PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Te Rauparaha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Bailey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rauparaha
vs
Bailey

168 cm
32
143 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

172 cm
24
144 lbs
8 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

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 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Te Rauparaha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Alex Bailey!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rauparaha takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bailey throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rauparaha sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bailey looks to land a body kick but Rauparaha moved away.
A little feinted left hand from Rauparaha on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rauparaha lands an overhand right.
Bailey looks to throw the jab but Rauparaha is out of range.
Rauparaha avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rauparaha is looking to score with low kicks.
As Rauparaha backs off Bailey throws a huge counter combo but Rauparaha manages to avoid it all.
Rauparaha throws a jab when Bailey was well out of range.
Rauparaha connects with an inside leg kick.
Bailey swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A jab from Bailey misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rauparaha throws the left hand but Bailey avoids the punch easily.
And Bailey tries to counter it with a takedown but Rauparaha pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Rauparaha walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bailey checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Bailey avoids the body shot from Rauparaha.
Bailey uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rauparaha.
Bailey falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rauparaha counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauparaha ducks under a wild hook from Bailey.
Bailey lands a really nice looking cross but Rauparaha seems unphased.
Jab from Bailey.
Rauparaha has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Body Pain_14elite_650$+VM in the buildup to the fight.
Bailey throws a poor cross that misses
and Bailey takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bailey looks to throw the jab but Rauparaha is out of range.
Bailey avoids the body shot from Rauparaha.
Bailey looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bailey misses with a shot to the body
and Rauparaha cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bailey uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rauparaha.
Bailey is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Rauparaha throws out a loose jab but Bailey uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rauparaha lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rauparaha with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bailey to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rauparaha shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Bailey jabs Rauparaha right on the nose. Rauparaha blinks but takes it well.
Bailey jabs Rauparaha right on the nose. Rauparaha blinks but takes it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rauparaha has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rauparaha there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rauparaha throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Bailey with a hook.
Bailey is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Rauparaha had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bailey.
Bailey jabs Rauparaha to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rauparaha takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rauparaha tries a low kick but Bailey avoids it.
Bailey tries to move into range but Rauparaha moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bailey blocks a low kick nicely.
Bailey ducks under a wild hook from Rauparaha.
Rauparaha throws a hook to the side of Bailey's head but Bailey sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rauparaha lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bailey scores with a decent looking hook.
Rauparaha tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bailey is able to avoid easily.
Alex Bailey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bailey is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bailey with a nice cross.
Bailey uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rauparaha.
Bailey looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Bailey connects with the punch.
Rauparaha moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rauparaha lands with an uppercut that bounces Bailey off the cage and back into range.
Nice shot by Bailey.
Bailey misses with a looping left.
Bailey dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bailey ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rauparaha moves away.
Rauparaha with a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bailey ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bailey 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.
Bailey swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rauparaha counters with a series of strikes. Bailey will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Bailey.
A slow jab from Rauparaha misses its intended target.
Jab by Bailey.
Rauparaha throws the left hand but Bailey avoids the punch easily.
Bailey scores with a jab to the jaw.
Bailey staying out of range there.
A countering left hand to the body from Bailey misses.
Rauparaha thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rauparaha throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rauparaha misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bailey misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rauparaha.
Rauparaha misses the shot to the body.
Rauparaha moves out of range of the body kick from Bailey.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alex Bailey will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rauparaha looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Bailey scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Alex Bailey seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rauparaha blocks a low kick nicely.
Rauparaha scores with a jab to the jaw.
Bailey has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rauparaha.
Rauparaha takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bailey missing with a left hand there. Rauparaha was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rauparaha appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Bailey connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rauparaha looks to score with a jab to the body but Bailey is just out of range.
Rauparaha lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nice defenses there by Rauparaha.
Rauparaha misses with a low kick.
Rauparaha throws a hook but Bailey blocks it.
Rauparaha on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bailey misses with a looping left.
Bailey throws a wild body kick that Rauparaha sees coming a mile off.
Rauparaha fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rauparaha lands with a cross.
Bailey misses with a kick to the body.
Bailey pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bailey tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rauparaha tried to counter with a leg kick but Bailey avoided it.
Rauparaha throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bailey.
Rauparaha throws a leg kick but Bailey moved away.
Bailey feints the counter takedown.
Bailey slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Bailey throws a right and a left that Rauparaha avoids nicely.
Rauparaha finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rauparaha uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bailey.
