PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reed Basaev (ranked 1261 p4p, 43 weight class) and Liam Gallagher (ranked 872 p4p, 40 weight class). Liam Gallagher told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Basaev
vs
Gallagher

200 cm
33
239 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

210 cm
29
265 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

HELLBENT
Urban Fighter

Riner Clothing and Laundry (85%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reed Basaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Liam Gallagher!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Colin Fotheringham and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The crowd cheers as Basaev lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gallagher doesn't seem phased though.
Gallagher will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Basaev quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Gallagher staying out of range there.
Basaev misses with a low kick.
Basaev avoids a punch combination nicely.
A head kick misses from Gallagher.

Gallagher closes the distance and pushes Basaev back into the cage.
Basaev blocks a body shot from Gallagher.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Basaev.
Gallagher blocks a body shot from Basaev.
Gallagher lands a knee to the body.
Basaev cracks Gallagher with a nice body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Basaev creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Basaev throws a head punch that misses.
Gallagher told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Basaev tries to throw a body punch but Gallagher avoids it by throwing Basaev back against the cage.
Basaev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Basaev lands a body punch in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gallagher tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Basaev's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basaev is pushing Gallagher up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short body shot lands from Basaev as the two fighters clinch.
Gallagher misses with a knee strike.
Gallagher struggles to land a body shot inside as Basaev controls his hands.
Basaev stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Basaev content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Basaev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Basaev working aggressively here.
Gallagher lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Basaev backwards.
Basaev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gallagher blocking some punches.
Basaev looking to slow down the pace here.
Basaev has a couple of punches blocked by Gallagher.
Gallagher misses with a body punch.
Basaev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gallagher is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basaev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Basaev tries to work over Gallagher's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gallagher's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gallagher misses with an elbow strike.
Gallagher misses with a body punch.

Gallagher's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Basaev throws a body punch but Gallagher moves out of range.
Gallagher tries a head kick but it misses.
Gallagher finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nice defenses there by Gallagher.
Gallagher thows a leg kick but Basaev checks it
and Basaev counters with a solid body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gallagher misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Basaev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice body kick there by Gallagher.
Gallagher throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Reed Basaev has been cut.
Gallagher takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

