PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rayford Acevedo (ranked 24627 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Bail (ranked 5163 p4p, 175 weight class). Rayford Acevedo is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Acevedo
vs
Bail

173 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rayford Acevedo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Bail!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Francis DeMontford and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bail shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Acevedo as he jumps to the side.
Bail throws a body punch but Acevedo moves out of range.
Bail tries for a takedown but Acevedo circles away easily

and Acevedo counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Bail!
Acevedo postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Bail gets back to half guard.
Acevedo throwing shots but Bail is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bail is trying is best to control the position here.
Bail is looking for a sweep. Acevedo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Acevedo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acevedo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Acevedo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bail does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bail wants to get back to full guard.
Bail blocking the ground and pound attempt from Acevedo.
Acevedo working the head and body with strikes.
Acevedo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bail trying to control but Acevedo postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bail drives through and clinches with Acevedo against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bail blocks an elbow strike.
Bail wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Acevedo jumps guard but Bail stands there with Acevedo around his waist. Acevedo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Acevedo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bail uses from the top position.

Acevedo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Acevedo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Acevedo looking for a sweep. Not yet Acevedo, not yet.
Acevedo thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Bail looking to pass the guard.
Acevedo throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Bail is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Acevedo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Acevedo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Acevedo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Acevedo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bail sitting in guard here, content to control.
Acevedo throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Acevedo ducks right into an uppercut from Bail.
Bail tries a head kick but it misses.
Acevedo tries to counter by clinching up but Bail breaks away and moves out of range.
Bail shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Acevedo but Acevedo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Acevedo wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Rayford Acevedo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Bail.
Bail misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice sprawl there from Acevedo as Bail shoots in.
Acevedo is looking to counter the offense by Bail and move into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Bail closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bail is trying to pull guard but Acevedo has him pressed against the cage.
Bail gets underhooks to prevent Acevedo's takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rayford Acevedo will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bail dives in and grabs Acevedo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Acevedo pushes down on Bail's head and hops out.
Acevedo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bail fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Acevedo avoids it really well and circles away.

Bail has closed the distance and engaged Acevedo in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Acevedo wants to get back to striking at distance but Bail won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Bail's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acevedo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bail is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Bail decides to pull guard.
Acevedo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bail utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Acevedo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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

Bail has his foot on Acevedo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Acevedo works his way back into a safe position though.
Acevedo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bail pulls Acevedo in close to his closed guard and prevents Acevedo from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bail fails to land the takedown.
Rayford Acevedo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Bail.

Bail closes the distance and pushes Acevedo back into the cage.
Acevedo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Acevedo gets underhooks to prevent Bail's takedown attempt.
Acevedo has Bail pushed against the cage.
Acevedo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Acevedo pulls guard.

Acevedo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bail controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bail trying to control the position from guard on top but Acevedo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Acevedo is looking for a triangle here but Bail uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Acevedo struggling a bit here.
Bail remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bail is controlling him well.
Bail working away.
Acevedo throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Bail working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Acevedo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bail is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Acevedo will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Bail showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Bail fails with a takedown attempt.
Acevedo appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Bail rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Acevedo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bail is looking to land body kicks.

Bail drives through and clinches with Acevedo against the cage.
Bail is looking to break free of the clinch but Acevedo has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bail jumps guard but Acevedo stands there with Bail around his waist. Bail gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bail tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bail fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rayford Acevedo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Bail.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Acevedo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bail fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Acevedo, pushing him back against the cage.
Bail jumps guard but Acevedo stands there with Bail around his waist. Bail gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Acevedo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bail just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bail has Acevedo pressed against the cage, preventing Acevedo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bail wants to break the clinch but can't.

Acevedo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Steve Bail seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Acevedo leaves Bail with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Acevedo tries to counter with a takedown but Bail is quick to defend against it.
Bail darts in trying to clinch

and Acevedo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bail looking for subs off his back but Acevedo has passed one foot through into half guard.

Bail looking for submissions off his back.
Bail takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bail is trying to stand.
Bail throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bail is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Acevedo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bail keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bail is not content to let Acevedo control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Acevedo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Acevedo shoots in and gets a takedown into Bail's guard.

Bail has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Acevedo has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Acevedo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Acevedo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bail closes the distance and clinches.

Acevedo breaks from the clinch.
Bail misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bail misses with a takedown attempt - Acevedo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Acevedo changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bail fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

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 Rayford Acevedo.
I think Acevedo 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rayford Acevedo!