PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bailey Moto (ranked 9294 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francis Nggunou (ranked 5769 p4p, 0 weight class). Moto comes to the cage accompanied by Who Let the Dogs Out?. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Moto
vs
Nggunou

186 cm
18
220 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

193 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bailey Moto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Francis Nggunou!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Peter Branson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Moto has managed to clinch.

Moto pulls Nggunou into guard.
Moto keeping moving, preventing Nggunou from controlling successfully.
Nggunou being controlled here momentarily.
Moto looking for a sweep. Not yet Moto, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moto wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Moto 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moto pulls Nggunou in close to his closed guard and prevents Nggunou from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've been hearing good reports from Moto's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Moto looking for a sweep. Not yet Moto, not yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nggunou looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Moto is looking to counter with a body kick.
Nggunou misses with a takedown

and Moto counters by moving into the clinch.

Nggunou is fighting off a takedown attempt but Moto is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Nggunou to the mat. Nggunou regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Moto is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nggunou looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nggunou is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nggunou should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Nggunou wants to sweep here but Moto controlling him for the moment.
Moto slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Nggunou is trying to control the position but Moto postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moto passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Nggunou moves into full guard.

Nggunou is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Moto defends well.
Moto wants to control from the top but Nggunou keeps moving.
Moto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nggunou swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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.
Moto throws a head kick but Nggunou moves out of range.
Nggunou throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Nggunou pushes Moto up against the cage in a clinch.

Moto has picked Nggunou up - he's going for a ride! Moto dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Nggunou is looking for a sweep. Moto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nggunou trying to hold on to Moto's head to control him but Moto postures up.
Moto seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nggunou wants to sweep but Moto has passed to side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bailey Moto dominated that round.
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.

Nggunou instigates a clinch.
Nggunou is trying to pull guard but Moto has him pressed against the cage.

Moto manages to break the clinch.
Moto looks to land a combination but Nggunou avoids it well.

Moto has closed the distance and engaged Nggunou in a clinch.
Nggunou is looking to break free of the clinch but Moto has double underhooks.

Moto has clasped his hands together around Nggunou's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moto is chipping away with strikes.

Moto decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nggunou to his feet.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Moto here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Moto moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moto lands an elbow that stopped Nggunou in his tracks for a moment.
Nggunou jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Moto walks away with a smile on his face. Nggunou gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Moto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Moto throws out a loose jab but Nggunou uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bailey Moto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Nggunou moves into the clinch.

Moto gets control of Nggunou's arms and successfully pulls guard. Moto will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Moto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Moto is working hard here to advance position.
Nggunou trying to stand up but can't free himself from Moto's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nggunou throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Moto keeping full guard, as Nggunou tries to pass.
Nggunou trying to control the position from guard on top but Moto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nggunou accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

Moto tries to keep at a distance but Nggunou has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nggunou tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Moto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bailey Moto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francis Nggunou.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nggunou working hard to break the clinch.
Nggunou jumps guard but Moto stands there with Nggunou around his waist. Nggunou gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nggunou tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Moto smiles and moves away.
Nggunou fails to land the takedown.

Nggunou clinches with his opponent.
Nggunou is trying to pull guard but Moto has him pressed against the cage.
Nggunou wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Moto lands a takedown into guard.
Nggunou wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Moto manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nggunou wants to get back to full guard.
Nggunou avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Moto.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Moto seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Nggunou has recovered full guard.

Nggunou looking for subs off his back but Moto has passed one foot through into half guard.
Bailey Moto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nggunou manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Moto keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
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 Bailey Moto will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Nggunou shoots in but no luck this time.

Nggunou moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Nggunou's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nggunou tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bailey Moto has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Moto lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nggunou has Moto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Moto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Moto pulls guard successfully.
Nggunou trying to control but Moto is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moto is pulling down on Nggunou's head to control his posture.
Moto is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nggunou wants to stand but Moto is controlling his posture from full guard.
Moto trying to keep a closed guard but Nggunou is proving a slippery customer.
Nggunou wants to stand but Moto is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nggunou wants to pass the guard but Moto is keeping the position.

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

That's two 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.

Nggunou closes the distance and pushes Moto back into the cage.
Moto swings wildly with an uppercut but Nggunou uses good head movement to avoid it.
Moto leaning against his opponent.
Nggunou is pressed up against the cage. Moto has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nggunou down to the mat. Nggunou avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nggunou shoots in for a takedown but Moto shows good takedown defense.
Bailey Moto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francis Nggunou.

Nggunou rushes Moto and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moto lands a nice elbow.
Nggunou wants to break the clinch but can't.
Moto misses with a knee strike.

Moto jumps guard.
Moto lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Moto postures up and lands a big shot to Nggunou's brow.
Bailey Moto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nggunou 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.
Nggunou is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Moto passes Nggunou's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Moto is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Francis Nggunou has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nggunou won't allow Moto to pass to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bailey Moto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Moto has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bailey Moto!
Bailey Moto thanked the fans post fight for their support.