Bailey lets loose with a powerful body kick. Rauparaha will feel that in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Bailey misses its intended target.
A little feinted left hand from Rauparaha on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rauparaha lands a head shot.
Bailey keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A low kick from Rauparaha is predictable there
letting Bailey counter with a right hand.
Rauparaha on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rauparaha throws the left hand but Bailey avoids the punch easily.
Bailey is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Bailey throws a hook to the side of Rauparaha's head but Rauparaha sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bailey misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rauparaha.
Rauparaha takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Bailey ducks under a wild hook from Rauparaha.
Bailey appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Bailey misses with a body shot.
Bailey lands with an uppercut that bounces Rauparaha off the cage and back into range.
Rauparaha slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rauparaha lands with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rauparaha just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice shot by Bailey.
Bailey needs to keep his hands up - Rauparaha had a free shot at his head there.
Bailey lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Bailey uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rauparaha.
Rauparaha waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bailey.
Bailey is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Bailey throws a body shot but no joy.
Bailey misses with a body shot.
Bailey scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rauparaha doesn't seem bothered though.
Rauparaha tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rauparaha lands the left hand.
Bailey checks a low kick from Rauparaha.
Bailey takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rauparaha walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bailey checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rauparaha pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bailey cracks Rauparaha with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bailey throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rauparaha misses with an uppercut. Bailey saw that one coming.
Rauparaha wants to slow Bailey down by chopping away at his legs.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rauparaha.
Bailey scores with a nice head shot.
Good shot there by Bailey.
Rauparaha keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rauparaha throws a hook to the side of Bailey's head but Bailey sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rauparaha connects with a solid leg kick.
Rauparaha scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alex Bailey will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bailey feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rauparahas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Bailey checks a low kick from Rauparaha.
Rauparaha misses with a wild body shot.
Bailey feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rauparahas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Bailey gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Bailey paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rauparaha gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rauparaha moves away from the strike by Bailey.
Rauparaha throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bailey on the side of the head.
Rauparaha looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rauparaha moves forwards but Bailey connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Bailey will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Bailey cracks Rauparaha with a right hand to the side of the head.
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!
Bailey throws a hook but Rauparaha blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauparaha with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rauparaha ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rauparaha is looking to counter punch.
Rauparaha throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rauparaha looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bailey keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bailey uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rauparaha.
A shot to the liver by Bailey. Beautiful body shot.
Rauparaha takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Bailey swings widly with a right hand
and Rauparaha counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bailey is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rauparaha takes a swing at Bailey's ribcage but misses.
Bailey drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rauparaha defends it well.
Bailey swings for the body but Rauparaha moves out of range.
Rauparaha scores with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bailey throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rauparaha takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rauparaha avoids the head kick by Bailey.
Bailey connects with a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Rauparaha.
It seemed like Bailey was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bailey misses with a combination
letting Rauparaha counter with a right hand.
Bailey bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bailey misses with a body shot.
Bailey cracks Rauparaha with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rauparaha lands a nice shot to the body.
Rauparaha lands with a nice body punch.
Bailey on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rauparaha. Rauparaha obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rauparaha stuns Bailey with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bailey misses with a hook
and Rauparaha counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rauparaha throws a jab when Bailey was well out of range.
Bailey with a jab.
Rauparaha connects with a jab.
Bailey connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rauparaha on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rauparaha fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rauparaha throws a leg kick but Bailey checks it.
Bailey uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rauparaha has time to react.
Rauparaha moves forwards but Bailey connects with a nice, crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rauparaha ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bailey moves away.
Bailey misses with a left hand
and Rauparaha counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Bailey misses.
Rauparaha walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rauparaha fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bailey manages to avoid it.
Bailey finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Bailey.
Bailey takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bailey. Rauparaha does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rauparaha takes a swing at Bailey's ribcage but misses.
Rauparaha throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Bailey looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rauparaha throws a looping overhand right but Bailey ducks down to avoid it.
Bailey misses with a combination
and Rauparaha counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Te Rauparaha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bailey scores with a nice right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alex Bailey.
Well Bailey 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Bailey!
Alex Bailey seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.