PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kendric Bazemore (ranked 5133 p4p, 5026 weight class) and Ike Wellstone (ranked 626 p4p, 615 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bazemore
vs
Wellstone

195 cm
25
212
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
24
209
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kendric Bazemore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ike Wellstone!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Eddie Farnsworth and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wellstone looks to score with a jab to the body but Bazemore is just out of range.
Bazemore attempts a counter takedown but Wellstone avoids it well and moves away.
Wellstone fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bazemore manages to avoid it.
Wellstone stuffs the takedown attempt from Bazemore. Bazemore gets slowly back to his feet.
Wellstone keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ike Wellstone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bazemore shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wellstone pinned against the cage. Wellstone gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kendric Bazemore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wellstone misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Bazemore decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Wellstone's guard.
Wellstone looking for a sweep. Not yet Wellstone, not yet.
Wellstone really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bazemore. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bazemore looking to pass the guard.
Bazemore in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bazemore postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bazemore is stalling in the full guard.
Wellstone is trying to hold Bazemore in close to prevent damage but Bazemore has managed to pass into half guard.
Bazemore working Wellstone over with strikes.
Bazemore working Wellstone over with strikes.
Wellstone is trying to maintain the position but Bazemore is very close to passing his half guard.
Bazemore throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bazemore prevents Wellstone from improving his position.

Bazemore is trying to work for a kimura but Wellstone is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wellstone is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bazemore is keen to just control but Wellstone is a slippery customer.
Bazemore prevents Wellstone from standing back up.
Wellstone wants to improve his position but Bazemore is controlling well.

Bazemore is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bazemore uses his free foot to push down on Wellstone's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Wellstone.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Wellstone can do anything to dispel that myth.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bazemore lands a big elbow.
Bazemore lands a big shot there that rocks Wellstone but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Bazemore working for a guillotine from mount but Wellstone is in no mood to give up.

Bazemore swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Wellstone is now in Bazemore's guard. A big mistake from Bazemore there, giving up the dominant position!
Wellstone trying to control but Bazemore is working from the bottom.
Wellstone controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bazemore working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wellstone doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wellstone manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Wellstone trying to control the position from guard on top but Bazemore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wellstone is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Bazemore is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wellstone is trying to control but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bazemore seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wellstone wants to improve his position but Bazemore is controlling well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bazemore closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bazemore lands in his opponent's guard.
Wellstone is trying to control the position but Bazemore postures up.
Wellstone has momentary wrist control but Bazemore slips an elbow through the middle.
Wellstone preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wellstone looking for a sweep. Not yet Wellstone, not yet.
Bazemore is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wellstone wants to sweep but no luck.
Bazemore looking to sit in guard and control but Wellstone gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wellstone trying to control but Bazemore is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wellstone postures up in Bazemore's guard and throws a big left but Bazemore blocks it.
Wellstone engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Wellstone is continuing to stall.
Bazemore keeping moving, preventing Wellstone from controlling successfully.
Bazemore tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Wellstone pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bazemore is keeping the position for now.

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.
Wellstone is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Bazemore keeping moving, preventing Wellstone from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Wellstone fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bazemore, pushing him back against the cage.
Wellstone unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bazemore lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Wellstone tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bazemore avoids it.
Wellstone working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Bazemore is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bazemore is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Wellstone gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bazemore is trying to drag Wellstone to the mat but Wellstone just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kendric Bazemore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wellstone lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bazemore is looking for a takedown.
Bazemore tries to score a body lock takedown but Wellstone shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bazemore changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Wellstone fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bazemore moves out of range of the body kick.
Bazemore tries to score a power double leg takedown but Wellstone sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bazemore somewhat.
Wellstone cracks Bazemore with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Wellstone misses with a wild body shot.
Bazemore takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wellstone connects with a looping right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Wellstone lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Bazemore has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Bazemore and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kendric Bazemore is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wellstone throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bazemore sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wellstone throws a half hearted mid kick.

Wellstone instigates a clinch.
Wellstone prevents the takedown attempt.
Bazemore has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wellstone is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Wellstone stops a takedown attempt from Bazemore.
Wellstone lands a nice uppercut.
Wellstone lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bazemore backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bazemore avoiding damage as Wellstone throws knees to the body.
Wellstone landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Wellstone using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Wellstone obliges.
Wellstone lands an uppercut.
Wellstone gets through Bazemore's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ike Wellstone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Wellstone getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wellstone fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bazemore manages to avoid it.

Wellstone closes the distance and clinches.
Bazemore is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Wellstone is defending well.
Ike Wellstone seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Wellstone prevents a takedown attempt there.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Wellstone.
Bazemore wants to take the fight to the mat but Wellstone manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kendric Bazemore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bazemore changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Wellstone fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bazemore shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wellstone defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the liver by Wellstone. Beautiful body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bazemore takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Wellstone is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Bazemore rather than just go for the knockout.
Wellstone connects with a right hand. Bazemore shakes it off.

Wellstone drops Bazemore with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Bazemore looks back up at him and smiles so Wellstone waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Bazemore is rocked!
Wellstone lunges in with a left hook that violently twists Bazemore head around and knocks him out cold! Wellstone hops onto the cage and yells out at the top of his lungs - Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaah! They're showing the replay on the big screens now; that was nasty! I hope one of the photographers got a good shot of it.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ike Wellstone!
A very excited looking Ike Wellstone made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.