PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nqobile Ndlandla (ranked 2263 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Baker (ranked 5328 p4p, 0 weight class). Nqobile Ndlandla has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ndlandla
vs
Baker

195 cm
25
200 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nqobile Ndlandla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Adam Baker!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baker needs to keep his hands up - Ndlandla had a free shot at his head there.
Ndlandla definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Baker wants to clinch
and Ndlandla counters with a straight right hand.
Baker tries for a takedown but Ndlandla circles away easily
and Ndlandla connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Baker closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ndlandla's guard.
Ndlandla 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.
Ndlandla pulls Baker in close to prevent any damage.
Baker sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ndlandla will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ndlandla looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Baker puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Baker takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Baker's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker is keen to just control but Ndlandla is a slippery customer.
Ndlandla is looking to control Baker's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ndlandla avoid being mounted?
Ndlandla is looking for a sweep. Baker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ndlandla controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's two 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.
Ndlandla is trying to control but can't.
Baker takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A jab lands there for Ndlandla.
Ndlandla scores with a nice head shot.
Baker walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Baker.
Baker closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Ndlandla counter with a right hand.
Ndlandla with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ndlandla throws a leg kick which misses Baker's front leg but catches the back leg as Baker tries to avoid it.
Baker tries to clinch up
and Ndlandla counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Baker has his takedown stuffed
and Baker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nqobile Ndlandla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Baker.
A jab from Ndlandla finds it's way through Baker's defenses.

Baker looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Baker looks winded!
Baker wants to control but Ndlandla is keeping him busy.
Ndlandla is controlling Baker's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Ndlandla has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Baker is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ndlandla is trying to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Baker in particular looking to stall.
Baker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ndlandla is looking for a sweep. Baker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ndlandla keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Baker is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nqobile Ndlandla dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ndlandla dips to his left and cracks Baker with an uppercut!
Baker gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ndlandla connects with a looping right hand.

Baker dives in and scores a takedown into Ndlandla's guard.
Ndlandla controls Baker momentarily but Baker frees himself.
Baker stays in close to Ndlandla's body and controls the position.
Adam Baker has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker wants to control from the top but Ndlandla keeps moving.
Ndlandla on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ndlandla tries to get out of the position.
Baker sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Baker works over Ndlandla with some ground and pound from guard.
Baker wants to control from the top but Ndlandla keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.
Baker walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ndlandla fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Baker on the side of the head.

Baker shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ndlandla blocking the ground and pound attempt from Baker.
Ndlandla is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Baker with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Baker is continuing to stall.
Baker prevents Ndlandla from improving his position.
Baker performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ndlandla is doing well to control the position and prevent Baker from advancing to side control.
Ndlandla wants to control but Baker is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ndlandla keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker is thwarting Ndlandla's attempts to control the position.
Still in half guard, Baker seems content to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Baker takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ndlandla is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Baker tries for a takedown but Ndlandla circles away easily
letting Ndlandla counter with a right hand.
Baker is breathing heavily.
Ndlandla fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Baker should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Baker closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Ndlandla counter with a right hand.
Adam Baker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ndlandla paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Baker shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Baker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Baker shoots and misses
and Ndlandla counters with a good low kick that Baker was not able to check.
Nqobile Ndlandla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Baker.
Baker takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ndlandla is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ndlandla lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Baker doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Baker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ndlandla is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Baker can do to turn this around?
Ndlandla cracks Baker with a right hand to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nqobile Ndlandla dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ndlandla drops Baker with a naaaaasty hook - Baker is in real trouble here! Ndlandla dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nqobile Ndlandla!
Our winner, Nqobile Ndlandla, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.