PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Balthazar Baker (ranked 717 p4p, 3195 weight class) and Jared Roughneck (ranked 101 p4p, 451 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Baker
vs
Roughneck

195 cm
24
190
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
195
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Urban Fighter

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Balthazar Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jared Roughneck!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker looks to throw the jab but Roughneck is out of range.
Baker scores with a nice strike.

It looks like Jared Roughneck has been cut.
Roughneck misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Baker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Roughneck manages to avoid it.
Roughneck takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Baker misses with a hook. Roughneck ducked under it nicely.
Baker looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Baker defending well as Roughneck loads up on a big left hand.
Roughneck takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Baker gets caught flat footed, as Roughneck shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker controlling the position.
Roughneck preventing the sweep.
Roughneck slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Roughneck is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roughneck trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roughneck wants to pass to mount but Baker is defending the position.
Baker trying to control but Roughneck postures up.
Baker is concentrating on defense, preventing Roughneck from advancing position.
Baker tries to roll over but Roughneck keeps him under control.
Roughneck has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at EFC Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Roughneck has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Baker takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Roughneck with shots to the head and body - Baker looks very uncomfortable down there.
Baker wants to hold on but Roughneck pushes him away.
Baker slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Roughneck is trying to control. Baker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Baker tries to get to full guard but Roughneck has control of the leg.
Roughneck wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baker keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roughneck controlling the action here.
Baker wants to improve his position but Roughneck is controlling well.
Roughneck trying to mount his opponent but Baker defends it.
Baker moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Roughneck is in close to Baker's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Baker keeping moving, preventing Roughneck from controlling successfully.
Roughneck chips away with some ground and pound.

Baker looking for a guillotine here but Roughneck defends easily.
Baker looking to control.
Baker looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roughneck slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Roughneck postures up and lands a big shot to Baker's brow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jared Roughneck dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jared Roughneck's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Roughneck is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Baker.
Roughneck throws out a loose jab but Baker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Baker throws a lazy right hand but Roughneck sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Roughneck unleashes a big counter combination but Baker bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Roughneck digs a good hook to Baker's body.
Roughneck connects with a body shot.
Roughneck smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Roughneck tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Baker defends well and Roughneck ends up having to push Baker into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Baker connects with a good right hand that stumbles Roughneck. Roughneck circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Roughneck needs to keep his hands up - Baker had a free shot at his head there.
Roughneck moves away from the strike by Baker.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Roughneck.
Roughneck is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Roughneck swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker cracks a nice hook into Roughneck's ribs.
Baker throws a jab but it's blocked by Roughneck.
Baker slips under a jab from Roughneck.

Baker lands a big right hand that sends Roughneck crashing to the mat! Baker stays standing though and waves Roughneck back to his feet!

Roughneck is rocked!
Baker takes a jab right on the kisser.
Roughneck is still on wobbly legs! Can Baker finish him?
Nice sprawl there from Roughneck as Baker shoots in.
Baker takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baker fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Roughneck to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Roughneck looks to clinch but Baker throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Roughneck taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Balthazar Baker!
After winning the bout, Balthazar Baker thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.