It looks like Liam Gallagher has been cut.
Basaev seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Basaev checks a low kick from Gallagher.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basaev scores with the left hand. Gallagher knows he should have avoided that one.
Basaev tests Gallagher's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A swing and a miss from Gallagher.
Basaev takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Gallagher looks to score with a jab to the body but Basaev is just out of range.
Gallagher does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Basaev lands with a straight right. Gallagher didn't see that one coming.
Gallagher throws a looping overhand right but Basaev ducks down to avoid it.
Basaev connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Basaev connects with a body shot.
Gallagher misses with a kick to the body.
Gallagher throws a sloppy head kick and Basaev moves out of range easily.
Nice body punch from Basaev.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gallagher misses with a hook to the body
and Basaev counters with a straight right hand.
A nice inside leg kick there by Basaev. That's going to slow Gallagher down.
A big right from Gallagher misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basaev smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Basaev lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Basaev cracks Gallagher with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gallagher looks to land a left hand but Basaev moved out of range nicely.
Gallagher throws a lazy head kick
and Basaev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Good leg kick by Gallagher there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Gallagher throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Basaev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
An inside leg kick from Gallagher misses.
Gallagher looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gallagher throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gallagher defending well as Basaev loads up on a big left hand.
Gallagher wants to slow Basaev down by chopping away at his legs.
Basaev half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Basaev punishes Gallagher's body with a nice straight punch.
Gallagher 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.
Basaev misses with a jab to the body
and Gallagher counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reed Basaev dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Basaev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Basaev cracks Gallagher with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Basaev dips to his left and cracks Gallagher with an uppercut!
Gallagher throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Basaev counters with a nice body shot.
Gallagher misses the jab.
Basaev throws out a powerful jab.
Gallagher misses the shot to the body.
Basaev misses with a wild body shot.
Basaev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gallagher fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Basaev.
Basaev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gallagher can do to turn this around?
Basaev looks to throw the jab but Gallagher is out of range.
Basaev throws a front kick aimed at Gallagher's knee but Gallagher avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gallagher bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Gallagher keeps Basaev at a distance using the push kick.
Basaev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gallagher was well out of range. Poor timing from Basaev.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gallagher fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gallagher uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Basaev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallagher uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Basaev.
Gallagher doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Gallagher tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Basaev looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Gallagher throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gallagher tries to clinch but Basaev is having none of it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gallagher, right into the meat.
Basaev closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Basaev throws the left hand but Gallagher avoids the punch easily.
Reed Basaev is winning the standup battle so far.
Gallagher misses with a body shot.
Basaev slips under a jab from Gallagher.
Gallagher avoids the body shot from Basaev.
Gallagher moves away from the strike by Basaev.
It seemed like Gallagher was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Basaev connects with a body shot.
Basaev tries a head kick but it misses.
Basaev lands a body shot.
Gallagher fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Basaev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Basaev moves away.
Basaev takes a swing at Gallagher's ribcage but misses.
Gallagher throws a lazy right hand but Basaev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Basaev is looking to counter punch.
Liam Gallagher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Basaev scores with a sloppy right hand. Gallagher should have avoided that one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gallagher works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Gallagher throws a sloppy head kick and Basaev moves out of range easily.
Gallagher works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Basaev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Basaev looks to land a left hand but Gallagher moved out of range nicely.
Gallagher throws a half hearted mid kick.
Basaev jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
The crowd cheers as Gallagher lands an impressive looking overhand right. Basaev doesn't seem phased though.
Gallagher scores with a crisp jab that stopped Basaev in his tracks.
Gallagher tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Basaev counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basaev changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gallagher is looking to clinch.
Basaev changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gallagher throws a low kick but Basaev moves out of range easily.
Basaev punishes Gallagher's body with a nice straight punch.
Gallagher throws a front kick aimed at Basaev's knee but Basaev avoids it well.
Basaev uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Basaev misses with a body shot.
Basaev blocks a head kick by Gallagher.
Basaev appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Gallagher throws a head kick that misses
letting Basaev counter with a right hand.
Gallagher is breathing heavily.
Basaev has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gallagher.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Gallagher. Basaev shrugs it off though.
Gallagher throws a leg kick
and Basaev counters with a nice uppercut.
Gallagher defending well as Basaev loads up on a big left hand.
Gallagher pushes Basaev away with a front kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gallagher avoids the body shot from Basaev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher checks a leg kick.
Gallagher counters with a body kick.
Gallagher swings for the body but Basaev moves out of range.
Gallagher throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Gallagher throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Basaev throws a lazy uppercut
and Gallagher counters with a nice body kick.
Gallagher is looking to slow Basaev down with leg kicks.
Gallagher ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A little jabbing left from Gallagher on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Decent striking displayed by Basaev there.
Gallagher tries a head kick but it misses.
Gallagher moves forwards but Basaev connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gallagher has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gallagher.
Gallagher slips a jab from Basaev.
Gallagher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Basaev stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
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 Reed Basaev will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Basaev misses with a wild body shot.
Gallagher throws a leg kick which misses Basaev's front leg but catches the back leg as Basaev tries to avoid it.
Gallagher throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
An attempted straight right counter from Basaev misses the target.
Basaev blocks a head kick by Gallagher.
Basaev tests Gallagher's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gallagher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Basaev misses with a double jab.
Gallagher throws a head kick but Basaev moves out of range.
Basaev lands with a nice body punch.
Basaev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gallagher manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Basaev misses.
Gallagher unleashes a big counter combination but Basaev bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Basaev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gallagher.
Basaev takes a swing at Gallagher's ribcage but misses.
Gallagher takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gallagher scores with a hook to the body. Basaev takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallagher misses with a double jab.
Gallagher misses with a kick to the body.
Gallagher takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gallagher is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Basaev.
Gallagher misses with a head kick.
Gallagher throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Gallagher misses with a body kick.
Gallagher throws a body shot but no joy.
Basaev misses with an uppercut. Gallagher saw that one coming.
Basaev will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Gallagher misses with a wild body shot.
Gallagher on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Gallagher avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Basaev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Basaev takes a swing at Gallagher's ribcage but misses.
Gallagher dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Basaev. That did some damage!
Liam Gallagher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher wants to clinch but Basaev slips to the side
and Basaev counters with a straight right hand.
Gallagher throws a leg kick but Basaev sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Basaev throws a looping overhand right but Gallagher ducks down to avoid it.
Basaev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gallagher was well out of range. Poor timing from Basaev.
Gallagher doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gallagher throws a lazy head kick
and Basaev counters with a straight right hand.
Basaev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gallagher throws a lazy head kick
and Basaev counters with a leg kick.
Basaev cracks Gallagher with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Basaev throws a hook but Gallagher blocks it.
Basaev punishes Gallagher's body with a nice straight punch.
Basaev works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Basaev pushes Gallagher away with a front kick.
Basaev misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A low kick from Gallagher is predictable there
and Basaev counters with a one-two to the body.
Basaev scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Basaev slips a straight right by Gallagher.
Basaev fails to land with a series of punches.
A cross from Basaev lands.
Gallagher scores with a three punch combo!
Basaev is looking to land body kicks.
Basaev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gallagher moves away.
Gallagher throws a nice outside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gallagher takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Gallagher has taken the fight to the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Basaev.
Basaev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Basaev is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gallagher tries to work over Basaev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Reed Basaev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher misses with an elbow strike.
Gallagher swings wildly with an uppercut but Basaev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gallagher is leaning against Basaev and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Basaev prevents a body shot from Gallagher.
Gallagher utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Gallagher landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A nice left hand lands by Gallagher.
Basaev blocks an uppercut.
Basaev blocks the elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reed Basaev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Basaev, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reed Basaev!
Reed Basaev tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.