|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Midnight Rider (ranked 2421 p4p, 291 weight class) and Brian Baker (ranked 1854 p4p, 240 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!
 |
|
 |
| 190 cm
34
214 lbs
7 - 7 - 0 |
|
190 cm
31
220 lbs
8 - 9 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick |
|
Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Midnight Rider!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brian Baker!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Radbod Blank and Paul Aken.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Rider misses.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rider swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rider takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
It looks like Midnight Rider has been cut.
Rider moves into range and connects with a jab.
Baker moves in looking to clinch but Rider pushes him off.
Rider seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Rider dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Baker misses with an attempted mid kick.
Baker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Baker is looking to clinch.
Rider is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Baker.
Baker on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Baker is looking to clinch but Rider is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rider throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Baker counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rider swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rider takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Baker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rider manages to avoid it.
Rider fails to land with a series of punches.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker takes the fight into the clinch.
Baker looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Baker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rider scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rider moves into range and connects with a jab.
Baker takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Baker tries to clinch there but Rider circles away.
Baker tries to clinch there but Rider circles away.
Baker fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rider, pushing him back against the cage.
Rider lands a hook to the side of the head.
Baker manages to break the clinch.
Rider works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rider looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A big left from Rider misses.
Baker fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baker moves forwards but Rider connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Baker looks to throw the jab but Rider is out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Brian Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rider gets tackled into the cage by Baker. Baker maintains the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rider.
Rider misses with some punches.
Baker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rider throws a good cross that connects.
Baker lands a nice shot to the body.
Rider loads up on a big right hand but Baker slips the punch.
Rider throws a head kick that misses.
Baker darts in and clinches Rider up against the cage.
Rider fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rider lands an uppercut.
Rider misses with a short punch on the inside.
Baker tries to pull guard but Rider holds him up against the cage and eventually Baker drops back down to his feet.
Rider throws a head punch that misses.
Rider lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Baker backwards.
Baker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker scores with a jab to the jaw.
A big left from Rider misses.
Rider thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rider bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Baker's head.
Baker tries to clinch but Rider moves out of range.
Rider keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rider scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rider swats away the attempt to clinch by Baker.
Rider is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Baker.
Baker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rider moves away.
Rider throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Despite the aggression on Baker's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Rider moves out of range as Baker strikes.
Rider tries to keep at a distance but Baker has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rider throws an elbow that misses.
Rider misses with a punch on the inside.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rider fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rider throws a punch but it's blocked by Baker.
Rider misses with a punch on the inside.
Baker looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Good body shot from Rider.
Baker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rider lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Rider.
Baker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rider avoids the head kick by Baker.
Baker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rider scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Baker is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Rider.
Baker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Midnight Rider dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Midnight Rider's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rider paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rider seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Rider avoids the head kick by Baker.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rider, as that shot connected.
Baker misses the shot to the body.
Rider scores with a jab. Baker acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rider is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rider misses the body punch
and Baker counters with a stiff right hand.
Baker tries to clinch but Rider is having none of it.
Baker fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Baker clinches with his opponent.
Baker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rider has him pressed against the cage.
Baker wants to get back to striking at distance but Rider won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Baker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rider thows a left - swing and a miss!
The fighters circling - Baker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Baker tries to clinch up but Rider circles away and keeps his distance.
Baker slips under a jab.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rider swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rider checks the leg kick.
Baker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rider moves away.
Rider throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.
Baker tries to clinch there but Rider circles away.
Baker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rider is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Baker.
Baker tries to clinch up.
Baker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baker takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rider is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Baker can do to turn this around?
Baker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rider moves away.
Baker takes one to the side of the head.
Midnight Rider is winning the standup battle so far.
Rider looks to throw the jab but Baker is out of range.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rider swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rider looks to land a left hand but Baker moved out of range nicely.
Rider pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker digs a good body shot into Rider's ribs.
Rider throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.
Baker tries a quick counter leg kick but Rider is wise to it.
Baker has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rider throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bakers head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rider tries to throw a body punch but Baker avoids it by throwing Rider back against the cage.
