PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joaquin Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christiano Eskenaldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Baker
vs
Eskenaldo

170 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joaquin Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Christiano Eskenaldo!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Eskenaldo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Baker pulls guard.
Eskenaldo wanted to stand there but Baker had control of the position.
Baker wants to stand up but Eskenaldo is controlling him.
Eskenaldo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Baker is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Eskenaldo is aware though and is defending well.

Baker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Eskenaldo defends it easily.
Eskenaldo wants to get up but he can't break Baker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Eskenaldo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Baker closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Eskenaldo quickly recovers to half guard.
Eskenaldo pushes Baker off but Baker dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eskenaldo is trying to buck Baker off.

Baker is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Eskenaldo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Baker throws an elbow but Eskenaldo slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eskenaldo is pushing Baker's head away, looking to escape. Baker manages to hold on to the position though.
An elbow from Baker crashes against the mat.
Eskenaldo is not content to let Baker control the position.
Eskenaldo is trying to get back to his feet.
The strikes coming from Baker are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Baker wants to control but Eskenaldo is keeping him busy.
Eskenaldo is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Baker has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Baker tries to clinch there but Eskenaldo circles away.
The fighters circling - Baker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Baker avoids the body shot from Eskenaldo.

Eskenaldo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Eskenaldo has Baker pushed against the cage.

Eskenaldo pulls guard.
Eskenaldo keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eskenaldo wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Baker manages to pass to side control.
Baker not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Eskenaldo is trying to stand back up but Baker is controlling him
Baker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baker working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Eskenaldo is trying to stand back up but Baker is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquin Baker dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Eskenaldo has taken the fight to the clinch.

Eskenaldo gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker wants to control but Eskenaldo is keeping busy.
Eskenaldo wants to stand but Baker has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Baker has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Baker is trying to maintain the position but Eskenaldo is very close to passing his half guard.
Eskenaldo wants to stand up but Baker has a hold of him and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baker is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Eskenaldo pulls his head out easily.
Eskenaldo tries to stand and escape but Baker is controlling the position.
Baker is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Eskenaldo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Eskenaldo's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eskenaldo is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Eskenaldo covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Eskenaldo wants to get back to his feet.
Eskenaldo is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Baker has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Eskenaldo has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Baker looking for the RNC.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Baker is looking for the choke from the back position but Eskenaldo is controlling his hands well.

Baker has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Eskenaldo is trying to stand back up.
Baker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Eskenaldo can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eskenaldo is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Baker gets his way!
Eskenaldo is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Baker working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Eskenaldo is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baker is punishing Eskenaldo with strikes - can he finish him?!
Eskenaldo is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquin Baker dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Eskenaldo darts in and clinches Baker up against the cage.
Eskenaldo keeps control of Baker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Eskenaldo misses with a punch on the inside.

Eskenaldo tightens his grip and picks Baker up, before dumping him to the ground. Baker manages to land in guard.
Baker trying to control the position.
Eskenaldo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Baker is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker controls Eskenaldo momentarily but Eskenaldo frees himself.
Baker has a closed guard, preventing Eskenaldo from standing up.
Baker trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eskenaldo is looking to stand up but Baker won't let him.
Baker trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Eskenaldo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Eskenaldo seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Joaquin Baker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Baker is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eskenaldo tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Baker punching from the bottom.
Baker manages to get to full guard.

Baker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Eskenaldo defends it easily.
Eskenaldo wants to stand but Baker is controlling his posture from full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker thows a left - swing and a miss!

Eskenaldo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Eskenaldo misses with a punch to the body.
Baker has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Eskenaldo after a bit of a struggle.
Baker blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Eskenaldo drags the fight down to the ground.
Eskenaldo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Eskenaldo is looking to stand back up but Baker counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Eskenaldo.
Eskenaldo pushes Baker off looking to stand but Baker dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Eskenaldo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ground and pound from Baker.
Baker throwing shots but Eskenaldo is blocking nicely.
Eskenaldo is trying to stand back up but Baker is controlling him
Eskenaldo is trying to escape back to his feet but Baker uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Baker working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Christiano Eskenaldo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sloppy strikes there by Baker.

And that's the end of the fight!
Christiano Eskenaldo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Baker has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joaquin Baker!