PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thierry Bailly (ranked 3188 p4p, 6463 weight class) and Sahara Sam (ranked 296 p4p, 469 weight class). Bailly comes to the cage accompanied by MMA Entrance Music / Dustin Poirier. Sahara Sam has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Thierry Bailly's chin.

Bailly
vs
Sam

175 cm
20
145
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
155
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Savage Fightwear Island

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Thierry Bailly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sahara Sam!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, David Hoff and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bailly fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sam throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bailly's head.
Sam keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bailly tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sam paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bailly tries to clinch there but Sam circles away.
A punch combination from Sam misses.
Sam tries to bum rush Bailly with a series of wild strikes but Bailly uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bailly is looking to clinch but Sam is avoiding it.
A punch combination from Sam misses.
Bailly moves in looking to clinch but Sam pushes him off.
Sam feints the counter takedown.
Sam scores with a jab.
Bailly tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sam defends well and Bailly ends up having to push Sam into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sam manages to break the clinch.
Sam throws a sloppy head kick and Bailly moves out of range easily.
Bailly wants to clinch.
Sam avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sahara Sam seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Bailly, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sam lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Sam looks to land a combination. Bailly sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Bailly tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bailly shoots in for a takedown but Sam shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thierry Bailly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sam works over Bailly's head and body with a nice combination.
Sam scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bailly drives through and clinches with Sam against the cage.
Bailly is working for takedown but Sam is calmly controlling the position for now.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Sam breaks from the clinch.
Sam avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sam with the counter takedown but Bailly avoids it easily.
Sam throws a sloppy head kick and Bailly moves out of range easily.
Sam circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sahara Sam is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch combination from Sam misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Bailly checks a leg kick.
Bailly shoots in looking for a takedown but Sam manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bailly's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sam lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bailly circles away quickly and effectively.
Bailly closes the distance and clinches up with Sam, looking for a takedown. Bailly pushes Sam against the cage but Sam circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sam attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sam misses with a head kick.
Sam is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Bailly.
Sam circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bailly misses with a head kick.
Sam feints the counter takedown.
Sam feints and then cracks Bailly's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bailly down.
Sam scores with a body shot.
Bailly takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bailly tries to clinch there but Sam circles away.
Sam with a nice calf kick.
Bailly shoots for a double leg takedown but Sam sprawls well. He's pushed Bailly's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bailly tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sam swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sam misses with a low kick as Bailly jumps back.
Bailly avoids the head kick by Sam.
Sam swats away the attempt to clinch by Bailly.
Bailly doesn't manage to clinch there - Sam circles away.
Sam lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bailly fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've been informed that Sam has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
No joy there for Sam, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bailly wants to clinch up but Sam keeps it at a distance.
Sam 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.
Sam lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bailly circles away quickly and effectively.
Bailly connects with a solid leg kick.
Sam scores with a body shot.
Sam keeps the fight on the outside.
Bailly dodges the punch combination from Sam.
Sam is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bailly or perhaps it was just good defense by Sam, which made it look bad.
Sam throws a one two combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bailly avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sam throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sam tries to bum rush Bailly with a series of wild strikes but Bailly uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bailly fails with the takedown.
Bailly tries to clinch there but Sam circles away.
Bailly looks for a takedown but Sam sprawls well.
Sam connects with the punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sahara Sam dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bailly shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sam but Sam pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sam fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bailly slips a jab and a cross from Sam.
Thierry Bailly is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sam throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bailly.
Sam lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bailly circles away quickly and effectively.
Sam has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bailly is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sam sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bailly tries to close the distance and clinch but Sam swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sam throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sam leaves Bailly with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sam is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thierry Bailly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sam looks to land a combination but Bailly avoids it well.
Bailly misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sam scores with a jab. Bailly acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bailly wants to clinch up but Sam keeps it at a distance.
A nice combination there by Sam.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sam works Bailly's body with a nice hook.
Sam circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sam with the counter takedown but Bailly avoids it easily.
Bailly doesn't manage to clinch there - Sam circles away.
Bailly tries a head kick but it misses.
Sam tries a head kick but it misses.
Bailly thinks about countering with a head kick.
Bailly tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sam paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sam.
Bailly on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sam swinging wildly here.
Sam moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sam rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bailly moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sam throws a right hand that Bailly ducks under and follows up with a left that Bailly also avoids with ease.
Bailly is looking to counter the offense by Sam and move into the clinch.
Bailly slips a jab and a cross from Sam.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bailly shoots in and drives through. Sam sprawls well.
Sam is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Bailly is looking to clinch but Sam is avoiding it.
Sahara Sam seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sam swinging wildly here.

