PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Bailey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Morgan
vs
Bailey

169 cm
35
146 lbs
28 - 15 - 1

172 cm
24
144 lbs
9 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Virgil Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Alex Bailey!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morgan is looking to chop away at Bailey's legs.
Morgan misses with a straight left.
Bailey misses with a hook
and Morgan counters with a nice body kick.
Bailey avoids the head kick by Morgan.
Bailey misses with a lunging right hand
and Morgan makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Bailey misses with a kick to the body.
Bailey is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Morgan.
Morgan throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bailey counters with a left to the body.
Alex Bailey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bailey keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Morgan.
We've been informed that Bailey has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Morgan forces Bailey back against the cage and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan tries to work over Bailey's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bailey misses with a hook from the clinch.
Morgan lands a body punch.
Bailey blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bailey has a couple of punches blocked by Morgan.
Morgan throws a punch but it's blocked by Bailey.

Morgan breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bailey swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bailey steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses.
Morgan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Morgan getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bailey keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Morgan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bailey.
Bailey thows a leg kick but Morgan checks it
and Morgan counters with a straight right hand.
Bailey misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Morgan closes the distance and pushes Bailey back into the cage.
Bailey stalling in the clinch but Morgan improves position.
A head punch on the inside from Bailey fails to land.
Bailey misses with the head strike.
Morgan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Morgan throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Baileys head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Morgan swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch on the inside from Morgan fails to land.

Bailey gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Bailey throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Bailey is working for a kimura but Morgan is defending it quite comfortably.
Morgan trying to hold on to Bailey's head to control him but Bailey postures up.
Morgan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bailey working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan gets back to full guard.
Bailey sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Morgan's guard.
Morgan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bailey.
Morgan is staying active underneath Bailey, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bailey throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bailey throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bailey thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Morgan's head.
Bailey throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Morgan to regain full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan pulls Bailey in close to prevent any damage.
Bailey throws an elbow that misses. Morgan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bailey's guard. Nice move by Morgan!

Morgan throws an elbow that misses. Bailey uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Morgan's guard. Nice move by Bailey!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bailey tries to free his leg and advance position but Morgan is retaining full guard.

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

Bailey can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Morgan controls the pace.
Morgan trying to control but Bailey is working from the bottom.
Morgan tries to free his leg and advance position but Bailey is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Virgil Morgan dominated that 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.

Bailey throws a head kick but Morgan moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Morgan.
Bailey throws an overhand right that lands on Morgan's shoulder, as Morgan tries to avoid the shot.
A jab lands there for Bailey.
Bailey steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morgan.
Bailey scores with a jab. Morgan acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bailey waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Morgan.
Morgan misses with a shot to the body

and Bailey counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Morgan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bailey's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bailey's back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morgan is trying to stick to Bailey's back but Bailey is turning into Morgan. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Morgan's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Bailey.
Bailey throwing strikes from guard but Morgan blocks nicely.
Bailey throws a big right hand that misses.
Bailey working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bailey wants to control from the top but Morgan keeps moving.
Bailey trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bailey must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Morgan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bailey manages to get himself to full guard.

Morgan with a nice head shot there.
Bailey bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Morgan's guard.

Bailey lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Morgan seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Morgan 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.
Morgan wants to sweep here but Bailey controlling him for the moment.
Morgan is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Morgan keeping moving, preventing Bailey from controlling successfully.
Bailey tries to free his leg and advance position but Morgan is retaining full guard.
Bailey with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bailey missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bailey is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bailey missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bailey accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Morgan wants to control but Bailey passes easily into half guard.
Morgan is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bailey wants to pass the guard but Morgan is defending well.
Morgan tries to get to full guard but Bailey has control of the leg.
Morgan trying to control here.
Bailey misses with a head shot. Morgan uses the momentum to regain guard.

Bailey got a little sloppy there for a moment and Morgan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bailey has managed to get both his arms back between Morgan's legs - danger averted.
Morgan 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.
Bailey throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Morgan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bailey postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bailey's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bailey looking to sit in guard and control but Morgan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Morgan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bailey 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.
Morgan throws a big elbow that misses.
Bailey controls Morgan momentarily but Morgan frees himself.
Morgan chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Bailey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Bailey lands the left hand.
Morgan lands with a hook. Bailey tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bailey defending well as Morgan loads up on a big left hand.
Bailey misses with a leg kick
letting Morgan counter with a right hand.
Bailey cracks Morgan with a good jab.
Bailey on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A big left from Morgan misses.
Bailey rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Morgan counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A decent looking cross lands there for Morgan.
Morgan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Morgan tries to clinch up.
A little jabbing left from Bailey on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bailey misses with an attempted mid kick.
A low kick from Morgan misses
and Bailey counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bailey counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Morgan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bailey throws a sloppy head kick and Morgan moves out of range easily.
Bailey misses with an uppercut.
Bailey lands a glancing blow to the side of Morgan's head.
Bailey scores with a nice strike.
Bailey throws a jab when Morgan was well out of range.
Bailey throws a hook but Morgan avoids it easily.
Morgan throws a hook but Bailey blocks it.
Morgan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morgan is looking to clinch but Bailey is avoiding it.
Morgan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bailey counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bailey lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan looks to land a right hand but Bailey moved out of range.
Alex Bailey seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Morgan is looking to clinch.
Morgan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jab by Bailey.
Morgan works the jab nicely.
Morgan walks into a jab.
Morgan lands a jab.
Nice defenses there by Morgan.
Morgan misses with a hook. Bailey ducked under it nicely.
Morgan takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Bailey looks to throw the jab but Morgan is out of range.
Morgan lands a head shot.
Morgan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bailey manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bailey misses with a wild combination.
Morgan swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Morgan throws a leg kick that is checked

and Bailey counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bailey looking to sit in guard and control but Morgan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bailey working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morgan.
Morgan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Morgan throwing strikes but missing.
Bailey wants to improve his position but instead Morgan has moved into half guard.
Morgan prevents Bailey from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bailey's head.
Bailey wants to get back to full guard.
Alex Bailey has got the better of the ground game so far.
Morgan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bailey gets full guard.

Bailey has his foot on Morgan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Morgan works his way back into a safe position though.
Bailey working a defensive guard here.
Bailey keeping moving, preventing Morgan from controlling successfully.
Morgan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Bailey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bailey has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Bailey!
After winning the bout, Alex Bailey thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.