PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dennis Baker (ranked 24772 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Leoni (ranked 5124 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Leoni has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Dennis Baker's chin.

Baker
vs
Leoni

167 cm
21
177 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

190 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dennis Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Leoni!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Columbo Gatti and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker tries to clinch up.
Baker backing away here, and Leoni unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Leoni tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Baker was well out of range. Poor timing from Leoni.
Baker appears to be looking for a big counter.
Baker misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Leoni swings away with a body shot that misses

and Baker counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Baker manages to pull guard.
Leoni loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Baker could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Leoni won't allow Baker to sweep him here.
Baker might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leoni has gone for a leg lock! Baker slips out almost immediately though and dives into Leoni's guard.

Leoni is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Baker would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Leoni has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Baker scoring with some ground and pound.
Leoni looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Leoni is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Baker preventing the sweep.
Leoni working a defensive guard here.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Leoni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker won't allow Leoni to sweep him here.

Baker got a little sloppy there for a moment and Leoni has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Baker has managed to get both his arms back between Leoni's legs - danger averted.
Leoni wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Leoni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leoni looking for a sweep. Not yet Leoni, not yet.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Baker stands up over Leoni, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Leoni has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Baker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leoni is trying to control the position but Baker postures up.
Baker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Baker thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Leoni tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

Leoni changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Baker looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Baker tries to improve position but can't.

Leoni tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Leoni has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Leoni trying to control the action but Baker is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leoni wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Baker, who protects the arm well.
Baker wants to get back to his feet but Leoni drags him back down.
Leoni trying to control the position but Baker is working away.
Baker tries to bench press Leoni off him but Leoni keeps the position.
Baker is working hard here to advance position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
An elbow from Leoni crashes against the mat.
Baker stops Leoni from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dennis Baker will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Leoni ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baker moves away.

Baker feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Baker wants to control from the top but Leoni keeps moving.
Baker is fighting to break Leoni's control of his arms but Leoni is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Baker is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Baker wants to control from the top but Leoni keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Baker tries to free his leg and advance position but Leoni is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker won't allow Leoni to sweep him here.
Leoni manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baker manages to get himself to full guard.

Leoni wants to control from the top but Baker keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Leoni's guard.

Baker wants to control from the top but Leoni keeps moving.
Baker throws a big elbow that misses.
Leoni looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Baker puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Baker is working for a kimura but Leoni is defending it quite comfortably.
Leoni wants to control but Baker is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Leoni manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Leoni is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Baker is aware though and is defending well.
Leoni keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.
Baker's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Baker wants to control from the top but Leoni keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Leoni is on top in guard.

Baker wants to sweep but no luck.
Leoni wants to stand and escape but instead Baker has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leoni is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Leoni keeping full guard, as Baker tries to pass.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Leoni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leoni trying to keep a closed guard but Baker is proving a slippery customer.

Leoni is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Baker defends well.

Leoni working for a triangle but Baker defends it easily.

That's four 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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Leoni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baker stays in close to Leoni's body and controls the position.
Leoni pulls Baker in close to his closed guard and prevents Baker from doing any damage or advancing position.
Baker is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Leoni looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dennis Baker will probably get the nod.
That's time! Baker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Leoni is looking to clinch but Baker is avoiding it.
As Leoni tries to get set, Baker tries to push him back and clinch up but Leoni manages to avoid the attempt.

Leoni fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Baker to the ground. Leoni is now in Baker's guard.
Leoni trying to control but Baker is working from the bottom.
Leoni wants to stand and escape but instead Baker has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Leoni is controlling Baker's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leoni tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Baker wants to control from the top but Leoni keeps moving.
Baker wants to get up but he can't break Leoni's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leoni has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Baker 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 Leoni.

Baker is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Leoni is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Baker in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Baker working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Baker in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baker thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Leoni sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Leoni slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Leoni is trying to control the position but Baker postures up.
Leoni looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Baker wants to control from the top but Leoni keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Baker trying to control but Leoni is working from the bottom.
Baker stands up over Leoni, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Baker preventing the sweep.
Dennis Baker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Leoni has control of Baker's left arm, preventing Baker from doing any damage.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Leoni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Leoni closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Baker's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leoni drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Leoni jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Leoni preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Leoni drops back looking for a leg! Baker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Baker manages to kick Leoni off! Leoni jumps back into Baker's guard.
Leoni preventing the sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Baker looking for a guillotine here but Leoni defends easily.
Leoni trying to control but Baker is working from the bottom.

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 Dennis Baker.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Baker, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

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