PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Uryan Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Baker will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hall
vs
Baker

178 cm
26
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

175 cm
20
168 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Spartan Nutrition 160Q with Proof

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Uryan Hall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Baker!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hall closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Baker did well to prevent Hall getting side control.
Hall looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Hall's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Baker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hall content to control rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Further stalling from Hall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hall jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice sprawl there from Baker as Hall shoots in.
Baker throws a lazy head kick
and Hall counters with a straight right hand.
Good leg kick by Baker there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Baker buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hall chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Baker can pounce on him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker scoring well with a low kick there.
We've been hearing reports that Hall has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Hall tries to close the distance and clinch but Baker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Baker is looking to slow Hall down with leg kicks.
Baker is looking to chop away at Hall's legs.
Baker tries to score with a low kick but Hall moves his leg out of the way.
Baker ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Baker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hall.
Hall missing with a left hand there. Baker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A big left from Hall misses.
Hall tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Baker lands a nice looking body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Baker.
Hall blocks a head kick by Baker.
Baker avoids the body shot from Hall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baker tries to sprawl but Hall drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hall is taking a breather. Baker says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hall missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Baker is staying active underneath Hall, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Well, if Hall is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Baker is not content to let Hall control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hall is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hall seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Baker moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hall with a poor takedown
and Baker counters with a big head kick but Hall shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Baker will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hall tries to clinch up but Baker circles away and keeps his distance.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hall, as that shot connected.
Hall closes this distance looking for a takedown but Baker circles away.

Hall shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Baker manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Baker is looking to stand back up but Hall counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Baker.

Hall throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hall seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Baker is looking to control Hall's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Baker avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Baker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hall. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Hall is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Baker is just riding it out for now. Hall eventually gives up the hold.
Baker keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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.
Hall thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Baker's head.
Hall with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hall looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Baker wants to improve his position but Hall is controlling well.
Hall controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall is looking to take a break and control but Baker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Baker throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Hall crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Baker - the referee stops the clock and Hall gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Baker. Hall manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Hall chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Baker can pounce on him.
Baker ducks under a wild hook from Hall.
Baker lands a high kick!
Hall throws a shot from downtown. Baker moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hall throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Joe Baker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Baker only half commits to the counter leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Baker. That's going to slow Hall down.
Hall misses with a few strikes there.
Baker lands with a nice body kick.
Hall moves in looking to clinch but Baker pushes him off.
Hall looks to score with a jab to the body but Baker is just out of range.
Joe Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hall throws a jab but it's blocked by Baker.
Baker bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baker with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head kick by Baker misses
and Hall cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Baker feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hall's calf.
Baker stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Baker wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Baker will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Baker lets loose with a powerful body kick. Hall will feel that in the morning.
Hall will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Hall chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Baker can pounce on him.
Baker dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hall. That did some damage!
Baker scores with a spinning back kick!
Hall lands a glancing blow to the side of Baker's head.
Baker buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hall.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hall tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Hall looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Baker is not content to let Hall control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Baker is looking for a sweep.
Joe Baker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hall in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Hall staying calm.
Hall is looking to take a break and control but Baker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall working the strikes but Baker uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Hall thows a huge punch but Baker dodges it nicely.
Hall is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hall tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Baker is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hall misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Uryan Hall.
I think Baker 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Baker!
Our winner, Joe Baker, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Uryan Hall spoke after the fight, saying 'As you can see...I can't. I got beat out there tonight, enough said.'.