PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Turner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Bayliss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jerome Turner looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Turner
vs
Bayliss

178 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

181 cm
18
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jerome Turner!
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, James Bayliss!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jorge Garcia and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Turner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Turner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bayliss swivels and escapes.
Turner shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bayliss pinned against the cage. Bayliss gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Turner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Turner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As Turner backs off Bayliss throws a huge counter combo but Turner manages to avoid it all.
Turner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bayliss defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Turner.
Bayliss unleashes a big counter combination but Turner bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Turner is breathing heavily.
Turner tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bayliss defends well and Turner ends up having to push Bayliss into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Turner tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bayliss defends well and Turner ends up having to push Bayliss into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bayliss throws an overhand right that lands on Turner's shoulder, as Turner tries to avoid the shot.

Bayliss gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bayliss has Turner pushed against the cage.
Bayliss is trying to break the clinch but Turner has him pressed against the cage.
Turner looking for a takedown.
Bayliss tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Turner just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bayliss is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Turner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bayliss is trying to force a seperation but Turner has the dominant position.
Turner looking for a takedown.
Bayliss wants to take the fight to the mat but Turner manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bayliss is pushing Turner up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Bayliss has Turner pressed against the cage.
Bayliss is looking to break free of the clinch but Turner has double underhooks.
Bayliss's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Bayliss manages to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bayliss wants to stand up but Turner is controlling him.
Bayliss pulls Turner in close to prevent any damage.

Turner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bayliss is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bayliss wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turner won't allow Bayliss to sweep him here.

Turner thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bayliss wants to stand up but Turner is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bayliss fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Turner fails with a takedown attempt.
Turner moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromBayliss.
Bayliss shoots for a takedown but Turner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've been told by Turner's head coaches at School of Hard Knocks (Elite Training for $225) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Bayliss fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Turner shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bayliss as he avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bayliss or perhaps it was just good defense by Turner, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turner shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bayliss pinned against the cage. Bayliss gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Bayliss closes the distance and pushes Turner back into the cage.
Turner tries to pull guard but Bayliss won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bayliss wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Turner has him pressed against the cage.
Bayliss is pressed up against the cage. Turner has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bayliss down to the mat. Bayliss avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bayliss shoots in and drives through. Turner sprawls well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A low kick from Bayliss misses
and Turner counters with a left and a right that stings Bayliss.
Bayliss throws a body shot but no joy.
Turner feinted with a counter takedown.
Turner closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bayliss circles away.
Turner shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bayliss moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Bayliss dominated that round.
That's time! Turner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bayliss closes the distance and clinches.
Turner has Bayliss pressed against the cage, preventing Bayliss from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Turner drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bayliss stalling the fight.
Bayliss wants to get back to striking at distance but Turner won't allow it.
Bayliss goes for a takedown attempt but Turner pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Bayliss moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bayliss manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Turner postures up.
Turner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bayliss is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bayliss is looking to stand up but Turner isn't so interested in that idea.

Turner drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Turner jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Turner drops back looking for a leg! Bayliss is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bayliss manages to kick Turner off! Turner jumps back into Bayliss's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Bayliss had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Turner defends it easily.
Turner wants to control from the top but Bayliss keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Bayliss not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Bayliss is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Turner is aware though and is defending well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bayliss tries to clinch but Turner is having none of it.
Turner swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Bayliss fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bayliss has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Turner fails with the takedown.
Turner shoots in and drives through. Bayliss sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Turner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Turner throws a body shot but no joy.
Bayliss misses with a combination
and Turner counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Bayliss gets caught napping as Turner dives in and scores a takedown. Bayliss manages to retain guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bayliss can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bayliss has Turner pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Bayliss has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Bayliss's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bayliss 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.

Bayliss looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Turner passes Bayliss's left leg - he's now in half guard.

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.
Bayliss wants to get back to full guard.
Turner wants to free his trapped foot but Bayliss is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bayliss is not content to let Turner control the position.

Turner looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Turner prevents Bayliss from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jerome Turner will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Turner stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Turner wants it to stay on the feet.
Bayliss is looking to clinch but Turner is avoiding it.
Bayliss closes the distance and clinches up with Turner, looking for a takedown. Bayliss pushes Turner against the cage but Turner circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Turner showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bayliss.
Turner slaps away a takedown attempt from Bayliss, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jerome Turner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Bayliss.
Turner shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bayliss sprawls well. Bayliss wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Turner gets slowly back to his feet.
Turner misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bayliss swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Turner counters with a right hand to the body.
Bayliss fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Bayliss moves into range and clinches up with Turner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bayliss wants to break the clinch but can't.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Bayliss.
Turner stops a takedown attempt from Bayliss.
Turner can't get the takedown.
Bayliss is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Turner is looking for a takedown.
Bayliss is trying to break free.
Turner wants a takedown.

Bayliss has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Turner regains guard immediately.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bayliss accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James Bayliss has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turner keeping moving, preventing Bayliss from controlling successfully.
Bayliss trying to stand up but can't free himself from Turner's guard.

Bayliss thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bayliss with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bayliss is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bayliss postures up.
Bayliss slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Jerome Turner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bayliss takes one to the chin there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Turner closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bayliss quickly recovers to half guard.
Bayliss is trying is best to control the position here.
Bayliss wants to control but Turner is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bayliss tries to roll over but Turner keeps him under control.
Bayliss is positioning himself well to prevent Turner advancing to mount.

Turner is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bayliss is just riding it out for now. Turner eventually gives up the hold.
Bayliss is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Turner is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bayliss is looking for a sweep. Turner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Turner is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bayliss doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Turner.
Bayliss is trying to maintain the position but Turner is very close to passing his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bayliss is trying to stand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jerome Turner.
I think Turner has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerome Turner!
Jerome Turner decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.