PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jean Baptiste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reilly Bell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baptiste comes into the arena with Rodrigo y Gabriela - Orion Cover blaring out of the sound system. Reilly Bell will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Baptiste
vs
Bell

172 cm
23
149 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

173 cm
21
150 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jean Baptiste!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Reilly Bell!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baptiste looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bell is trying to control the position but Baptiste postures up.

Bell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Baptiste defends well.

Bell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Baptiste can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Baptiste wants to pass the guard but Bell is keeping the position.

Bell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Baptiste postures up.
Baptiste stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Baptiste passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Baptiste wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bell, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptiste lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Bell down.
Baptiste working the ground and pound.
Bell is trying to get back to his feet.

Baptiste thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bell is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Baptiste tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Baptiste has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bell tries to bench press Baptiste off him but Baptiste keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bell is not content to let Baptiste control the position.
Baptiste scores with punches from side control.
Bell is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Baptiste has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Bell is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Bell is looking to regain half guard here but Baptiste keeps moving and retains side control.
Bell looks gassed!
Baptiste cracks Bell with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Baptiste trying to control the action but Bell is working from the bottom.
Baptiste works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Baptiste tries to move into full mount but can't pass Bell's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baptiste throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bell struggling a bit here.
Bell is trying to get back to half guard.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Bell is looking for a sweep.
Baptiste advances to full mount.
Baptiste wants to control the pace but Bell is squirming around nicely.
Bell is looking to improve his position but Baptiste isn't that keen on the idea.
Bell tries to hold on but Baptiste postures up.

That's four 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.
Bell is looking to get to half guard.

Baptiste is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Baptiste!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Jean Baptiste!