PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andriy Voronin (ranked 724 p4p, 1078 weight class) and Balthazar Baker (ranked 114 p4p, 171 weight class). Voronin's entrance music is Katyusha. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Voronin
vs
Baker

186 cm
39
195
37 - 19 - 2

195 cm
28
190
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 37 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andriy Voronin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Balthazar Baker!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Ben Watson and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left and a right from Baker both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Andriy Voronin has been cut.
Baker throws a hook but Voronin avoids it easily.
A punch lands to the side of Voronin 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A slow jab from Voronin misses its intended target.
It seemed like Baker was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Baker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Baker has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Voronin.
Baker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Voronin.
Voronin is looking to counter with head kicks.
Baker drops his hands momentarily and Voronin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Voronin moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Baker misses with a straight right.
Voronin just misses with a punch to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baker misses with a hook.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Baker.
Baker in side control, throwing shots but Voronin defends.
Voronin is working to avoid the ground and pound but Baker connects with a decent elbow.
Voronin takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
You can see the frustration on Voronin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Baker creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Voronin sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voronin tries to bench press Baker off him but Baker keeps the position.
Voronin is working hard here to advance position.
Voronin wants to control but Baker postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker trying to control the position but Voronin is working away.
Voronin on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Voronin wants to control but Baker postures up.
Baker working the ground and pound.

Voronin is rocked!
Sloppy strikes there by Baker.
Oh Voronin is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Baker misses with the ground and pound.
Voronin seems to have got his legs back now.
Baker working the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker throws an elbow but Voronin slips to the side and avoids it well.
Baker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Baker is trying to get an arm triangle but Voronin is defending well.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voronin is trying to get back to half guard.
Baker lands a nice forearm strike.
Baker in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Baker throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Baker tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Baker working away.
Baker working the body and head with strikes.
Voronin on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Sloppy strikes there by Baker.
Voronin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Baker lands a strong strike to the head of Voronin. That's dazed him! Baker looking to finish here. Voronin is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Baker lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Balthazar Baker!
Balthazar Baker decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.