PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nail Smitterhs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smitterhs comes to the cage accompanied by Lady GaGa - Poker Face. Payne comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Can't be touched kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smitterhs
vs
Payne

194 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

188 cm
24
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nail Smitterhs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jason Payne!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payne tries to clinch up.
Payne wants to clinch up but Smitterhs keeps it at a distance.
Payne doesn't manage to clinch there - Smitterhs circles away.
A jab from Payne misses.
Smitterhs displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Smitterhs blocks a head kick by Payne.
Smitterhs lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Smitterhs lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Payne circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smitterhs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A combination from Smitterhs does no damage.
Payne lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smitterhs circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smitterhs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Payne moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smitterhs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Payne moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smitterhs misses with a series of wild punches.
The fighters circling - Payne throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Payne moves into the clinch successfully.
Smitterhs throws an elbow but it misses.
Smitterhs prevents a takedown attempt there.
Payne goes for a takedown in the clinch but Smitterhs prevents it.
Smitterhs is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Payne gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smitterhs misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Payne is trying to maintain a safe position but Smitterhs gets an underhook and turns Payne into the cage.
A body shot lands from Payne.
Smitterhs is trying to break free.

Payne tightens his grip and picks Smitterhs up, before dumping him to the ground. Smitterhs manages to land in guard.
Smitterhs throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Payne trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smitterhs throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Smitterhs working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Payne doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Payne manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Smitterhs wants to stand but Payne is controlling the position.
Smitterhs is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smitterhs has a closed guard, preventing Payne from standing up.

Smitterhs has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Payne off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Smitterhs tries to bum rush Payne with a series of wild strikes but Payne uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Payne will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jason Payne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Payne pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

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.
Smitterhs will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Payne swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Payne connects with a solid leg kick.
Payne tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smitterhs paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smitterhs misses with a few strikes there.
Smitterhs fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Payne dominated that round.
That's time! Smitterhs's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Payne shoots in but Smitterhs avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Payne shoots for a double leg takedown but Smitterhs sprawls well. He's pushed Payne's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Payne tries to clinch but Smitterhs moves out of range.
Payne throws out a leg kick but Smitterhs moves out of range and Payne only half commits.
Payne tries to clinch but Smitterhs moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smitterhs will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smitterhs misses with a double jab
enabling Payne to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smitterhs throws a right hand that Payne ducks under and follows up with a left that Payne also avoids with ease.
Smitterhs throws a series of punches but Payne moves out of range.
Smitterhs throws a nice looking combination but Payne bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smitterhs keeps the fight on the outside.
Payne slips a jab and a cross from Smitterhs.
Smitterhs tries to clinch but Payne moves out of range.
Payne throws a wild body kick that Smitterhs sees coming a mile off.
Payne stuffs the takedown attempt from Smitterhs. Smitterhs gets slowly back to his feet.

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.
Smitterhs throws a series of punches but Payne avoids them all with ease.
Payne is looking to land body kicks.
Nice takedown defense from Payne. No joy for Smitterhs on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nail Smitterhs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Payne looks to land a body kick but Smitterhs moved away.
Payne tries to clinch but Smitterhs moves away
and Smitterhs counters with a left and a right that stings Payne.
Payne darts in trying to clinch
and Smitterhs counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Payne is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smitterhs tries to clinch up.
Smitterhs misses with a two punch combination.
Smitterhs swats away the attempt to clinch by Payne.
Payne has his takedown stuffed
and Smitterhs counters with a two punch combo.
Payne showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smitterhs.
Smitterhs throws a nice looking combination but Payne bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Smitterhs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Payne moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smitterhs stuffs the takedown.

Smitterhs scores with a takedown into Payne's guard.

Smitterhs decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Payne swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Smitterhs to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Smitterhs has managed to clinch.
Smitterhs wants to break free but Payne has control.
Smitterhs can't get the takedown.
Smitterhs is trying to drag Payne to the mat but Payne just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nail Smitterhs dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Payne tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smitterhs swivels and escapes.
Smitterhs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Payne.
Nail Smitterhs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smitterhs takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Smitterhs fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payne slips a jab and a cross from Smitterhs.
Payne takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A punch combination from Smitterhs misses.
Smitterhs scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne fails with the takedown
and Smitterhs connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Payne tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smitterhs swivels and escapes.
Nail Smitterhs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Payne.

Smitterhs looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Smitterhs is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Payne defends it well.
Smitterhs working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smitterhs not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smitterhs not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Payne avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smitterhs.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smitterhs connects with a nice short shot to Payne's temple.
Smitterhs has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Smitterhs seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Smitterhs wants to work for an arm triangle but Payne is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Smitterhs working over Payne with some ground and pound. Payne looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smitterhs drops an elbow to the side of Payne's head.
Smitterhs not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smitterhs thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Payne's head.
Ground and pound from Smitterhs.
Payne is trying to stand.

Smitterhs is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Payne defends it well.

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.
Smitterhs thows a huge punch but Payne dodges it nicely.

Smitterhs is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Payne sees it coming and defends easily.
Smitterhs thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Payne's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Payne is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nail Smitterhs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smitterhs 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nail Smitterhs!