PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dusty Villarreal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Baker has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Villarreal
vs
Baker

153 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dusty Villarreal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Baker!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Baker has closed the distance and engaged Villarreal in a clinch.

Baker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Baker misses with the combination.
Villarreal is looking to counter punch.

Baker shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Villarreal throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Villarreal trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Villarreal wants to stand and escape but Baker is having none of it.
Villarreal trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Baker stops Villarreal from standing up.

Villarreal looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Villarreal is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Villarreal is working an open guard so Baker takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker thumps Villarreal with a low kick.
Baker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
An inside leg kick from Baker misses.
Baker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Baker closes the distance and clinches.

Villarreal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Baker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Villarreal throwing a counter right hand but Baker manages to avoid it.
Baker tries to clinch up.

Baker scores with a takedown into Villarreal's guard.
Baker won't allow Villarreal to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Villarreal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Villarreal is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Baker is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villarreal manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baker manages to get himself to full guard.

Villarreal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Villarreal has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Villarreal drops back looking for a leg! Baker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Baker manages to kick Villarreal off! Villarreal jumps back into Baker's guard.
Villarreal lands a couple of elbows.
Villarreal throwing strikes but missing.
Villarreal could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Villarreal postures up and lands a big shot to Baker's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villarreal landing with the ground and pound.
Villarreal working some strikes from top position.
Baker looks winded!
Villarreal with a flurry of punches that miss.
Villarreal postures up in Baker's guard and throws a big left but Baker blocks it.
Villarreal might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Villarreal distracts Baker with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Villarreal drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Baker manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Villarreal has Baker in his guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Baker wants to stand but Villarreal has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Villarreal pushes Baker off and gets back to his feet.
Villarreal connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Villarreal does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Baker tries to clinch there but Villarreal circles away.
Villarreal was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch but Villarreal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Villarreal swats away the attempt to clinch by Baker.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baker throws a leg kick which misses Villarreal's front leg but catches the back leg as Villarreal tries to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Baker will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Villarreal throws a head kick but Baker moves out of range.
Baker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Villarreal throwing a counter right hand but Baker manages to avoid it.
Baker lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Baker closes the distance and clinches.

Villarreal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Decent striking displayed by Villarreal there.
Villarreal has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Baker looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Baker throws a series of punches but Villarreal avoids them all with ease.
Baker drops his hands momentarily and Villarreal takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Baker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Villarreal swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A little feinted left hand from Villarreal on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Baker closes the distance and clinches.

Baker wants the takedown. Villarreal is fighting it off but Baker persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Villarreal's guard against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Baker is breathing heavily.
Baker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Villarreal is keeping the position for now.
Villarreal is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Baker is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker wants to get up but he can't break Villarreal's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Villarreal wants to stand but Baker is controlling the position.

Villarreal pushes Baker off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Baker tries to clinch there but Villarreal circles away.

Baker closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Villarreal did well to prevent Baker getting side control.

Villarreal is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Baker pulls his head out easily.
Villarreal flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Villarreal is trying to stand up here but Baker is controlling him well.
Michael Baker has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villarreal flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Villarreal actively working from the bottom here.
Baker trying to control from half guard but Villarreal is working away.
Villarreal pushes Baker off looking to stand but Baker dives back in and keeps control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Villarreal looks to throw the jab but Baker is out of range.

Villarreal gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Baker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Villarreal manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Villarreal swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Michael Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Villarreal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Baker wants to clinch up but Villarreal keeps it at a distance.
It looked like Villarreal wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Baker throws a half hearted mid kick.
Dusty Villarreal is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villarreal loads up on a big right hand but Baker slips the punch.
Baker wants to clinch.
Dusty Villarreal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Baker throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Baker gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Baker trying to land knees to the body.

Villarreal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Villarreal enables Baker to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Villarreal manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villarreal trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Villarreal is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Villarreal 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.
Villarreal keeping moving, preventing Baker from controlling successfully.
Villarreal wants to stand but Baker is controlling the position.
Baker wants to control from the top but Villarreal keeps moving.
Villarreal wants to get back to his feet but Baker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Villarreal tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Villarreal is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Baker is looking to clinch but Villarreal is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Baker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Baker moves into the clinch.
Villarreal blocks an elbow strike.
Baker trying to land knees to the body.

Villarreal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Baker shoots in and gets a takedown into Villarreal's guard.

Villarreal pushes Baker off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Baker goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Baker takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Baker looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
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!
Baker won't allow Villarreal to get back to his feet.
Baker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Villarreal wants to sweep but no luck.
Villarreal wants to get back to his feet but Baker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Villarreal will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Villarreal kicks Baker off and gets to his feet.
Villarreal checks a low kick from Baker.
Baker wants to clinch up but Villarreal keeps it at a distance.
Baker tries to clinch up but Villarreal circles away and keeps his distance.
Villarreal throws a jab when Baker was well out of range.

Villarreal clinches.
Baker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Villarreal breaks from the clinch.
Villarreal avoids the head kick by Baker.
Villarreal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villarreal swats away the attempt to clinch by Baker.
Villarreal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Baker looking to land some kicks to the body here.
It looked like Villarreal wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Baker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Baker fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Villarreal to the ground. Baker is now in Villarreal's guard.
Baker wants to control from the top but Villarreal keeps moving.
Villarreal is trying to keep Baker in close.
Villarreal is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Baker is controlling him.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Baker trying to control the position from guard on top but Villarreal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villarreal is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Baker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Villarreal is keeping the position for now.
Villarreal wants to get back to his feet but Baker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Baker fails with an attempt to clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Villarreal on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Villarreal getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Villarreal has taken the fight to the clinch.
Villarreal misses with a knee to the head.

Baker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Villarreal lands a lovely overhand right.
Baker tries to clinch there but Villarreal circles away.
Michael Baker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Villarreal gets caught napping as Baker dives in and scores a takedown. Villarreal manages to retain guard.
Villarreal wants to stand but Baker is controlling the position.

Villarreal wriggles free and stands up.
Michael Baker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Villarreal steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Baker.
Villarreal throws a big shot that misses.
Villarreal looks to land a right hand but Baker moved out of range.
Villarreal misses with an uppercut. Baker saw that one coming.

Villarreal rushes Baker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Villarreal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Baker tries to clinch up.
Baker wants to clinch up but Villarreal keeps it at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dusty Villarreal showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Baker has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Baker!