PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nate Baker Jr (ranked 8217 p4p, 639 weight class) and Leroy Braga (ranked 2032 p4p, 249 weight class). Braga has chosen Seven Nation Army as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Baker Jr
vs
Braga

190 cm
21
200 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

180 cm
23
188 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent elbows
Experienced

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Juggernaut And Gladiators(90% Laundry)

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nate Baker Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Leroy Braga!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker Jr avoids a kick to the body.
Baker Jr definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Braga throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
No joy there for Baker Jr, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Braga takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A jab from Braga misses.
Nate Baker Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Braga tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Baker Jr was well out of range. Poor timing from Braga.
Baker Jr fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Braga checks the leg kick.
Baker Jr uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Braga.
Braga tests Baker Jr's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Braga connects with a body shot.
Braga scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Braga darts in and clinches Baker Jr up against the cage.
Baker Jr blocks a body shot from Braga.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Braga lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braga cracks Baker Jr with a nice body shot.
Braga displaying some good clinch control by pressing Baker Jr up against the cage.
Baker Jr wants to stall.
Braga digs a right hand underneath Baker Jr's ribcage. Baker Jr let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Baker Jr is breathing heavily.
Braga lands an uppercut.
Baker Jr is trying to break the clinch but Braga has him pressed against the cage.
Braga has Baker Jr pushed against the cage.
Braga content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Baker Jr is trying to trip Braga. He has hold of a leg but Braga is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Baker Jr persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Braga controlling Baker Jr's posture.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Braga passes Baker Jr's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Braga is taking a breather. Baker Jr 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.

Baker Jr with the active half guard here but Braga passes nicely into side control.
Braga content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Braga tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baker Jr wants to control but Braga postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker Jr seems a little lost for a moment, as Braga dominates the positioning.
Baker Jr tries to improve position but can't.
Braga just content to control the position.
Baker Jr wants to get back to his feet.

Braga tries for a kimura but Baker Jr is defending well.
Baker Jr is trying to improve his position.
Braga controlling from side mount.
Baker Jr tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Braga wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

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.
Braga moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Baker Jr gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Baker Jr is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Braga sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Braga forces the positional change into back control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leroy Braga 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.

Baker Jr looks to land a combination but Braga avoids it well.

Braga fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baker Jr, pushing him back against the cage.
Baker Jr pushes off an throws an elbow but Braga leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Baker Jr manages to pull guard.
Leroy Braga has got the better of the ground game so far.

Baker Jr is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Braga's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Let's hope that Braga has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Braga.

Baker Jr is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Braga is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Braga controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Baker Jr throws a head kick but Braga moves out of range.

Braga moves into the clinch.
Braga manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Braga - that landed with a thud.
Baker Jr tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Braga avoids it.
Baker Jr is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Braga is keeping busy.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Baker Jr can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Baker Jr is trying to maintain a safe position but Braga gets an underhook and turns Baker Jr into the cage.
Braga stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Braga jumps guard and drags Baker Jr to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Braga lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Braga won't allow Baker Jr to sweep him here.
Braga passes Baker Jr's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Braga is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Baker Jr defends it well.
Braga stalling.
Baker Jr is pressing down on Braga's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Braga has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Braga works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Braga tries to pass to full mount but Baker Jr defends it.
Braga trying to control the pace.

Baker Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Braga takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Braga is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Baker Jr!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker Jr sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Braga trying to pass the guard but Baker Jr defending well.
Braga controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Braga's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Braga passes to side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Braga advances to full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leroy Braga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Baker Jr closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker Jr throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Baker Jr throws an elbow but Braga slips to the side and avoids it well.
Braga is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
You can see the frustration on Braga's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Braga is trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baker Jr working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Baker Jr trying to control the position but Braga is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker Jr throws an elbow but Braga slips to the side and avoids it well.
Braga is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Braga sneaks back into half guard.
Baker Jr throwing shots but Braga is blocking nicely.

Baker Jr trying to work for an americana but Braga has managed to regain full guard.
Baker Jr with a flurry of punches that miss.
Braga bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Baker Jr's guard.

Braga controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker Jr throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Braga works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Baker Jr tries to roll over but Braga keeps him under control.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Braga in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Braga prevents Baker Jr from improving his position.
Braga trying to pass the guard but Baker Jr defending well.
Braga prevents Baker Jr from standing back up.
Baker Jr has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Braga is working away from the top position though.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Baker Jr actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Braga slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Braga wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

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.
Braga lands a jab to Baker Jr's midsection.
Baker Jr misses with a double jab
and Braga counters with a nice body shot.
Braga misses the shot to the body.

Braga moves into range and clinches up with Baker Jr.
Baker Jr is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Braga is keeping busy.
Braga is struggling to control the position.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Baker Jr just misses with a elbow thrown towards Braga's brow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A hook to the body from Braga.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Braga.
Nate Baker Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leroy Braga is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice body punch from Braga - that landed with a thud.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leroy Braga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Braga has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leroy Braga!
Leroy Braga gave a mention to Sully's Bar & Grill in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).