PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dave O Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Baley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul Baley struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Dave O Connor has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

O Connor
vs
Baley

190 cm
18
182 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

176 cm
19
184 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

O'Brannigan's Fightwear

Fighting Spirit
BADGER MILK!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dave O Connor!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Paul Baley!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut there from Baley.
O Connor shoots in for a double leg but Baley sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
O Connor throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
O Connor looks to land a left hand but Baley moved out of range nicely.
Baley cracks O Connor with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

It looks like Dave O Connor has been cut.
Baley is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by O Connor.
O Connor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Baley.
O Connor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

O Connor clinches up with Baley and pushes him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baley is trying to break the clinch but O Connor has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Baley wants to break the clinch but can't.
Baley tries to break the clinch but O Connor is controlling the position.
Baley takes a knee right on the jaw!
O Connor is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
O Connor gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Baley.

Baley breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
O Connor works over Baley's head and body with a nice combination.
O Connor defending well as Baley loads up on a big left hand.
O Connor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baley takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Baley looks gassed!
Baley lands a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Connor slips under a jab.
O Connor lands the left hand.
O Connor slips under a jab from Baley.
Baley will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Baley misses with a head kick.
Baley takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
O Connor is looking to clinch but Baley is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Connor is looking to clinch but Baley is avoiding it.
Baley looks to land a left hand but O Connor moved out of range nicely.
O Connor cracks a nice hook into Baley's ribs.
O Connor shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave O Connor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baley swings away with a leg kick that misses.
O Connor slips a straight right by Baley.
O Connor scores with a crisp jab that stopped Baley in his tracks.
O Connor lands a jab to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baley tries to keep at a distance but O Connor has taken the fight into the clinch.

Baley manages to break the clinch.
O Connor misses with a body shot.
O Connor swats away the attempt to clinch by Baley.
Baley keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No joy there for Baley, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave O Connor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dave O Connor's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

O Connor shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Baley pinned against the cage. Baley gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Horrible takedown by Baley or perhaps it was just good defense by O Connor which made him look bad.

O Connor has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Connor landing knees to the head.
Baley is trying to break the clinch but O Connor has him pressed against the cage.
O Connor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Baley blocks it with crossed arms.

Baley breaks the clinch.
Baley keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Connor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Baley.
Baley fails to land with a series of punches.
Baley is looking to score with low kicks.
Baley is breathing heavily.
Baley moves out of range as O Connor strikes.
Baley ducks right into an uppercut from O Connor.
Baley takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

O Connor has closed the distance and engaged Baley in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baley breaks from the clinch.
Dave O Connor is winning the standup battle so far.
Baley throws an overhand right that lands on O Connor's shoulder, as O Connor tries to avoid the shot.
Baley walks into a jab.
O Connor throws a right and a left that Baley avoids nicely.
Baley circles away from the clinch attempt.
O Connor defending well as Baley loads up on a big left hand.
O Connor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
O Connor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baley paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Connor looks to land a left hand but Baley moved out of range nicely.
Baley throws a hook but O Connor avoids it easily.
Dave O Connor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
O Connor defending well as Baley loads up on a big left hand.
Baley misses with a jab, cross combination.
Baley circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - O Connor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - O Connor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

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.
Baley lands a nice shot that snaps O Connor's head back.
O Connor loads up on a big right hand but Baley slips the punch.
Baley scores with a head kick.
O Connor wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
O Connor looks to clinch
and Baley counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Baley circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave O Connor dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dave O Connor's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Baley scores with the left hand. O Connor knows he should have avoided that one.
No luck for O Connor with that takedown attempt.
O Connor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Baley.
Baley throws a head kick but O Connor moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Connor throws out a powerful jab.
O Connor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
O Connor tries to clinch up but Baley circles away and keeps his distance.
Baley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Connor doesn't manage to clinch there - Baley circles away.
O Connor slips under a jab.
Donk. O Connor catches Baley right on the button with a cross.
Baley misses with a jab, cross combination.
A decent looking cross lands there for Baley.
O Connor fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Baley uses good head movement to avoid the hook from O Connor.
O Connor tries to clinch there but Baley circles away.
O Connor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Horrible takedown by Baley or perhaps it was just good defense by O Connor which made him look bad.
O Connor connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Baley throws a lazy head kick

and O Connor counters with a left and a right that hurts Baley! He wobbles and falls to the floor - he's in big trouble! O Connor jumps into full mount!

Baley is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baley is squirming around, avoiding O Connor's attempts to control the action.
Baley is still in real trouble! Can O Connor finish him?
O Connor controlling his opponent.
Baley seems to have recovered his senses.
Baley tries to hold on but O Connor pushes him away.
Baley is squirming around, avoiding O Connor's attempts to control the action.
Baley is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Baley wants to get back to his feet.
Baley is squirming around, avoiding O Connor's attempts to control the action.
Baley tries to reverse the position but O Connor maintains control.
Baley swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
O Connor avoids the attempt from Baley to control.
Baley is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave O Connor clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Dave O Connor's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

O Connor goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Baley throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
O Connor tries a low kick but Baley avoids it.
O Connor fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Connor throws a hook but Baley avoids it easily.
O Connor throws a head kick that half lands.
Baley is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by O Connor.
Baley is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baley throws a left and a right that both miss
and O Connor counters with a lovely shot to the body.
O Connor smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
O Connor lands a lovely overhand right.
O Connor moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
O Connor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baley throws a lazy head kick
and O Connor counters with a nice uppercut.
O Connor tries for a takedown but Baley sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Connor lands with a straight right. Baley didn't see that one coming.
O Connor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
O Connor is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Baley swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
O Connor misses with the combination.
Baley connects with a nice looking jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baley takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
O Connor throws a nice head kick!
O Connor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Baley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
O Connor with a hook.
Baley takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
O Connor throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Baley stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baley misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Baley misses with a combination
and O Connor counters with a good, hard body kick but Baley shrugs it off.
O Connor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Baley just misses with a punch to the body.
O Connor throws a head kick that Baley semi-blocks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave O Connor had his way with Paul Baley in that round.
The cut man is working on Dave O Connor's cut.
That's time! O Connor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Baley takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Baley blocks a low kick nicely.
O Connor fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fighters circle momentarily. O Connor darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Baley throws a body punch but O Connor moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baley throws a head kick but O Connor moves out of range.
Baley misses with a hook.
Baley is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Connor connects with a vicious head kick that knocks Baley to the floor! O Connor dives in looking for the finish!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

O Connor decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Baley on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The fighters circle, before O Connor throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Baley's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! O Connor lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). Dave O Connor!
Dave O Connor is the new welterweight champion!