Rider throws a punch but it's blocked by Baker.
Baker blocks an uppercut.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rider throws a punch but it's blocked by Baker.
Rider swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Baker blocks an uppercut.
Rider prevents Baker from breaking the clinch.
Baker is working for takedown but Rider is calmly controlling the position for now.
Baker breaks the clinch.
Rider throws a hook but Baker blocks it.
Baker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rider throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rider fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rider manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Baker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Good work by Rider as he checks the leg kick.
Baker steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rider.
Baker takes a swing at Rider's ribcage but misses.
A shot to the liver by Baker. Beautiful body shot.
Baker has closed the distance and engaged Rider in a clinch.
Baker breaks from the clinch.
Baker is looking to clinch but Rider is avoiding it.
Baker misses with a kick to the body
and Rider counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Baker breaks the clinch.
Baker moves out of range as Rider strikes.
Jab, jab by Baker - just one landing.
Baker just misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters circling - Rider throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rider moves away.
Baker throws a body shot but no joy.
Rider misses the jab.
Rider throws a hook but Baker avoids it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baker throws a low kick but Rider avoids it.
Rider walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rider is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Baker.
Baker rushes Rider and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Baker tries to break free but Rider pushes him back against the cage.
Baker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rider.
Baker is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rider pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Baker has had enough of the clinch but Rider keeps him there for the moment.
Rider misses with the head strike.
Baker blocking some punches.
Baker working hard to break the clinch.
Baker breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Brian Baker will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Midnight Rider's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Baker wants to clinch.
Rider tries to counter by clinching up but Baker breaks away and moves out of range.
Rider misses with a hook.
Baker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rider manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rider misses with a straight right.
Nice defenses there by Baker.
Baker misses with a body shot.
Rider jabs Baker right on the nose. Baker blinks but takes it well.
Baker tries to clinch up but Rider circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker misses with a hook. Rider ducked under it nicely.
Rider throws out a loose jab but Baker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rider lands a right hook to the body.
Baker slips under a jab from Rider.
Rider slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rider swings for the body but Baker moves out of range.
Baker pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Baker thows a body kick. Rider tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rider swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Baker steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rider.
Baker uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Baker has Rider up against the cage in a clinch.
Baker jumps guard but Rider stands there with Baker around his waist. Baker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rider tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rider lands a right hand.
Rider digs a right hand underneath Baker's ribcage. Baker let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rider fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Baker avoids a wild elbow strike from Rider.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rider just misses with a elbow thrown towards Baker's brow.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker manages to break the clinch.
Baker is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rider rather than just go for the knockout.
Rider throws a jab but it's blocked by Baker.
Baker slips under a jab from Rider.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rider connects with a right hand. Baker shakes it off.
Baker tries to clinch but Rider moves out of range.
Baker slips under a jab from Rider.
Baker lands with a good body shot.
Baker clinches up against the cage.
Baker is trying to break the clinch but Rider has him pressed against the cage.
Baker avoids the elbow strike from Rider, against the cage.
Baker tries to circle away but Rider has him pinned against the cage.
Rider scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Baker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rider tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rider throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Baker blocks it with crossed arms.
Rider lands a hook that snaps the head of Baker backwards.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rider throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bakers head.
Rider working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rider misses with an elbow over the top.
Baker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Baker is trying to break free.
Rider keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Baker's efforts to push away.
Rider misses with a short punch on the inside.
Baker blocks an uppercut.
Rider has a couple of punches blocked by Baker.
Baker managing to block the knees to the body from Rider.
Rider fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Baker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Baker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rider manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Baker throws a head kick but Rider moves out of range.
Baker shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Baker misses with a jab to the body
and Rider holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Baker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rider throws out the jab.
Baker just misses with a punch to the body.
Baker wants to clinch.
Rider wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Baker takes the fight into the clinch.
Baker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rider connects with a crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rider throws a lazy uppercut
and Baker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rider jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Baker walks into a jab.
Rider ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And that's the end of the fight!
Midnight Rider showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rider has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Midnight Rider!
Midnight Rider managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Freebok (85% Laundry), into his post fight interview.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
63% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
