PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Bailey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khatir Afridi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Bailey has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Bailey
vs
Afridi

172 cm
29
145 lbs
12 - 8 - 1

167 cm
27
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Bailey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Khatir Afridi!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Afridi throws a body punch but Bailey moves out of range.
Afridi lands a body shot.
Bailey moves away from the strike by Afridi.
Bailey takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bailey fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
We've been informed that Afridi has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Afridi moves into the clinch successfully.
Bailey lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Afridi backwards.
Afridi blocks a body shot from Bailey.
Afridi has a couple of punches blocked by Bailey.
Good body shot from Bailey.
Bailey misses with a hook to the ribs.
Afridi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Afridi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bailey lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bailey throws a punch but it's blocked by Afridi.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Bailey takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Afridi jumps guard but Bailey turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Afridi jumps guard but Bailey turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Afridi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Bailey swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Afridi misses with some punches.
Bailey lands a hook that snaps the head of Afridi backwards.
Afridi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bailey lands a nice uppercut.
Afridi tries to work over Bailey's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Afridi is pressed up against the cage. Bailey has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Afridi down to the mat. Afridi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Afridi lands a head shot.
Afridi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Afridi lands with an uppercut that bounces Bailey off the cage and back into range.
Bailey slips a jab from Afridi.
Bailey scores with a body shot.
Afridi lands with a shot to the body.
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 takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

It looks like Alex Bailey has been cut.
Afridi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bailey can pounce on him.
Khatir Afridi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bailey uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bailey. Afridi shrugs it off though.
Afridi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Afridi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bailey was well out of range. Poor timing from Afridi.
Bailey takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Afridi.
Khatir Afridi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bailey thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Afridi if he has to take too many more of those.
Afridi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bailey stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bailey ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bailey appears to be looking for a big counter.
Afridi needs to keep his hands up - Bailey had a free shot at his head there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Afridi. Bailey does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bailey slips under a jab from Afridi.

Afridi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bailey swings wildly with an uppercut but Afridi uses good head movement to avoid it.

Afridi manages to pull guard.

Afridi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bailey stands up over Afridi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Afridi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bailey is aware though and is defending well.
Bailey works over Afridi with some ground and pound from guard.
Afridi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bailey is one step ahead there.

Bailey avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bailey passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Afridi is looking for a sweep.
Bailey working the head and body with strikes.
Afridi struggling a bit here.
Afridi takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Afridi looks to move to half guard but instead Bailey has passed into mount! Damn!
Afridi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Afridi in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Bailey working away from the top, dropping strikes.

It looks like Khatir Afridi has been cut.
Afridi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Afridi tries to lock up and control but Bailey gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bailey landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bailey avoids the attempt from Afridi to control.
Afridi is trying to escape the mount.
Bailey lands a nice shot to the head.
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 Alex Bailey will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bailey looks to land a left hand but Afridi moved out of range nicely.

Afridi clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Bailey tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bailey tries to throw a body punch but Afridi avoids it by throwing Bailey back against the cage.
Bailey tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bailey swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bailey lands a shot to the body.
Afridi scores with a shoulder strike.
Bailey tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Afridi can't find room to land a body shot as Bailey controls the action.
A right hand to the body from Bailey.
Afridi looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bailey pushes Afridi back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Bailey has Afridi pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Bailey pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Afridi tumbling to the mat - Bailey dives into Afridi's guard.
Bailey trying to control but Afridi is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Afridi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Afridi is looking for a triangle but Bailey pushes his legs off easily.
Bailey stopping the sweep attempt from Afridi.

Afridi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bailey defends well.
Afridi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bailey with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Afridi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bailey can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Afridi has his foot on Bailey's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bailey works his way back into a safe position though.

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.
Bailey scoring with some ground and pound.
Alex Bailey overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Afridi is trying to control the position but Bailey postures up.
Afridi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bailey manages to get himself to full guard.

Bailey trying to control the position.

Bailey is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Afridi is aware though and is defending well.
Afridi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Afridi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Afridi taking a break here but Bailey is having none of it and regains half guard.
Afridi prevents Bailey from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Afridi is keen to just control but Bailey is a slippery customer.

Bailey looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Afridi is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Bailey reverses the position - he's now on top in Afridi's guard.

Afridi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bailey defends well.
Bailey trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Afridi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bailey defends it easily.
Afridi trying to keep a closed guard but Bailey is proving a slippery customer.

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

Bailey avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Afridi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bailey gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bailey wants to control from the top but Afridi keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Bailey dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Afridi avoids the body shot from Bailey.
Bailey takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Bailey lands a nice shot that snaps Afridi's head back.
Afridi lands with an overhand left.
Afridi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bailey.
Bailey half committed to a counter leg kick.
Bailey slips a straight right by Afridi.
Bailey thows a left - swing and a miss!
Afridi misses with a double jab
and Bailey counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Afridi gets a clinch.
Bailey working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Bailey lands a nice shot to the body.
Afridi misses with a punch to the body.
Afridi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bailey is keeping busy.
Alex Bailey has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Afridi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Afridi prevents a body shot from Bailey.
Afridi tries to pull guard but Bailey won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bailey tries a body shot but Afridi blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bailey.
Bailey throws a punch but it's blocked by Afridi.
Good body shot from Afridi.
Afridi blocks a body shot from Bailey.
Bailey makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Bailey.
Bailey taking a breather.
Afridi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bailey tries to work over Afridi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Afridi working aggressively here.
A short uppercut from Afridi.
Afridi is trying to break the clinch but Bailey is controlling him.
Afridi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Bailey looking for a takedown.
Bailey has Afridi pushed against the cage.
Khatir Afridi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bailey tries a body shot but Afridi blocks it.
Afridi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bailey smiles and moves away.
Bailey takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bailey takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Afridi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bailey.
Afridi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bailey slips a jab from Afridi.
Bailey feinted there with a counter leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bailey scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Afridi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bailey scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Afridi doesn't seem bothered though.

Afridi closes the distance and clinches.
Afridi tries a body shot but Bailey blocks it.
Bailey misses with a short punch on the inside.
Afridi stalling in the clinch but Bailey improves position.
Afridi throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Afridi lands a left hand.
Bailey lands with a left to the head.
Bailey lands a right hand that snaps the head of Afridi backwards.
Afridi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Baileys head.
Bailey blocks a body shot from Afridi.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Afridi.
Bailey misses with a punch to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Afridi.
Afridi prevents a body shot from Bailey.
Afridi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bailey leaning against his opponent.
Bailey holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Afridi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bailey lands a left hand.
Bailey tries for a takedown but Afridi manages to get underhooks.
Afridi stalling in the clinch but Bailey improves position.
Afridi has had enough of the clinch but Bailey keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Afridi throws a punch but it's blocked by Bailey.
Bailey lands with a right to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Afridi tries a body shot but Bailey blocks it.
A shot in the inside from Afridi.
Alex Bailey is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Afridi lands with a light punch inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Afridi.
Afridi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Bailey on the inside.
Bailey blocks an uppercut.
Bailey blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Afridi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Afridi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Khatir Afridi.
I think Bailey 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Bailey!
An out of breath Alex Bailey thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.