PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mister Benzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brady Baird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brady Baird has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Benzo
vs
Baird

184 cm
20
188 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
177 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mister Benzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brady Baird!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benzo tries to clinch but Baird is having none of it.
Benzo scores with a jab.
Benzo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Benzo tries to clinch but Baird moves out of range.
Baird fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Baird has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Baird there as he acknowledges the shot.
Benzo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Baird circles away.
Benzo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Baird's waist but Baird gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Benzo off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mister Benzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Baird looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Benzo tries to kick Baird off but Baird keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baird tries to stand but can't do so whilst Benzo controls his leg.
Baird looks gassed!
Baird is trying to control. Benzo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Benzo wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baird not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Benzo taking some punishment here, with Baird in his half guard.
Baird is keen to just control but Benzo is a slippery customer.
Benzo is trying to stand back up but Baird is controlling him

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Benzo jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Baird clinches with his opponent.
Benzo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Baird walks away with a smile on his face. Benzo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Benzo lands with a straight right. Baird didn't see that one coming.
Benzo misses with a takedown

and Baird counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Baird looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Baird in particular looking to stall.
Baird prevents Benzo from standing back up.
Baird is trying to control the action in half guard but Benzo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Benzo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Baird on the ground.
Benzo is trying to stand back up but Baird is controlling him

Baird is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Benzo looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baird is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Benzo looks to clinch

and Baird counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Baird won't allow Benzo to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baird is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
I looks like Baird might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Benzo is working an open guard so Baird takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brady Baird dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Benzo shoots in but no luck this time.
Benzo clobbers Baird with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Baird walks into a straight right hand from Benzo.
Benzo tries to clinch but Baird is having none of it.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Baird. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Benzo shoots in but Baird avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Benzo tries for a takedown but Baird circles away easily

and Baird counters with a shoot takedown. Benzo fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mister Benzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baird is looking to work some ground and pound but Benzo has wrist control.
Baird landing some decent shots from guard.

Baird decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Benzo, up you get!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baird keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benzo.
Benzo misses with a takedown attempt

and Baird counters with a nice double leg into side control. Benzo won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baird tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Baird has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Baird looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Baird wants to control but Benzo is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Baird prevents Benzo from escaping the position.

Baird decides to stand up, so the ref orders Benzo to his feet.
Benzo closes the distance but Baird moves to the side

and Baird counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Baird wants to control from the top but Benzo keeps moving.

Baird decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Benzo, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Baird pushes Benzo up against the cage in a clinch.
Benzo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Baird just stands there and leans against the cage.
Benzo fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Baird breaks the clinch.
Benzo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Baird counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Baird wants to take a breather but Benzo is having none of it.

Baird stands up from half guard.

Baird looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baird landing some decent shots from guard.
Baird slips nicely into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baird trying to control the action but Benzo is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brady Baird showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Benzo tries to clinch

and Baird counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Baird.
Benzo jumps guard but Baird stands there with Benzo around his waist. Benzo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Baird lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Baird displaying some good clinch control by pressing Benzo up against the cage.
Benzo tries to pull guard but Baird holds him up against the cage and eventually Benzo drops back down to his feet.

Baird is trying to trip Benzo. He has hold of a leg but Benzo is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Baird persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Baird drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Baird jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Baird trying to control the position from guard on top but Benzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baird controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Benzo keeping moving, preventing Baird from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Baird would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Benzo shoots and misses

and Baird counters with a shoot takedown. Benzo fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mister Benzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baird trying to control the position from guard on top but Benzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baird would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benzo keeping moving, preventing Baird from controlling successfully.

Baird 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.
Benzo has a closed guard, preventing Baird from standing up.
Brady Baird is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Baird stands and throws Benzo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Baird tries to stand but Benzo is controlling his head.

Baird is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Benzo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Brady Baird has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Benzo wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brady Baird comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Baird winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brady Baird!