PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frank Pembelton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blaze Bailey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pembelton comes into the arena with Hail Mary by Tupac blaring out of the sound system. Bailey comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Eminem - Lose Yourself kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Pembelton
vs
Bailey

177 cm
33
179 lbs
25 - 18 - 1

190 cm
29
180 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Pembelton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Blaze Bailey!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Chad Campbell and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pembelton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bailey throws out the jab.
Bailey tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bailey buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Pembelton walks forward, straight into a front kick from Bailey.
Bailey throws a push kick but Pembelton slaps the foot to one side.
Bailey moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pembelton misses the shot to the body.
Pembelton moves out of range of the body kick.
Bailey thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Pembelton if he has to take too many more of those.

Bailey gets caught flat footed, as Pembelton shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Pembelton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pembelton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bailey seems keen to control Pembelton's posture.
Pembelton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pembelton throws an elbow that misses. Bailey uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pembelton's guard. Nice move by Bailey!
Pembelton keeping moving, preventing Bailey from controlling successfully.
Pembelton working a defensive guard here.

Pembelton has an active guard here but Bailey has managed to pass into half guard.
Bailey seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pembelton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bailey is looking to stall here but Pembelton recovers full guard.
Bailey wants to pass the guard but Pembelton is keeping the position.
Pembelton keeping moving, preventing Bailey from controlling successfully.

Blaze Bailey has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
An inside leg kick from Bailey misses.
Blaze Bailey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bailey throws a looping overhand right but Pembelton ducks down to avoid it.
Bailey misses the shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Bailey misses the target.
Pembelton jabs at Bailey's body.
Pembelton scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pembelton. Bailey does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bailey pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Blaze Bailey is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pembelton on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bailey. Bailey obviously looking to wear him down.
Bailey throws a solid leg kick but Pembelton takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Bailey.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pembelton scores with a jab to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bailey steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pembelton.

Pembelton manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bailey on his heels. He'll look to pass Bailey's guard now, I'm sure.
Pembelton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
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 Frank Pembelton will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bailey avoids the body shot from Pembelton.
Bailey misses with a kick to the body.
A big left from Bailey misses.
Pembelton checks a leg kick nicely.
Bailey is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pembelton.
Pembelton scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Bailey swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Pembelton.
Pembelton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bailey.
A jab from Bailey does it's job there.
Nice defenses there by Bailey.
Pembelton tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Pembelton 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.
Pembelton is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pembelton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pembelton misses with a left hand
and Bailey makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Bailey moves out of range as Pembelton strikes.
Pembelton shoots in but no luck this time.
Pembelton throws a jab when Bailey was well out of range.
Pembelton chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bailey can pounce on him.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Bailey.
Bailey lands an overhand right.
Pembelton blocks the body kick.
Pembelton is looking to wear down Bailey with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Pembelton chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bailey can pounce on him.
Jab by Pembelton.
Pembelton misses with an uppercut
and Bailey counters with a low kick, right behind Pembelton 's knee.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bailey tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pembelton blocks a leg kick.

Pembelton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Pembelton is just content to waste time from the top position. Bailey takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Pembelton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bailey keeping moving, preventing Pembelton from controlling successfully.
Pembelton is really struggling to control Bailey but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Pembelton landing some decent shots from guard.
Pembelton connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bailey keeping moving, preventing Pembelton from controlling successfully.
Pembelton postures up in Bailey's guard and throws a big left but Bailey blocks it.
Bailey has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Pembelton has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pembelton is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bailey knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Pembelton is trying to ground and pound but Bailey uses the momentary lack of control by Pembelton to regain half guard.
Pembelton throwing shots but Bailey is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pembelton with the ground and pound but Bailey uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Pembelton trying to control the position from guard on top but Bailey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Pembelton dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Pembelton dives in and grabs Bailey's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bailey pushes down on Pembelton's head and hops out.
Bailey tries a head kick but it misses.
Bailey lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pembelton tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Pembelton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bailey moves away.

Pembelton throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bailey was covering up waiting for the punch and Pembelton finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Pembelton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Pembelton is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bailey is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bailey has escaped and now he's on top!
Bailey is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pembelton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bailey won't allow Pembelton to sweep him here.
Blaze Bailey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Pembelton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bailey defends it easily.

Pembelton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bailey is aware though and is defending well.
Bailey controlling from the top position.
Bailey trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bailey trying to control the position from guard on top but Pembelton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bailey advances to half guard.
Bailey trying to control the action but Pembelton is working from the bottom.
Bailey stalling away here and it's allowed Pembelton to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Bailey wants to control from the top but Pembelton keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bailey drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pembelton manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bailey has Pembelton in his guard.
Frank Pembelton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pembelton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Frank Pembelton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pembelton wants to control from the top but Bailey keeps moving.

Pembelton drops back looking for a leg! Bailey is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bailey manages to kick Pembelton off! Pembelton jumps back into Bailey's guard.

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 Frank Pembelton.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pembelton, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Pembelton!