PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Willis Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rossgo Bailey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rossgo Bailey has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Malone
vs
Bailey

182 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

155 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Willis Malone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rossgo Bailey!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bailey fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Malone is looking for a counter combo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bailey.
And Malone counters with a quick kick to the body but Bailey blocks it.

Bailey moves into the clinch successfully.
Malone tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bailey smiles and moves away.
Bailey throws a sloppy head kick and Malone moves out of range easily.
Bailey misses with a kick to the body.
Bailey should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bailey has Malone up against the cage in a clinch.
Malone is trying to break the clinch but Bailey has him pressed against the cage.
Bailey trying to land knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bailey wants to take the fight to the mat but Malone manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Willis Malone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rossgo Bailey.

Malone pulls Bailey into guard.
Bailey showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Bailey gets to his feet - Malone follows without any prompting.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bailey or perhaps it was just good defense by Malone, which made it look bad.
Bailey has his takedown stuffed
and Malone counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Bailey is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bailey gets a clinch.
Bailey is trying to break free.

Bailey pulls guard.
Malone with a flurry of punches that miss.

Bailey has his foot on Malone's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Malone works his way back into a safe position though.
Bailey working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Malone.
Malone won't allow Bailey to sweep him here.
Malone will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bailey trying to control the position.

Malone stands up from Bailey's guard - Malone perhaps looking for a knockout.
Bailey is looking to land body kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bailey throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Malone.
As Bailey backs away, Malone returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Bailey closes this distance looking for a takedown but Malone circles away.
Bailey looks winded!

Bailey has taken the fight to the clinch.

Malone breaks from the clinch.
Bailey scores with a sloppy right hand. Malone should have avoided that one.
Bailey tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Malone was well out of range. Poor timing from Bailey.
Bailey shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Malone pinned against the cage. Malone gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bailey with a poor takedown
and Malone counters with a low kick, right behind Bailey 's knee.
Bailey throws a big shot that misses.
It looked like Malone was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bailey has his takedown stuffed
and Malone counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Bailey fails in his attempt to clinch.
Malone misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bailey leaves Malone with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bailey shoots in for a takedown but Malone shows good takedown defense.
Malone appears to be looking for a big counter.
Bailey fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Malone swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Bailey tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Malone swivels and escapes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rossgo Bailey will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Malone tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bailey sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Malone somewhat.
Malone darts in looking for a takedown but Bailey gets double underhooks and turns Malone into the cage.
No joy there for Bailey, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bailey shoots for a double leg takedown but Malone sprawls well. He's pushed Bailey's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rossgo Bailey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bailey clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bailey is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Malone to keep the fight standing.
Malone can't break the clinch.
Bailey goes for a takedown in the clinch but Malone prevents it.
Willis Malone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rossgo Bailey.
Bailey fails to pull guard.
Bailey is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Malone is trying to force a seperation but Bailey has the dominant position.
Bailey working hard to break the clinch.

Malone has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bailey uses from the top position.
Bailey won't allow Malone to get back to his feet.
Bailey wants to control from the top but Malone keeps moving.
Malone wants to stand and escape but Bailey is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bailey looking to pass the guard.
Bailey is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Malone pushes Bailey off and gets back to his feet.
Bailey looks to land a right hand but Malone moved out of range.
Malone swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Malone fails with a takedown attempt.
Bailey looks to clinch
and Malone connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bailey misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bailey fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Bailey rushes Malone and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Malone wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bailey has him pressed against the cage.
Bailey pressing his opponent against the cage.
Malone with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Malone fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bailey is working for takedown but Malone is calmly controlling the position for now.
Bailey tries to pull guard but Malone holds him up against the cage and eventually Bailey drops back down to his feet.
Malone is trying to force a seperation but Bailey has the dominant position.
Bailey can't get the takedown.
Bailey has Malone pressed against the cage, preventing Malone from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Bailey has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Malone uses from the top position.
Bailey manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Malone manages to get himself to full guard.

Bailey trying to control but Malone is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bailey pushes down on Malone's leg and manages to get into half guard.
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 Willis Malone will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Malone misses with a takedown attempt - Bailey sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bailey throws a wild body kick that Malone sees coming a mile off.

Bailey drives through and clinches with Malone against the cage.
Malone tries to pull guard but Bailey forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Bailey.
Bailey is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Malone gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bailey drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malone is trying to break the clinch but Bailey is controlling him.
Bailey keeps control of Malone as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bailey is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Malone is defending well for now.
Malone swings wildly with an uppercut but Bailey uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bailey has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Malone is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Willis Malone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rossgo Bailey.
Malone lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Malone manages to break the clinch.
Malone stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Malone wants it to stay on the feet.
Malone throws a counter high kick but Bailey was just alert enough to avoid it.
Bailey takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bailey shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bailey looks for a takedown but Malone sprawls well.
Bailey wants to clinch but Malone slips to the side
and Malone counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Malone.
Bailey shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Malone as he avoids it easily.
Malone shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bailey as he jumps to the side.
Bailey is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Malone with a body shot.
Bailey misses with a body punch
and Malone counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Bailey changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Malone tries to avoid it but Bailey manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Malone to the ground. Malone escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Malone misses the target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Malone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Malone with that takedown attempt.
Bailey moves in looking to clinch but Malone pushes him off.
Malone avoids the body shot from Bailey.

Bailey rushes Malone and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Malone managing to block the knees to the body from Bailey.

Malone escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Malone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rossgo Bailey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bailey shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Malone but Malone pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bailey tries to clinch up.

Malone tries to sprawl but Bailey drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Malone is not content to let Bailey control the position.
Malone really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The fighters are battling for position here. Malone manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Bailey postures up in Malone's guard and throws a big left but Malone blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bailey preventing the sweep.
Malone is working hard here to advance position.

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 Willis Malone.
I think Malone 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Willis Malone!