PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Baker (ranked 3316 p4p, 355 weight class) and Jacob Kempton (ranked 2796 p4p, 304 weight class). Jacob Kempton has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jonny Baker's chin.

Baker
vs
Kempton

174 cm
28
157 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

172 cm
22
160 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jonny Baker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jacob Kempton!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kempton misses with a wild body shot.
Kempton connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Baker momentarily.
Kempton throws a right and a left that Baker avoids nicely.
Kempton shoots in for a takedown but Baker shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Baker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kempton.
Baker changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Baker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Baker feinted with a counter takedown.
Kempton misses with a lunging right hand

and Baker counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kempton!
Baker lands some shots froms side control.
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!
Baker lands a few punches from side control.
Baker wants to control but Kempton is keeping him busy.
Baker tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Baker lands a few punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baker scoring with punches from side control.
Baker postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kempton is trying to control Baker's posture but Baker avoids it.
Kempton is trying to get back to his feet.
Baker moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Kempton takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Baker is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kempton is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker scoring with punches and elbows.
Kempton struggling a bit here.
Baker lands some shots froms side control.
Kempton gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Baker not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kempton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Baker.
Baker is trying to control the action in half guard but Kempton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kempton is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Baker in particular looking to stall.
Kempton controlling the position well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Baker lands a nice short elbow.
Baker prevents Kempton from standing back up.
Baker throwing shots but Kempton is blocking nicely.
Nice strikes from Baker there.
Kempton avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Baker.
We've been hearing good reports from Baker's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Baker wants to pass to mount but Kempton is defending the position.
Baker not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Baker working the head and body with strikes.
Kempton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Baker.
Baker throwing shots but Kempton is blocking nicely.
Kempton is looking to escape.
Baker has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Baker throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Baker looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kempton with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kempton trying to hold on to Baker's head to control him but Baker postures up.
Baker working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Baker dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kempton misses with a wild combination.
Baker was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kempton throws a jab but it's blocked by Baker.

Baker forces Kempton back against the cage and clinches.
Baker wants to take the fight to the mat but Kempton manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Baker has Kempton pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Baker pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kempton tumbling to the mat - Baker dives into Kempton's guard.
Baker throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker throws an elbow that misses. Kempton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Baker's guard. Nice move by Kempton!

Kempton postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker has Kempton pulled in close to control his posture.
Kempton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Baker is adopting a defensive guard.
Kempton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kempton wants to control from the top but Baker keeps moving.
Baker 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.
Kempton controlling from the top position.

That's two 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.
Kempton trying to control but Baker is working from the bottom.
Baker controlling Kempton's posture.
Kempton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Baker works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Baker trying to keep a closed guard but Kempton is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kempton misses with a wild body shot.
A counter left hand to the body from Baker misses its target.
Kempton lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Jonny Baker has been cut.
Baker throws a series of punches but Kempton avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kempton thows a leg kick but Baker checks it

and Baker counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kempton looking for a sweep. Not yet Kempton, not yet.
Baker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kempton can do to turn this around?
Baker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker won't allow Kempton to get back to his feet.
Baker throwing strikes but missing.
Baker trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Kempton manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Baker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kempton manages to get himself to full guard.

Baker stops Kempton from standing up.
Kempton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kempton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Baker wants to control from the top but Kempton keeps moving.
Baker is working Kempton over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kempton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Baker distracts Kempton with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kempton is trying to control the position but Baker postures up.
Baker is looking to pass into half guard but Kempton pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kempton is in guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baker has his hands on Kempton's head, controlling the position.
Baker wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jacob Kempton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jonny Baker's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kempton throws a left that rocks Baker and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Kempton dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Baker regain composure!

Baker is rocked!
Kempton working away.
Baker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kempton wants to control but Baker is keeping him busy.
Baker sneaks back into half guard.
Baker tries to get to full guard but Kempton has control of the leg.
Baker moves into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baker is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kempton would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kempton throws an elbow that misses. Baker uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kempton's guard. Nice move by Baker!

Kempton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Baker postures up in Kempton's guard and throws a big left but Kempton blocks it.
Kempton wants to stand up but Baker is controlling him.
Baker wants to control from the top but Kempton keeps moving.
Baker showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Baker won't allow Kempton to get back to his feet.
Baker looking to sit in guard and control but Kempton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Baker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kempton has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Baker is proving hard to escape from.
Kempton preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baker has his hands on Kempton's head, controlling the position.
Baker wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Baker finds himself stumbling back on wobbly legs after being clipped by a right hand. He's up against the cage, ducking and weaving under Kempton's strikes but an uppercut finds it's way through and Baker falls! - He's completely out of it and the ref jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jacob Kempton!
An out of breath Jacob Kempton thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.