Bailly clinches up with Sam and pushes him back against the cage.

Sam pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sam throws a right and a left that Bailly avoids nicely.
Sam lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Bailly backs up against the cage.
Sam throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sam is breathing heavily.
Bailly tries to clinch there but Sam circles away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bailly or perhaps it was just good defense by Sam, which made it look bad.
Bailly fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sam circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sam with the counter takedown but Bailly avoids it easily.
A low kick from Sam is predictable there

and Bailly counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sam is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Sam has his feet on Bailly's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Bailly clinches up with Sam and pushes him back against the cage.

Sam breaks the clinch.
Sam rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bailly moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sam fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bailly on the side of the head.
Sam throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bailly.
Sam lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bailly circles away quickly and effectively.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sam throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bailly tries to clinch up but Sam circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sam keeps the fight on the outside.
Sam swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bailly blocks a head kick by Sam.
Sam misses with a wild combination.
Bailly swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sam feints the counter takedown.
Sam pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bailly dives in for a single leg takedown but Sam sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Sam pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bailly is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sam.
Bailly lands a head kick. Sam smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Bailly lands with a kick to the ribs.
Bailly misses with a series of wild punches.
Sam takes a head kick and keeps coming.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sahara Sam showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sam connects with a solid leg kick.
Sam looks to land a combination. Bailly sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Sam moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sam pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Bailly back to the cage. Sam follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Bailly fails to land the takedown.
Sam drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Bailly defends it well.
Sam stuffs the takedown attempt from Bailly. Bailly gets slowly back to his feet.
Sam rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bailly moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sam throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bailly misses with a wild combination.
A punch combination from Sam misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bailly tries to clinch but Sam is having none of it.
Bailly swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sam dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bailly. That did some damage!
Sam misses with a few strikes there.
Sam takes a swing at Bailly's ribcage but misses.
Bailly showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sam.
Sam takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sam works Bailly's body with a nice hook.
Sam throws a right hand that Bailly ducks under and follows up with a left that Bailly also avoids with ease.
Bailly is looking for a counter combo.
Sam lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Bailly backs up against the cage.
Bailly tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sam swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sam connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sam avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sam circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bailly lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Nice shot lands for Sam.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sam throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bailly moves out of range of the leg kick from Sam.
Bailly is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sam swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sam throws a low kick but Bailly avoids it.
Bailly tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sam scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Bailly shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Bailly shoots for a takedown but Sam saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thierry Bailly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sam swats away the attempt to clinch by Bailly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bailly checks a leg kick.
Bailly thinks about countering with a head kick.
Bailly just misses with a punch to the body.
Bailly pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bailly fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bailly tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sam manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bailly takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sam throws a head kick that misses.
A nice combination there by Sam.
Sam misses with a wild combination.
Bailly tries a head kick but it misses.
Sam throws a sloppy head kick and Bailly moves out of range easily.
Bailly wants to clinch up but Sam keeps it at a distance.
Sam throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sam misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bailly tries to clinch there but Sam circles away.
Bailly shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sam as he jumps to the side.
Sam misses with a wild combination.
Bailly tries a head kick but it misses.
Sam feints the counter takedown.
Bailly shoots in looking for a takedown. Sam tries to sprawl out of it but Bailly keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sam manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sam lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Bailly lands a high kick!
Thierry Bailly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bailly looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Bailly takes a swing at Sam's ribcage but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sahara Sam comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sam winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sahara Sam!
Sahara Sam took some time post fight to say the following; 'For the Pyramids!'.
The defeated Thierry Bailly had this to say: 'Despite my loss against an opponent who was tonight better as me a big thanks to my sponsor Savage Fightwear Island and the Highland organisation for having the chance fighting here tonight.Also a big thanks on the great fans and public supporting me.Thanks again and a rematch w'll be great !!!'.