PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thurman Baxter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Callen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Baxter
vs
Callen

189 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

178 cm
25
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thurman Baxter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bryan Callen!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Callen shoots in and bounces Baxter off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Baxter looking to hit a scissor sweep but Callen is one step ahead there.
Baxter working a defensive guard here.
Callen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baxter. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Callen stops Baxter from standing up.
Baxter can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Callen controls the pace.

Baxter throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Callen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Callen wants to get up but he can't break Baxter's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Callen wants to control from the top but Baxter keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Callen postures up.
Callen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Callen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Callen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Baxter tries to strike from the bottom.

Callen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Callen jabs Baxter to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Callen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Baxter gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Callen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Callen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Callen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baxter is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baxter keeping moving, preventing Callen from controlling successfully.
Callen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baxter is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Callen works over Baxter with some ground and pound from guard.
Callen trying to control the position from guard on top but Baxter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baxter will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Callen stands up from Baxter's guard - Callen perhaps looking for a knockout.
Baxter doesn't manage to clinch there - Callen circles away.
Callen throws a left and a right that both miss

and Baxter counters with a single leg into guard. Callen didn't expect that.

Callen manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Callen looks winded!
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!
Callen misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baxter moves away.

Baxter gets tackled into the cage by Callen. Callen maintains the clinch.

Callen tightens his grip and picks Baxter up, before dumping him to the ground. Baxter manages to land in guard.

Baxter kicks Callen off and gets to his feet.

Callen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Baxter has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Callen has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baxter can't get the takedown.
Callen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Baxter pulls guard successfully.
Callen tries to free his leg and advance position but Baxter is retaining full guard.
Baxter is trying to control the position but Callen postures up.
Callen looking to sit in guard and control but Baxter gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Baxter thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baxter is looking to work some ground and pound but Callen has wrist control.
Baxter preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baxter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Baxter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Callen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Baxter would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Baxter 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.
Baxter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Callen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bryan Callen 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.

Callen moves into the clinch.

Callen has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Baxter regains guard immediately.

Callen drops back looking for a leg! Baxter is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Baxter manages to kick Callen off! Callen jumps back into Baxter's guard.
Callen trying to control the position from guard on top but Baxter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Callen wants to stand but Baxter has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Callen lands a couple of elbows.
Callen is breathing heavily.
Callen wants to control from the top but Baxter keeps moving.
Baxter is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Callen trying to control the position from guard on top but Baxter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter is trying to keep Callen in close.
Callen trying to control but Baxter is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Callen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Callen gets a double leg takedown into Baxter's guard.

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

Callen turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Baxter throws Callen to one side and escapes!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baxter looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Callen is fending him off so far but Baxter persists. Nope, Callen circles away and we're back to standing.
Baxter shoots for a takedown but Callen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baxter wants to clinch up but Callen keeps it at a distance.

Callen has Baxter up against the cage in a clinch.
Callen has had enough of the clinch but Baxter keeps him there for the moment.
Callen prevents a body shot from Baxter.
Callen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Callen gets underhooks to prevent Baxter's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thurman Baxter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Callen turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Callen manages to end up in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baxter is trying to control Callen's posture but Callen avoids it.
Callen working the ground and pound but Baxter is defending the strikes.
You can see the frustration on Baxter's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Thurman Baxter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Callen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baxter keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter can't do much from the bottom here.
Callen cracks Baxter with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Baxter tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Baxter's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Callen trying to control the action but Baxter is working from the bottom.
Callen looking to control but instead Baxter has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Callen stops Baxter from getting back to his feet.
Baxter is in trouble now - Callen has advanced to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Callen lands a big shot there that rocks Baxter but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Baxter tries to lock up and control but Callen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Callen with a couple of short strikes.

Callen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Baxter blocking the ground and pound.
Baxter wants to hold on but Callen pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Callen.
Baxter is in all sorts of trouble here.
Callen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Baxter manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Callen stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Callen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Baxter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Baxter shoots for a takedown but Callen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Callen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Baxter ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Callen moves away.
No joy there for Callen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Baxter gets tackled into the cage by Callen. Callen maintains the clinch.
Callen can't break the clinch.
Callen wants to break free but Baxter has control.
Baxter is looking to take this one to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Callen has Baxter pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Callen pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Baxter tumbling to the mat - Callen dives into Baxter's guard.
Baxter is adopting a defensive guard.
Callen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Callen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Baxter's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baxter looking to control.
Baxter doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Callen scoring with some ground and pound.

Callen wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Baxter's closed guard. He's half up but Baxter has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Baxter pivots and extends the arm, Callen falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Baxter! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thurman Baxter!