Two more fighters making their GLORY debut on this Superfight Series card as Matt Baker and Ed Hyman met to stake their claim to a spot in the middleweight division.
They got busy quickly. Things were pretty even in the first round, but by the second Baker was edging ahead thanks to a higher workrate and more cleanly-landed shots.
Baker trains and fights out of Team Black in the Bay Area, California under Dan Black, former coach to the Cesar Gracie MMA team and a longtime coach to UFC welterweight Nick Diaz.
In fight week Black had talked about Baker being one of the hardest kickers he has ever held pads for, even harder than his heavyweight team mate Xavier Vigney. Sure enough Baker was doing work with his middle kick against Hyman and the sound reverberated around the arena, the crowd showing its appreciation.
He also did good work with his knee to the midsection, making things a tough night for Hyman’s torso. Hyman had some good moments in the fight but couldn’t match Baker’s work rate nor do enough to slow him down, and in the third round Baker was running away with the fight and Hyman fighting a rearguard action.
Matt Baker def. Ed Hyman, Unanimous Decision, R3 (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
