PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between William Barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blaze Bailey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barker comes to the cage accompanied by The Way of the Fist - Five Finger Death Punch. Bailey has chosen Eminem - Lose Yourself as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Blaze Bailey was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Barker
vs
Bailey

180 cm
27
182 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

190 cm
26
180 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

BioPharm Nutrition

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, William Barker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Blaze Bailey!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Reed Andrews and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bailey looks to throw the jab but Barker is out of range.
A head kick by Bailey misses
and Barker counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bailey thinking.
Barker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bailey misses with a head kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Barker.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bailey enables Barker to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bailey manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Barker postures up in Bailey's guard and throws a big left but Bailey blocks it.
Barker won't allow Bailey to sweep him here.
Barker throwing strikes from guard but Bailey blocks nicely.
Bailey keeping full guard, as Barker tries to pass.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barker throws an elbow that misses. Bailey uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barker's guard. Nice move by Bailey!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bailey trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Barker is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Barker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Barker working for a triangle but Bailey defends it easily.
Barker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bailey is one step ahead there.
Bailey really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bailey gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Barker has his foot on Bailey's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bailey works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bailey is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Bailey got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barker has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bailey has managed to get both his arms back between Barker's legs - danger averted.

Barker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bailey gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bailey looking to pass the guard.
Bailey stays in close to Barker's body and controls the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barker keeping moving, preventing Bailey from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Barker dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bailey scores with a leg kick.

Bailey has closed the distance and engaged Barker in a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Barker.
Bailey tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Barker avoids it.
Bailey swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Barker.
Barker throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Barker missing with knees to the body.
Bailey misses with a punch to the body.
Bailey misses with a punch on the inside.
Barker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bailey misses with an elbow over the top.

Barker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barker throws a body punch but Bailey moves out of range.
Barker takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Barker checks a low kick from Bailey.
Barker avoids the body shot from Bailey.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barker's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bailey connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barker scrambles back to his feet.
Bailey lands a front kick.
Barker turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Bailey throws a nice outside leg kick.
Blaze Bailey is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Barker lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Bailey has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Bailey and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Barker is looking to score with low kicks.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bailey.
Barker moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Blaze Bailey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bailey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bailey misses with a looping left.
Bailey fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barker manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bailey misses with a kick to the body.
Barker fails to land with a series of punches.
Bailey throws a combination. Barker tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barker swats away the attempt to clinch by Bailey.
Barker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bailey lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bailey misses the jab.
Barker throws out a powerful jab.
Barker takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Bailey ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Barker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Bailey tries to clinch up but Barker circles away and keeps his distance.
Bailey misses with a kick to the body.
Nice cross by Barker.
Bailey looks to score with a jab to the body but Barker is just out of range.
Barker lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bailey circles away quickly and effectively.
Bailey misses with a combination

and Barker counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Barker throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barker working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barker lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bailey keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker thows a huge punch but Bailey dodges it nicely.
Barker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bailey wants to control but Barker is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Barker lands with a punch from half guard.

Barker seems to be looking for submissions.
Barker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bailey's head.
Barker throwing shots but Bailey is blocking nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barker throwing shots but Bailey is blocking nicely.
Barker throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Barker dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bailey lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barker's sensitive parts.
Barker tries to work over Bailey's front leg with a kick but Bailey checks it.
Barker blocks a low kick nicely.
Bailey throws a leg kick that is checked

and Barker counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Barker lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barker working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bailey preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barker won't allow Bailey to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barker postures up in Bailey's guard and throws a big left but Bailey blocks it.
Bailey preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bailey working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barker.
Bailey trying to keep a closed guard but Barker is proving a slippery customer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barker postures up.
Bailey utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Barker is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bailey is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bailey has escaped and now he's on top!

Barker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bailey doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bailey manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bailey must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bailey trying to control the position from guard on top but Barker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
William Barker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bailey might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Barker kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Barker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bailey sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Bailey lying in Barker's guard like a wet fish here, stalling away. Barker decides he's had enough of all that nonsense - he escapes his hips and locks up an armbar! Wow, that was slick! Bailey taps! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). William Barker!
A very excited looking William Barker made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.