PBP Commentary

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

Baroni
vs
Ja

180 cm
26
171 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
29
170 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Donald Baroni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hwai Ja!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yuuki Gou and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baroni pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ja tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Baroni seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Ja rushes Baroni and presses him up against the cage.
Ja fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ja lands a right hand.

Baroni has Ja pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Baroni pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Ja tumbling to the mat - Baroni dives into Ja's guard.

Baroni got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ja has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Baroni has managed to get both his arms back between Ja's legs - danger averted.
Baroni trying to control but Ja is working from the bottom.
Baroni throwing strikes from guard but Ja blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ja throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Baroni escapes and throws Ja's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Baroni tries for a kimura but Ja is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ja struggling a bit here.

Baroni working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ja sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Ja looking for submissions off his back.

Ja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Baroni pulls his head out easily.
Baroni looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ja tries to get to full guard but Baroni has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Baroni is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ja defends it well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ja tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Baroni manages to move to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ja bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Baroni pulls Ja in to control the position.

Baroni had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ja defends it easily.
Ja trying to control but Baroni is working from the bottom.
Ja looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ja showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Baroni looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ja looking to pass the guard.

Baroni is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Baroni trying to keep a closed guard but Ja is proving a slippery customer.

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.
Ja trying to control but Baroni is working from the bottom.
Ja is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Ja won't allow Baroni to sweep him here.
Ja slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baroni swats away the attempt to clinch by Ja.
Baroni tries a head kick but it misses.
Ja throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Donald Baroni will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Baroni throws a right hand that misses
and Ja connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ja lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baroni circles away quickly and effectively.
Ja fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Baroni has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ja throws a leg kick but Baroni sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ja walks into a straight right hand from Baroni.
Baroni lands a head shot.
Baroni swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baroni's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ja under the eye.
Baroni with a hook.
Baroni lands a jab to the nose.
Baroni throws a poor cross that misses
and Ja counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baroni misses with a wild combination.
Ja steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Baroni.
Baroni throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Donald Baroni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baroni misses the shot to the body.
Baroni avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Ja misses with a body shot.
Baroni was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baroni throws a shot to the body.
A left lands for Ja.
Ja avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ja throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ja lands a leg kick that knocks Baroni off balance momentarily.
Baroni lands with an uppercut that bounces Ja off the cage and back into range.
Ja fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Baroni on the side of the head.
Ja wants to clinch.
Baroni thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ja lands a lovely overhand right.
Baroni lands a glancing blow to the side of Ja's head.
Ja scores with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ja waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Baroni.
Baroni lands a right hook to the body.
Ja tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ja has closed the distance and engaged Baroni in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ja.
Ja working Baroni over with knees to the body.
Ja misses with the head strike.
Baroni gets underhooks to prevent Ja's takedown attempt.
Ja lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Baroni or not.
Baroni is trying to break free.
Baroni fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ja utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ja misses with a hook from the clinch.
Baroni misses with a body punch.
Baroni struggles to land a body shot inside as Ja controls his hands.
Baroni gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ja.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baroni throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ja's waist but Ja gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Baroni off to one side.
Baroni throws a hook but Ja avoids it easily.
Nice shot by Ja.
Ja scoring well with a low kick there.
Ja staying out of range there.
Ja throws an overhand right that lands on Baroni's shoulder, as Baroni tries to avoid the shot.
Baroni throws a lazy right hand but Ja sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Donald Baroni is winning the standup battle so far.
A big left from Baroni misses.
Baroni tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ja was well out of range. Poor timing from Baroni.
Baroni throws a big shot that misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Ja.
Ja cracks Baroni with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hwai Ja is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
An inside leg kick from Ja misses.
Baroni swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Baroni shoots in looking for a takedown. Ja tries to sprawl out of it but Baroni keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ja manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baroni getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Ja looks to score with a jab to the body but Baroni is just out of range.
Baroni throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baroni throws a low kick but Ja avoids it.
Ja throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ja takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ja throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ja throws a leg kick that misses.
Baroni stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ja.
Ja tries to clinch up but Baroni circles away and keeps his distance.
Baroni checks a low kick from Ja.
Baroni keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Baroni throws the left hand but Ja avoids the punch easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hwai Ja will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Baroni has a takedown stuffed.
Ja thinks about the counter body kick.
A head kick misses from Baroni.
Ja ducks under a wild hook from Baroni.
Baroni wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Baroni throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Baroni closes the distance and clinches up with Ja, looking for a takedown. Baroni pushes Ja against the cage but Ja circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
It seemed like Ja was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A punch lands to the side of Baroni 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Baroni wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ja misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baroni.
Ja buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baroni works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Baroni throws a hook but Ja avoids it easily.
Baroni ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Baroni lands a nice shot to the body.
Ja is looking to clinch.
Baroni attempts a counter takedown but Ja avoids it well and moves away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ja displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Baroni throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baroni goes for a double leg but Ja avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ja continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donald Baroni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baroni ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ja moves away.
Ja slips under a jab from Baroni.
Ja appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Ja tries to clinch up but Baroni circles away and keeps his distance.
Baroni lands with an overhand left.
Ja scoring well with a low kick there.
Ja lands a nice hook to Baroni's body. Baroni takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Baroni tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Baroni throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ja sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Baroni's corner calls for a 1-2. Baroni obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Baroni fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ja manages to avoid it.
Ja bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Baroni's head.
Baroni shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ja but Ja pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ja scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baroni takes a swing at Ja's ribcage but misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ja fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Baroni has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ja walks into a left hand.
Ja looks to land a combination. Baroni sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Baroni throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Baroni throws the left hand but Ja avoids the punch easily.
Baroni lands a nice shot that snaps Ja's head back.
Baroni scores with a hook to the body. Ja takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ja swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Baroni.
Ja wants to clinch up but Baroni keeps it at a distance.
Baroni misses with a looping left.
Ja avoids the head kick by Baroni.
Ja looks to land a left hand but Baroni moved out of range nicely.
Ja uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Baroni.
Ja throws a nice head kick!

Ja moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baroni stops a takedown attempt from Ja.
Baroni is working Ja over against the cage.
Baroni pushes Ja back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Baroni gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Baroni moves nicely into side control.
Ja is trying to control Baroni's posture but Baroni avoids it.
Ja sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ja gets full guard.

Ja is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Baroni is aware though and is defending well.
Ja bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Baroni's guard.

Ja trying to control but Baroni is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baroni is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Ja has his hands clasped together but Baroni extends and breaks Ja's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Baroni.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Donald Baroni!