PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jerede Baya (ranked 3060 p4p, 0 weight class) and Badr Houdoe (ranked 2803 p4p, 0 weight class). Baya has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baya
vs
Houdoe

179 cm
25
156 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

176 cm
25
153 lbs
5 - 0 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jerede Baya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Badr Houdoe!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baya fails with the takedown.
Baya fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Baya misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerede Baya. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baya stuffs the takedown attempt from Houdoe. Houdoe gets slowly back to his feet.
Houdoe misses with a takedown attempt - Baya sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Baya stuffs the takedown attempt from Houdoe. Houdoe gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Baya.
Houdoe tries to score a power double leg takedown but Baya sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Houdoe somewhat.
Baya appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Houdoe pushes Baya up against the cage in a clinch.

Houdoe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baya fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Houdoe closes the distance and clinches.
Baya can't break the clinch.

Houdoe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Houdoe lands a body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Baya as Houdoe shoots in.
Baya seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houdoe fails with the takedown.
Houdoe throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Houdoe throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Baya tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Houdoe is in Baya's guard.
Baya is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Baya is breathing heavily.
Houdoe trying to control but Baya is working from the bottom.
Houdoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Baya has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houdoe won't allow Baya to sweep him here.
Baya is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Baya is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Houdoe is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Houdoe won't allow Baya to sweep him here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Houdoe lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Houdoe shoots for a double leg takedown but Baya sprawls well. He's pushed Houdoe's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Houdoe looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Baya is fending him off so far but Houdoe persists. Nope, Baya circles away and we're back to standing.
Baya stuffs the takedown.

Baya moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houdoe jumps guard but Baya turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Houdoe tries for a takedown. No joy.
Houdoe is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Baya to keep the fight standing.

Baya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Baya shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Houdoe on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Baya. Baya obviously looking to wear him down.
Baya shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Houdoe counters by clinching up.

Houdoe jumps guard and drags Baya to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Houdoe is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Baya is controlling him.

Baya is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Houdoe is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Houdoe has escaped and now he's on top!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badr Houdoe dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Houdoe misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Baya is looking to counter the offense by Houdoe and move into the clinch.
Houdoe shoots in for a double leg but Baya sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
It looked like Baya wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Baya moves in looking to clinch but Houdoe pushes him off.
Houdoe is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Houdoe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Baya clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Houdoe stalling in the clinch.

Houdoe manages to break the clinch.
Baya fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baya throws a half hearted mid kick.
Houdoe drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Baya defends it well.
Jerede Baya is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baya shoots in for a takedown but Houdoe shows good takedown defense.
Houdoe tries to counter with a clinch but Baya shakes him off and moves away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baya misses with a head kick.
Houdoe fails with the takedown.
Jerede Baya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Badr Houdoe.
Houdoe throws a sloppy head kick and Baya moves out of range easily.
Houdoe displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Baya.

Houdoe has taken the fight to the clinch.
Houdoe drops down looking for an ankle pick but Baya pulls his leg out and moves away.
Baya throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Houdoe clinches up against the cage.

Houdoe pulls guard successfully.
Houdoe keeping moving, preventing Baya from controlling successfully.
Houdoe controls Baya momentarily but Baya frees himself.
Baya won't allow Houdoe to get back to his feet.
Baya has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Houdoe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Houdoe trying to strike off his back.
Houdoe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houdoe is pulling down on Baya's head to control his posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Houdoe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Baya swivels and escapes.
Baya is looking to counter punch.

Baya gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Baya escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Houdoe tries for a takedown but Baya circles away easily

and Baya moves into the clinch.

Baya manages to pull guard.
Baya tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Houdoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Baya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baya wants to improve his position but instead Houdoe has moved into half guard.
Houdoe is trying to control. Baya wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Baya wants to get back to full guard.
Houdoe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Houdoe moves nicely into side control.
Houdoe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baya keeps working.
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 Jerede Baya will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Baya fails with an attempt to clinch.
Houdoe shoots for a takedown but Baya saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Baya tries to clinch but Houdoe is having none of it.
Houdoe darts in looking for a takedown but Baya gets double underhooks and turns Houdoe into the cage.
A head kick misses from Baya.
Houdoe is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Baya misses with a looping right.
Baya shoots in but no luck this time.
Houdoe scoring well with a low kick there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Houdoe clinches.
Houdoe is trying to pull guard but Baya has him pressed against the cage.
Jerede Baya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Badr Houdoe.

Houdoe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Baya shoots in for a takedown but Houdoe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houdoe shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Baya sprawls well. Baya wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Houdoe gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Houdoe.
Houdoe fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Houdoe shoots in for a takedown but Baya shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Houdoe tries to close the distance and clinch but Baya swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It looked like Baya was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Houdoe.
Baya looks to land a body kick but Houdoe moved away.
Baya moves in looking to clinch but Houdoe pushes him off.
Houdoe keeps the fight on the outside.
Houdoe blocks a head kick by Baya.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houdoe misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Baya throws a head kick that misses.

Houdoe moves into the clinch.
Baya is trying to break the clinch but Houdoe is controlling him.
Baya jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Houdoe walks away with a smile on his face. Baya gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A head kick misses from Baya.
Houdoe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Baya stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Baya wants it to stay on the feet.
Houdoe shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Houdoe shoots for a takedown but Baya saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baya throws a series of punches but Houdoe avoids them all with ease.

Baya has managed to clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Houdoe is working for takedown but Baya is calmly controlling the position for now.
Houdoe misses with a punch to the body.
Houdoe softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Come on Baya - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baya blocks an elbow strike from Houdoe.
Baya is trying to pull guard but Houdoe turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Houdoe works on Baya's body with a couple of short punches.
Houdoe stalling the fight.
Baya wants to get back to striking at distance but Houdoe won't allow it.

Baya breaks from the clinch.
Baya has his takedown stuffed
and Houdoe counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Houdoe closes this distance looking for a takedown but Baya circles away.

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 Jerede Baya.
I think Baya has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jerede Baya!