PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zach Hits (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Baptiste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus Baptiste is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hits
vs
Baptiste

185 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zach Hits!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Baptiste!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baptiste throws a head kick that misses.
Hits slips a jab and a cross from Baptiste.
Baptiste misses with a double jab.
Hits throws a right and a left that Baptiste avoids nicely.
Baptiste stalks Hits and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hits's face. Hits staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Zach Hits has been cut.
Baptiste fails with the takedown.
Baptiste tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hits lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hits.

It looks like Marcus Baptiste has been cut.
An inside leg kick from Baptiste misses.
Marcus Baptiste seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baptiste misses the jab.
Hits falls off balance throwing a combination

and Baptiste moves into the clinch.
Hits is working for takedown but Baptiste is calmly controlling the position for now.
Baptiste prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hits breaks from the clinch.
Hits will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A punch combination from Hits misses.
Baptiste falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hits counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hits looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Baptiste!

Hits gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Hits is breathing heavily.
Hits takes a kick to the side of the head.
Baptiste throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hits throws a combination that misses
and Baptiste counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hits thinking.
Baptiste shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hits counters with a shoot takedown. Baptiste fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Baptiste trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Baptiste throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Baptiste has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Baptiste lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.

Baptiste uses the cage to get back to his feet.
A combination from Hits does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste scores with a push kick.
Baptiste cracks Hits with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hits fails to land with a series of punches.

Baptiste drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hits wants to stand but Baptiste is controlling the position.
Baptiste scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hits is looking to stand back up but Baptiste counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Hits.
Baptiste is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Baptiste decides to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hits throws a left and a right that both miss
and Baptiste counters with a left and a right that stings Hits.

Baptiste shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hits's guard.
Hits wants to stand up but Baptiste is controlling him.
Baptiste scoring with punches to the head and body.

Baptiste decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Baptiste misses with a combination
and Hits counters with a straight right hand.
Hits throws a left and a right that both miss

and Baptiste counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hits won't be happy with that.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Baptiste wants to control but Hits is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Baptiste stands up and beckons Hits to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Hits throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Baptiste closes the distance and clinches up with Hits, looking for a takedown. Baptiste pushes Hits against the cage but Hits circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zach Hits has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Baptiste.
Baptiste shoots in for a double leg but Hits sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Baptiste connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hits. Hits circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hits throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hits misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Baptiste shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hits counters with a left and a right that stings Baptiste.
Baptiste throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hits sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hits misses with a combination

and Baptiste counters with a single leg into guard. Hits didn't expect that.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Baptiste decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hits, up you get!
Left hook, right uppercut from Baptiste.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Baptiste dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Baptiste keeps the fight on the outside.
Hits throws a right hand that Baptiste ducks under and follows up with a left that Baptiste also avoids with ease.

Baptiste gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Baptiste is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Baptiste prevents the takedown attempt.

Baptiste has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hits is trying to keep an underhook but Baptiste manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Baptiste wants to control but Hits is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Baptiste stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Hits throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice sprawl there from Hits as Baptiste shoots in.
Hits throws a right and a left that Baptiste avoids nicely.
Hits blocks a head kick by Baptiste.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptiste throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hits.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baptiste scores with a jab to the head.
Baptiste misses with a hook. Hits ducked under it nicely.
Hits works Baptiste's body with a nice hook.
Baptiste with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hits cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hits tries to bum rush Baptiste with a series of wild strikes but Baptiste uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hits rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Baptiste moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Baptiste looks to land a combination but Hits avoids it well.
Hits throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Baptiste counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hits fails to land with a series of punches.
Baptiste throws a left and a right that both miss

and Hits counters with a single leg into guard. Baptiste didn't expect that.

