PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Beast Baker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Tachia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Baker
vs
Tachia

188 cm
23
219 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

186 cm
22
217 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Danger Fightwear

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Beast Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lyoto Tachia!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Steve Erwin and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tachia clobbers Baker with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Tachia takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tachia slips under a jab from Baker.
Tachia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Baker throws a head kick that misses.
Tachia stuffs the takedown.
Baker swats away the attempt to clinch by Tachia.
Tachia is looking to clinch but Baker is avoiding it.
Baker gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Baker throws a looping overhand right but Tachia ducks down to avoid it.
Baker slips under a jab.
Tachia drops Baker with a right and a left! Tachia comes rushing in but Baker regains his composure and manages to keep Tachia in guard.

It looks like Beast Baker has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tachia would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tachia postures up in Baker's guard and throws a big left but Baker blocks it.
Tachia postures up.
Tachia would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tachia is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A jab-cross combination lands for Baker and sends Tachia crashing to the mat! Baker follows him down to the mat - Tachia regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baker is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tachia defends it well.
Tachia is trying to stand up here but Baker is controlling him well.
Tachia wants to improve his position but Baker is controlling well.
Baker tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tachia knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tachia pushes Baker off looking to stand but Baker dives back in and keeps control.
Tachia is looking to control Baker's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tachia avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tachia blocking the ground and pound attempt from Baker.
Tachia is trying to stand up here but Baker is controlling him well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tachia throws a lazy right hand but Baker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tachia slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Tachia punishes Baker's body with a nice straight punch.
Baker is breathing heavily.
Baker lands a front kick.

Baker tries to keep at a distance but Tachia has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tachia wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Baker goes for a takedown attempt but Tachia pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Tachia closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Baker tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tachia smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Beast Baker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A leg kick checked by Tachia.
Tachia tries to close the distance and clinch but Baker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Baker looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tachia moves in looking to clinch but Baker pushes him off.
Baker looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tachia lands with a nice combination. Baker backs away looking to recover.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tachia is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Tachia dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Beast Baker's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Baker keeps the fight on the outside.
Tachia looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tachia checks the leg kick.
Nice cross by Tachia.
Tachia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lyoto Tachia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tachia lands a really nice looking cross but Baker seems unphased.
Baker misses with a wild body shot.
Tachia throws a left that rocks Baker and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Tachia dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Baker regain composure!

Baker is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tachia decides to stand back up. Tachia steps back and let's Baker get back to his feet.
Tachia lands a front kick.
Beast Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tachia clinches with his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stalling in the clinch from Tachia.
Baker avoids a wild elbow strike from Tachia.
Tachia tries to land knees in the clinch but Baker avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Tachia tries to land a knee to the head but Baker blocks with his arms.
Tachia pushes off an fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Tachia scores with a knee to the head.
Tachia using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Baker has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Baker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short right from Tachia.
Tachia has Baker pressed against the cage.
Tachia pushes Baker back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Tachia missing with knees to the body.
Baker jumps guard but Tachia stands there with Baker around his waist. Baker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tachia is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Tachia has Baker pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Baker manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tachia prevents Baker from breaking the clinch.
Tachia throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tachia displaying some good clinch control by pressing Baker up against the cage.
Baker has had enough of the clinch but Tachia keeps him there for the moment.
Tachia with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tachia is trying to break free.
Baker is trying to break the clinch but Tachia has him pressed against the cage.

Tachia breaks from the clinch.
Tachia swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Baker.
Tachia misses the body punch
and Baker counters with a leg kick.
Baker misses with a low kick.

Tachia forces Baker back against the cage and clinches.
Tachia trying to control the position but instead, Baker has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tachia into the cage.

Tachia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Baker shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker controlling the pace for now.
Baker blocks Tachia's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Baker won't let Tachia get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Tachia tries to hold on but Baker postures up.
Baker trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Baker avoids the attempt from Tachia to control.

Baker moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Tachia has worked his arm free - good work by Tachia!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tachia manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tachia trying to control but Baker postures up.
Tachia is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Tachia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Beast Baker's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tachia throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Tachia gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tachia keeping full guard, as Baker tries to pass.
Tachia trying to keep a closed guard but Baker is proving a slippery customer.
Tachia wants to sweep but no luck.
Baker being controlled here momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tachia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tachia scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Baker throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A head kick misses from Baker.
A low kick from Baker is predictable there
and Tachia counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Baker drops his hands momentarily and Tachia takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Tachia looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Baker misses.
Tachia connects with a crisp jab.
Baker takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Tachia tries to clinch but Baker moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Tachia.
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!
Tachia fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Baker looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tachia scores with a body shot.

Tachia gets the takedown into side control.
Tachia has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Baker parries the strikes from Tachia easily there. Tachia is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Baker to escape.
Baker tries to buck Tachia off but Tachia is having none of it.

Tachia is trying to get an arm triangle but Baker is defending well.
Tachia tries to stand but Baker is controlling his head.
Tachia throwing strikes but Baker manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker tries to move into full mount but can't pass Tachia's legs.
Tachia regains half guard, as Baker was trying to land strikes.
Lyoto Tachia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tachia looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tachia tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Baker counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tachia's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tachia lands a glancing blow to the side of Baker's head.
Tachia lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Baker misses with the body kick
and Tachia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tachia.
Tachia is looking to clinch.
Baker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tachia counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters circling a little - Tachia finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Tachia scores with a jab.
Tachia dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Baker. That did some damage!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tachia throws a nice head kick!
Tachia lunges at Baker with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Baker's hand.
Beast Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baker has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tachia finds it's way round the side to connect with Baker's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Tachia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tachia 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Tachia!