PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Harry Baals (ranked 1669 p4p, 185 weight class) and Korean Zombie (ranked 1328 p4p, 148 weight class). Zombie has chosen ZOMBIE as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Baals
vs
Zombie

185 cm
29
155 lbs
23 - 8 - 1

170 cm
27
145 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harry Baals!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Korean Zombie!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baals fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zombie has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Baals swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Zombie.
Zombie lands a jab to the head.
A jab lands there for Baals.
Baals throws a jab when Zombie was well out of range.
Zombie goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Zombie shoots in but Baals avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zombie fails in his attempt to clinch.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Zombie has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Korean Zombie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zombie scores with the left hand. Baals knows he should have avoided that one.
Zombie tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zombie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Zombie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Baals does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zombie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zombie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Zombie looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
It looks like Zombie is going to stand back up.

Baals looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Baals slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

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.
Zombie chips away with some ground and pound.
Zombie with a nice head shot there.
Zombie looking to pass the guard.
Zombie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zombie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baals being controlled here, momentarily.
Baals has momentary wrist control but Zombie slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zombie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Baals wants to sweep here but Zombie controlling him for the moment.

Baals has his foot on Zombie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zombie works his way back into a safe position though.
Zombie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Baals wants to sweep but no luck.
Zombie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Baals manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zombie manages to get himself to full guard.

Baals lands a couple of elbows.

Zombie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Baals is aware though and is defending well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zombie is on top in guard.

Baals will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zombie wants to control from the top but Baals keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baals is looking for a triangle but Zombie pushes his legs off easily.
Baals wants to sweep but no luck.
Baals really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Zombie stands and steps away. Baals gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Zombie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Baals sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zombie somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Korean Zombie dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Baals pushes Zombie away with a front kick.
Zombie throws a nice head kick!
Baals takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Harry Baals is winning the standup battle so far.
Zombie tries to land a front kick but Baals steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Baals swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zombie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Baals throws a body shot but no joy.
Baals stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zombie.
Horrible takedown attempt by Zombie or perhaps it was just good defense by Baals, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zombie shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Zombie scoring well with a low kick there.
Zombie misses with a takedown attempt
and Baals counters with a thumping low kick.
Zombie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Baals counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Harry Baals has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Korean Zombie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zombie swings widly with a right hand
and Baals counters with a stiff right hand.
Baals jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Baals fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zombie has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zombie throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Baals throws a leg kick but Zombie sees it coming and moves out of range.

Zombie closes the distance and pushes Baals back into the cage.
Zombie pushes Baals back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Baals throws a head punch that misses.
Baals blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Baals managing to block the knees to the body from Zombie.
Zombie throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Baals blocks it with crossed arms.
Baals throws a punch but it's blocked by Zombie.
Baals misses with a hook to the ribs.
Baals has a couple of punches blocked by Zombie.
Baals blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baals misses with some punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Baals.
Zombie misses with a knee to the head.
Baals lands a shot to the body.

Baals escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zombie lands a jab.
Zombie staying out of range there.
Zombie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zombie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baals moves away.
Zombie steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Baals. That one must have hurt.
Baals throws a shot to the body.
Baals throws a good cross that connects.
Korean Zombie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baals jabs Zombie to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Baals stuffs the takedown.
Baals fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zombie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zombie blocks a head kick by Baals.
Baals avoids the head kick by Zombie.
Baals buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Baals shoots in for a takedown but Zombie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zombie moves out of range of the body kick.
Zombie lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Baals fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zombie.

Baals rushes Zombie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Baals fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zombie lands a left hand.
Baals tries to throw a body punch but Zombie avoids it by throwing Baals back against the cage.
Baals changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zombie fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Zombie closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zombie blocks an uppercut.
Baals tries a body shot but Zombie blocks it.
Zombie throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Baalss head.
Baals blocks an elbow strike.
Baals blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baals misses with a hook from the clinch.

Baals breaks the clinch.
Zombie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Baals tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nice takedown defense from Zombie. No joy for Baals on that attempt.
A jab from Baals misses.

Zombie rushes Baals and presses him up against the cage.
Zombie comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A head punch on the inside from Baals fails to land.
Baals misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Harry Baals will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Baals shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zombie defends it nicely.
A head kick from Baals lands but Zombie takes it in his stride.
Zombie tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baals paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baals drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zombie sprawls and moves away.
Zombie tries for a takedown but Baals sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zombie looks to score with a jab to the body but Baals is just out of range.
Zombie throws a head kick that misses
and Baals makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Zombie really felt that one!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baals swats away the attempt to clinch by Zombie.
Zombie wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zombie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Baals feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Baals scores with a push kick.
Baals is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Baals avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Baals swats away the attempt to clinch by Zombie.
Baals looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Zombie on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Baals avoids the head kick by Zombie.
Zombie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Baals sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zombie takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zombie stuns Baals with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Baals feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zombie's calf.
Baals connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Baals's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zombie under the eye.
Baals fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zombie manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zombie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
A control attempt from Baals but he's now mounted!

Zombie gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Baals has Zombie up against the cage in a clinch.
Baals lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Baals avoids a wild elbow strike from Zombie.
Baals managing to block the knees to the body from Zombie.
Zombie landing knees to the body.
Zombie misses with a punch on the inside.
Baals lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zombie backwards.
Baals drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zombie gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Baals stalling the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zombie lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Zombie has a couple of punches blocked by Baals.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zombie.
Baals makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Baals blocks an uppercut.
Baals misses with a punch on the inside.
Baals lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zombie or not.
Baals blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zombie working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Baals scores with a shoulder strike.
Zombie scores with a nice hook to the head.
Zombie misses with the head strike.
Baals lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Zombie is rocked!
Baals working aggressively here.
Zombie is still on wobbly legs! Can Baals finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zombie gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zombie scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Zombie tries to land knees in the clinch but Baals avoids the damage to the body.
Zombie seems to have recovered his senses.
Baals blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zombie.
Baals lands an uppercut.
Zombie throws a head punch that misses.
Zombie lands an uppercut.
Baals avoids the elbow strike from Zombie, against the cage.
Baals tries to throw a body punch but Zombie avoids it by throwing Baals back against the cage.
Zombie blocks an uppercut.
Zombie lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Baals misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zombie.

Baals breaks the clinch.
A big right from Zombie misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Baals misses the target.
Baals throws a right and a left that both miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Harry Baals.
I think Baals has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harry Baals!
A victorious Harry Baals thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.