Hits stands and steps away. Baptiste gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Baptiste misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zach Hits has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Baptiste.
Hits throws a right hand that Baptiste ducks under and follows up with a left that Baptiste also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Baptiste showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hits.
Hits falls off balance throwing a combination
and Baptiste counters with a thumping low kick.
Hits misses with a combination
and Hits takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hits throws a nice looking combination but Baptiste bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Baptiste!
Baptiste fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hits is out of range.
Baptiste wants to clinch

and Hits counters with a nice double leg into side control. Baptiste won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baptiste is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Baptiste bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hits.
Baptiste uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hits.
Baptiste misses with a double jab
and Hits counters with a series of strikes. Baptiste will be more careful next time no doubt.
No joy there for Baptiste, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hits throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Baptiste cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Baptiste is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hits.
Baptiste throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hits counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hits misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hits misses with a double jab
and Baptiste counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Hits looks to land a combination but Baptiste avoids it well.

That's four 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.
Baptiste shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hits counters with a stiff right hand.
Hits uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Baptiste.
Baptiste doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hits counters with a series of strikes. Baptiste will be more careful next time no doubt.
Baptiste with a lazy takedown attempt

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

Hits decides to stand back up.
Hits swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Baptiste counters with a left and a right that stings Hits.
Baptiste misses with a takedown attempt
and Hits counters with a one-two to the body.
Hits shoots in for a takedown but Baptiste shows good takedown defense.
Baptiste shoots and misses
and Hits counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baptiste shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Baptiste shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Baptiste was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hits knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Baptiste on the ground.
Hits squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Hits dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Baptiste.
Baptiste fails with the takedown
and Hits counters with a three punch combo that has Baptiste backing up. Baptiste nods at Hits to acknowledge the strikes.
Baptiste throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hits.
Hits throws a right and a left that both miss.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hits.
Baptiste closes the distance but Hits moves to the side
and Hits counters with a left and a right that stings Baptiste.
Hits misses with a double jab.
Baptiste misses with a combination
and Hits counters with a three punch combo that has Baptiste backing up. Baptiste nods at Hits to acknowledge the strikes.
Danga de danga de dang - Baptiste scores with a four punch combination!
Hits throws a combination that misses

and Baptiste decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hits's guard.

Baptiste stands up from Hits's guard - Baptiste perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hits falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Baptiste to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hits swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Baptiste counters with a series of strikes. Hits will be more careful next time no doubt.
Baptiste tries to clinch but Hits is having none of it.
Baptiste misses with a takedown attempt
and Hits counters with a three punch combo that has Baptiste backing up. Baptiste nods at Hits to acknowledge the strikes.
Hits showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Baptiste.
Baptiste scores with a three punch combo!
Baptiste shoots for a double leg takedown but Hits sprawls well. He's pushed Baptiste's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zach Hits has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Baptiste.
Hits throws a left and a right that both miss

and Baptiste decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hits's guard.
Hits is looking to stand up but Baptiste isn't so interested in that idea.

Baptiste stands and steps away. Hits gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hits misses with a double jab
and Baptiste counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Baptiste scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hits misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hits misses with a double jab
and Baptiste counters with a three punch combo that has Hits backing up. Hits nods at Baptiste to acknowledge the strikes.

Baptiste closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hits to the mat! Hits manages to get full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hits wants to stand up but Baptiste is controlling him.
Hits trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste scoring with some ground and pound.
Baptiste pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hits is keeping the position for now.
Hits on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hits tries to get out of the position.

Baptiste decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hits!
Baptiste scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Baptiste throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hits.
Baptiste slips a jab and a cross from Hits.
Baptiste throws a series of punches but Hits avoids them all with ease.
Baptiste tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hits paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baptiste fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Baptiste pushes Hits up against the cage in a clinch.
Baptiste has had enough of the clinch but Hits keeps him there for the moment.
Baptiste makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Baptiste breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hits takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
No joy there for Hits, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hits throws a combination that misses
and Baptiste makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hits misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hits is working the combinations to good effect here.
Baptiste lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Baptiste will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Baptiste misses with a combination
and Hits counters with a left and a right that stings Baptiste.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baptiste tries for a takedown but Hits circles away easily
and Hits counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Baptiste shoots and misses

and Hits counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Baptiste comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Baptiste has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Baptiste!