PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ismael Washington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Bailes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Washington
vs
Bailes

160 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ismael Washington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rick Bailes!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bailes clinches with his opponent.
Bailes looking to throw knees to the head but Washington is blocking nicely.
Bailes lands a nice shot to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Bailes throws an elbow but misses.
Washington tries to score a body lock takedown but Bailes shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Washington pulls Bailes into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Bailes trying to control but Washington is working from the bottom.
Bailes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bailes preventing the sweep.
Washington controls Bailes momentarily but Bailes frees himself.
Bailes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bailes would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rick Bailes.

Washington tries to keep at a distance but Bailes has taken the fight into the clinch.

Washington is fighting off a takedown attempt but Bailes is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Washington to the mat. Washington regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Washington wants to stand up but Bailes is controlling him.
Bailes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bailes pushing down on Washington's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bailes winds up and cracks Washington with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington manages to get to full guard.
Bailes tries to stand but Washington is controlling from the bottom.
Washington is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bailes content to stall in guard here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Washington has a closed guard, preventing Bailes from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bailes seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Washington tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Bailes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bailes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Washington could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Washington has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Bailes has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bailes tries to get to his feet but Washington is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Bailes in his guard.
Bailes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bailes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Washington controls Bailes momentarily but Bailes frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bailes controlling from the top position.
Bailes postures up and lands a big shot to Washington's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Bailes dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bailes throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Washington tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bailes is in Washington's guard.
Washington has a closed guard, preventing Bailes from standing up.
Bailes seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Bailes wants to get up but he can't break Washington's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Washington might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bailes preventing the sweep.
Washington wants to get back to his feet but Bailes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Washington wants to get back to his feet but Bailes passes into half guard.

Bailes is trying to work for a kimura but Washington is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bailes tries to pass to full mount but Washington defends it.
Bailes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bailes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Washington manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Washington is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Washington being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bailes trying to stand up but can't free himself from Washington's guard.
Bailes content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rick Bailes was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Bailes keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bailes misses with the combination.
A head kick misses from Bailes.

Bailes throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Washington was covering up waiting for the punch and Bailes finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Bailes stopping the sweep attempt from Washington.
Bailes postures up.
Bailes is in close to Washington's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washington looking to control but Bailes passes into half guard.
Washington is looking to improve his position.
Bailes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Washington is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bailes lands with a punch from half guard.
Bailes tries to pass to full mount but Washington defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Bailes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Washington's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bailes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Washington wants to clinch up but Bailes keeps it at a distance.

Bailes feints and as Washington raises his hands in defense, Bailes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bailes is looking to stand up but Washington won't let him.
Washington keeping moving, preventing Bailes from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Washington 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.
Washington is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bailes lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bailes throws a big elbow that misses.
Bailes engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Bailes is looking to stand up but Washington won't let him.
Washington keeping moving, preventing Bailes from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rick Bailes wasn't active enough on the ground.
Washington tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bailes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Washington takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Washington closes the distance looking to clinch

and Bailes counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington is trying to keep Bailes in close.
Washington is really struggling to control Bailes but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Washington keeping moving, preventing Bailes from controlling successfully.
Bailes stopping the sweep attempt from Washington.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bailes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Bailes moves into the clinch.
Washington jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bailes walks away with a smile on his face. Washington gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Washington tries to clinch but Bailes moves away

and Bailes moves into the clinch.

Bailes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bailes throws a head kick that misses.
Bailes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Washington moves away.

Bailes scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Bailes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bailes content to control rather than advance.
Bailes seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bailes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bailes looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Bailes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bailes tries to stand and escape but Washington is controlling the position.
Bailes wants to pass the guard but Washington is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Washington works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ismael Washington has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rick Bailes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bailes controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Bailes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bailes has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Bailes!