PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Balthazar Baker (ranked 1888 p4p, 1801 weight class) and Seiryu Machida (ranked 278 p4p, 266 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Baker
vs
Machida

195 cm
30
190
11 - 7 - 0

192 cm
39
187
28 - 15 - 5

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Balthazar Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 15 - 5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seiryu Machida!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Steve Erwin and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Baker.
Baker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Machida dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Baker. That did some damage!
Nice jab there from Baker.
Baker lands an overhand right.
Machida keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Baker.
Machida avoids the body shot from Baker.
Baker takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Baker takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Machida throws an overhand right that lands on Baker's shoulder, as Baker tries to avoid the shot.
Machida throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.

Baker shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Machida is trying to defend but Baker finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Machida regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Baker.
Baker landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Machida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker is working Machida over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Machida controlling Baker's posture.
Baker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Baker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Baker scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Baker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Baker landing some decent shots from guard.
Baker throwing strikes but missing.
Baker wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Machida working a defensive guard here.
Baker is looking to work some ground and pound but Machida has wrist control.
Baker postures up in Machida's guard and throws a big left but Machida blocks it.
Machida pulls Baker in close to his closed guard and prevents Baker from doing any damage or advancing position.
Baker tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Baker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Machida is trying to keep Baker in close.
Baker with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Baker throwing strikes from guard but Machida blocks nicely.
Baker lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Baker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Baker distracts Machida with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baker is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Machida is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Machida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Baker wants to control from the top but Machida keeps moving.
Baker postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Machida looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Machida working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Baker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Baker manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baker pushes down on Machida's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Baker working the head and body with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Balthazar Baker dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Baker tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Baker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Machida can do to turn this around?
Machida throws a nice inside leg kick.
Machida slips under a jab.
A swing and a miss from Baker.
Baker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Machida throws a shot to the body.
Machida lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Baker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Machida throws out the jab.

Baker shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Machida is adopting a defensive guard.
Balthazar Baker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Baker with a nice head shot there.
Baker working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
Baker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Baker lands a couple of digs.

Machida is rocked!
Baker loads up on a big left hand. Machida felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Baker looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Machida can't hide his disappointment, as Baker celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Balthazar Baker!
Balthazar Baker seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.