next time no doubt.
Turk keeps the fight on the outside.
Turk appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter wants to clinch up but Turk keeps it at a distance.
Turk tries to counter with a takedown but Baxter is quick to defend against it.
Turk leaves Baxter with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Turk appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turk blocks the body kick.
Baxter has his takedown stuffed

and Turk holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Eric Turk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lincoln Baxter.
Baxter has Turk pressed against the cage, preventing Turk from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Turk is trying to drag Baxter to the mat but Baxter just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Baxter prevents Turk from breaking the clinch.

Turk pulls Baxter into guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Turk has his foot on Baxter's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Baxter works his way back into a safe position though.
Turk lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Turk is stalling in the full guard.
Turk is looking to work some ground and pound but Baxter has wrist control.
Turk content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Turk drops back, looking for a kneebar! Baxter looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Baxter looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Baxter!

Eric Turk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Baxter tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Turk manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baxter keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Turk seems content to control.
Turk frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Baxter wants to hold on but Turk pushes him away.
Turk dominating with strikes here.
Turk controlling from the full mount.
Turk takes Baxter's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Baxter is in trouble.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Turk controlling from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Turk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Turk has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:26
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Turk!
Lincoln Baxter spoke after the fight, saying 'You know what.... OH WELL. I tried. I was abandoned as a child.. I tried. '.