PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paul Baley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Bourelis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rick Bourelis has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Paul Baley's chin.

Baley
vs
Bourelis

174 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Baley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rick Bourelis!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Lou da Vinci and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baley scores with a hook to the body. Bourelis takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Baley swats away the attempt to clinch by Bourelis.

Bourelis shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bourelis was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Baley regains half guard.
Bourelis throwing shots but Baley is blocking nicely.
Bourelis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bourelis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Baley defending well though.
Bourelis tries to pass to full mount but Baley defends it.
Ground and pound from Bourelis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourelis trying to pass the guard but Baley defending well.
Baley blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bourelis.
Bourelis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bourelis wants to stand up but Baley is controlling the position.
Baley desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Baley might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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.
Bourelis looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bourelis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Baley does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Baley throws a series of punches but Bourelis avoids them all with ease.
Baley fails to land with a series of punches.
Baley scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Bourelis on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bourelis shoots in for a takedown but Baley shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Baley. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Baley.
Baley moves forwards but Bourelis connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Baley moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Bourelis has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Bourelis on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Baley with a jab.
Baley digs a good body shot into Bourelis's ribs.
Bourelis looks gassed!
Bourelis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baley paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baley throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bourelis.
Bourelis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Baley is fending him off so far but Bourelis persists. Nope, Baley circles away and we're back to standing.
Bourelis slips a jab and a cross from Baley.
Baley thuds a left hand into Bourelis's body.
Paul Baley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Baley scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Baley leaves Bourelis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Paul Baley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Bourelis.
Bourelis misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baley closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A combination from Baley does no damage.
Baley scores with a hook.
Baley misses with a series of wild punches.
Baley displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Baley is working the combinations to good effect here.
Baley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Baley's corner calls for a 1-2. Baley obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Baley moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Baley ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bourelis dodges the punch combination from Baley.
Baley cracks a nice hook into Bourelis's ribs.
Baley throws a one two combo.
A shot to de liver by Baley. Beautiful body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baley misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Baley dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A left and a right from Baley both land. Nice combination.
Paul Baley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baley closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Baley showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bourelis.
Bourelis misses with a double jab
and Baley counters with a three punch combo that has Bourelis backing up. Bourelis nods at Baley to acknowledge the strikes.
Bourelis tries to clinch but Baley moves out of range.
Paul Baley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baley scores with a punch to the head.
Baley throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bourelis tries to land a front kick but Baley steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bourelis misses with the combination.
A combination from Baley does no damage.
Baley fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bourelis looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Bourelis doesn't manage to clinch there - Baley circles away.
Bourelis slips a jab and a cross from Baley.
Baley goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Bourelis tries to clinch there but Baley circles away.
Bourelis is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baley lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bourelis circles away quickly and effectively.
Baley lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Baley.
Paul Baley is winning the standup battle so far.
Bourelis fails to land the takedown.
Baley looks to land a combination. Bourelis sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Baley throws a series of punches but Bourelis moves out of range.
Baley tries to bum rush Bourelis with a series of wild strikes but Bourelis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Baley lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Baley.
Baley misses with a wild combination.
Baley scores with a hook to the body. Bourelis takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Baley lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Rick Bourelis has been cut.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Baley!
Baley looks to land a combination but Bourelis avoids it well.
Bourelis tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Baley to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baley's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Baley duly obliges.
Baley swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bourelis takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Bourelis takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Bourelis has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bourelis tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Baley counters with a three punch combo that has Bourelis backing up. Bourelis nods at Baley to acknowledge the strikes.
Baley scores with a one two! Bourelis had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baley lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Decent striking displayed by Baley there.
Baley lands a jab to Bourelis's midsection.
A left and a right from Baley both land. Nice combination.
Baley thuds his right hand into Bourelis's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A right-left combo lands from Bourelis.
A left and a right from Baley both land. Nice combination.
Baley fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baley looks to land a combination but Bourelis avoids it well.
Bourelis is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Baley.
Baley misses with the combination.
Baley throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bourelis throws a combination that misses
and Baley counters with a nice body shot.
Baley lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Nice shot lands for Baley.
Baley uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Bourelis has time to react.
Baley fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Baley moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Jab from Baley.
Baley scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Baley lands with an uppercut that bounces Bourelis off the cage and back into rage.
Baley scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourelis clinches but Baley breaks the clinch
and Baley cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bourelis misses with a combination
and Baley counters with a stiff right hand.
Baley swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baley throws a series of punches but Bourelis avoids them all with ease.
Bourelis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bourelis closes the distance but Baley moves to the side
and Baley counters with a left and a right that stings Bourelis.
Bourelis tries to close the distance and clinch but Baley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Baley scores with a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baley fails to land with a series of punches.
Baley wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Baley swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baley fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Baley dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rick Bourelis's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bourelis throws a lazy body kick
and Baley counters with a left to the body.
Baley throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bourelis.
Baley ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Baley swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baley scores with the left hand. Bourelis knows he should have avoided that one.
Bourelis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Baley lands a two punch combo.
Bourelis throws a head kick that misses.
Baley throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bourelis.
Baley is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baley lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Baley lands a nice hook to Bourelis's body. Bourelis takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bourelis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baley throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bourelis.
Bourelis doesn't manage to clinch there - Baley circles away.
Baley rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bourelis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourelis tries to clinch but Baley moves away
and Baley counters with a nice uppercut.
Baley tries to bum rush Bourelis with a series of wild strikes but Bourelis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Baley scores with a jab to the jaw.
Bourelis tries to clinch there but Baley circles away.
Bourelis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bourelis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Bourelis has Baley up against the cage in a clinch.
Bourelis wants to break free but Baley has control.
Bourelis keeps control of Baley as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Baley blocks a body shot from Bourelis.
Bourelis tries to pull guard but Baley won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bourelis fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Baley can't break the clinch.
Bourelis prevents Baley from breaking the clinch.
Baley is looking to break free of the clinch but Bourelis has double underhooks.
Bourelis misses with the head strike.

Baley breaks from the clinch.
Baley scores with a punch to the head.
Bourelis wants to clinch but Baley slips to the side
and Baley counters with a three punch combo that has Bourelis backing up. Bourelis nods at Baley to acknowledge the strikes.
Baley throws a right and a left that both miss.
Baley stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bourelis scores a takedown into full mount!
Bourelis trying to control but Baley is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Bourelis.
Bourelis misses with a head shot.
Bourelis scoring with strikes but Baley is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourelis trying to control but Baley is having none of it.
Bourelis thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Bourelis avoids the attempt from Baley to control.
Baley sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Baley showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Baley, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:26
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Baley!