PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gasan Magomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harley Bailey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harley Bailey will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Magomedov
vs
Bailey

183 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
24
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gasan Magomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Harley Bailey!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bailey fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Magomedov, pushing him back against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Bailey lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Gasan Magomedov has been cut.

Bailey lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bailey wants to take a breather but Magomedov is having none of it.

Bailey is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Magomedov is just riding it out for now. Bailey eventually gives up the hold.
Magomedov trying to control here.

Bailey seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bailey tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Bailey with the ground and pound but Magomedov uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Magomedov looking for a sweep. Not yet Magomedov, not yet.
Magomedov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bailey trying to control the position from guard on top but Magomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Bailey drives through and clinches with Magomedov against the cage.

Magomedov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Bailey clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Bailey manages to reverse the position and now he's in Magomedov's guard. Nice work there by Bailey.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bailey accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bailey controls from within his opponent's guard.
Magomedov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Magomedov wants to take a breather but Bailey is having none of it.
Bailey really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Magomedov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Magomedov thows a huge punch but Bailey dodges it nicely.
Bailey is trying to get back to full guard.
Bailey looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Magomedov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Magomedov is trying to control the action in half guard but Bailey is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Gasan Magomedov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Bailey closes the distance and clinches.
Magomedov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Magomedov goes for a takedown attempt but Bailey pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Magomedov misses the shot to the body.

Magomedov takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Magomedov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Bailey regains guard immediately.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Magomedov 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.

That was a close round but I would say that Gasan Magomedov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gasan Magomedov's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bailey closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bailey lands in his opponent's guard.
Magomedov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bailey.
Magomedov wants to sweep here but Bailey controlling him for the moment.
Bailey trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bailey cracks Magomedov with a solid left hand.
Bailey preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov trying to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Bailey tries to stand but Magomedov is controlling from the bottom.
Bailey wants to control from the top but Magomedov keeps moving.
Bailey must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Harley Bailey wasn't active enough on the ground.

Bailey gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Magomedov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Bailey clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Magomedov throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Bailey manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Bailey.
Magomedov preventing the sweep.
Magomedov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Bailey has his feet on Magomedov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bailey closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bailey lands in his opponent's guard.
Magomedov looking for a sweep. Not yet Magomedov, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bailey postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Magomedov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bailey, into his guard.
Magomedov forces his way into half guard.
Bailey blocking the ground and pound attempt from Magomedov.
Magomedov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Magomedov slows the pace down in half guard.
Bailey is trying to stand back up but Magomedov is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov drops an elbow to the side of Bailey's head.
Magomedov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bailey defending well though.
Magomedov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Magomedov is trying to control the action in half guard but Bailey is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gasan Magomedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Magomedov working Bailey over with strikes.
Magomedov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bailey can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bailey avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Magomedov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Magomedov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Magomedov is nestled in close to Bailey, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Magomedov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gasan Magomedov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gasan Magomedov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bailey closes the distance and clinches.
Magomedov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bailey leaning his opponent against the cage.
A short left from Magomedov.

Magomedov tightens his grip and picks Bailey up, before dumping him to the ground. Bailey manages to land in guard.
Magomedov prevents Bailey from getting back to his feet.
Bailey is trying to control the position but Magomedov postures up.
Magomedov postures up in Bailey's guard and throws a big left but Bailey blocks it.
Bailey has momentary wrist control but Magomedov slips an elbow through the middle.
Magomedov looking to pass the guard.
Magomedov trying to control but Bailey is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Magomedov trying to control but Bailey is working from the bottom.
Magomedov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bailey keeping moving, preventing Magomedov from controlling successfully.
Magomedov won't allow Bailey to get back to his feet.
Magomedov wants to control from the top but Bailey keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gasan Magomedov wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Bailey gets tackled into the cage by Magomedov. Magomedov maintains the clinch.
Bailey lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Bailey working Magomedov over with knees to the body.
Magomedov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bailey pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Magomedov wants a takedown.
Bailey gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bailey.

Bailey breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bailey fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Magomedov, pushing him back against the cage.
Magomedov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Magomedov tries to score a body lock takedown but Bailey shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gasan Magomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice elbow from Bailey.
Gasan Magomedov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Gasan Magomedov's cut is getting worse.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov leaning against his opponent.
Bailey content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Magomedov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bailey fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Magomedov dodges the punch combination from Bailey.
Harley Bailey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bailey throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Bailey clinches up with Magomedov and pushes him back against the cage.
Bailey gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bailey creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bailey tries to land knees in the clinch but Magomedov avoids the damage to the body.
Bailey lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Gasan Magomedov's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Bailey creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Magomedov's defenses.
Harley Bailey seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bailey trying to land knees to the body.
Magomedov takes an elbow to the forehead.

Jeez, Gasan Magomedov's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Bailey throws a punch but it's blocked by Magomedov.
Magomedov blocking some punches.
Bailey using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Magomedov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Bailey pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bailey pulls out of a head kick attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bailey has closed the distance and engaged Magomedov in a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bailey throws an elbow but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harley Bailey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Magomedov 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gasan Magomedov!