PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dre Battle (ranked 3399 p4p, 386 weight class) and Rocky Baxter (ranked 2345 p4p, 283 weight class). Battle comes to the cage accompanied by Knockout - Yung Gravy. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Battle
vs
Baxter

186 cm
21
191 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

185 cm
21
188 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dre Battle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocky Baxter !
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Joseph Jones and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Battle takes the fight into the clinch.
Battle lands an uppercut.
Battle misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Baxter .
Battle makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Baxter goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Baxter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Battle gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Battle shoots for a double leg takedown but Baxter sprawls well. He's pushed Battle's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Baxter lands a right hook to the body.
Baxter waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Battle.
Battle seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Baxter moves away from the strike by Battle.
Baxter doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Battle tries to close the distance and clinch up but Baxter swats him away and circles back towards the center.
That kick from Baxter tenderised Battle's leg. Battle is trying to keep his angry face on.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Battle loads up on a big right hand but Baxter slips the punch.
Baxter throws a hook to the side of Battle's head but Battle sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Battle uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Baxter .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Battle counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Battle.
Baxter is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Battle.
Battle stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Baxter stalling the fight.

Baxter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Baxter clinches with his opponent.
Baxter working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Baxter blocks a body shot from Battle.
Battle blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Baxter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Baxter tries to throw a body punch but Battle avoids it by throwing Baxter back against the cage.

Battle is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Baxter can't fight it off and eventually Battle manages to take the fight to the floor. Baxter looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Baxter has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Battle is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Baxter .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Battle throws a strike aimed at the side of Baxter 's head but Baxter avoids it well.
Baxter is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Baxter 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Baxter is looking to regain half guard here but Battle keeps moving and retains side control.
Baxter is not content to let Battle control the position.
Battle controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battle working the head with strikes.
Baxter is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Battle's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Battle connects with a nice short shot to Baxter 's temple.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Battle seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Battle trying to control from half guard but Baxter is working away.
Battle wants to pass the guard but Baxter is defending well.
Battle working the head and body with strikes.
Baxter is looking to control Battle's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Baxter avoid being mounted?

Battle seems to be working for a kimura but Baxter defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Battle working the head and body with strikes.
Baxter moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Battle controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Battle wants to control from the top but Baxter keeps moving.

Battle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Battle content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Battle trying to control but Baxter is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dre Battle dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Battle scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Dre Battle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Baxter sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Baxter looking for submissions off his back.
Battle 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.
Baxter is trying to control but can't.
Baxter is not content to let Battle control the position.
Baxter is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter regains full guard. Nicely done.
Battle lands a couple of digs.

Baxter has an active guard here but Battle has managed to pass into half guard.
Battle is thwarting Baxter 's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battle seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Baxter does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Battle is working for a kimura but Baxter is defending it quite comfortably.
Battle looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Baxter with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Baxter felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Baxter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Baxter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Baxter is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.

Baxter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Baxter looking for submissions off his back.
Battle looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Battle.

Baxter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Baxter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Battle looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battle is trying to control the action in half guard but Baxter is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Baxter slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Battle is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Battle lands a couple of digs.
Battle is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Battle passes Baxter 's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Battle working over Baxter with some ground and pound. Baxter looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Battle working Baxter over with strikes.
Battle lands strikes from half guard.

Baxter is rocked!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Battle lands a nice short elbow.
Baxter is still in real trouble! Can Battle finish him?
Battle lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Baxter quite badly. Baxter pulls Battle in close trying to recover. Battle postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Baxter on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Baxter doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dre Battle!
A very excited looking Dre Battle made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.