PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Teddy Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rory Flannagan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Payne's entrance music is Freestyler. A fine choice. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Payne
vs
Flannagan

183 cm
23
200 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
213 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

White Gorilla Nutrition
Vandal fight Boutique -ACME-

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Teddy Payne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rory Flannagan!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flannagan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Payne keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Flannagan.
Flannagan takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Payne fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Flannagan looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Payne uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Flannagan.
Payne thuds his right hand into Flannagan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Payne dodges the punch combination from Flannagan.

Payne feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Flannagan looks gassed!
Flannagan keeping full guard, as Payne tries to pass.
Payne wants to control from the top but Flannagan keeps moving.
Payne is really struggling to control Flannagan but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Flannagan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Payne defends well.

Payne stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne throws a sloppy head kick and Flannagan moves out of range easily.
Flannagan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Payne has time to react.
Flannagan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Flannagan's corner calls for a 1-2. Flannagan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Payne connects with a crisp jab.

Flannagan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Flannagan keeping full guard, as Payne tries to pass.
Payne is pushing down on Flannagan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Flannagan is fighting to maintain full guard but Payne has managed to sneak the leg through.
Flannagan wants to get back to full guard.

Payne is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Flannagan tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne moves nicely into side control.
Flannagan is trying to escape the position but Payne is controlling the position.
Check out the look on Payne's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Flannagan gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Payne looking to control but Flannagan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Flannagan can't escape the position.
Payne landing shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flannagan tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Payne jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Flannagan manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Payne is looking to take a break and control but Flannagan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne tries to move to mount but Flannagan blocks the move with his legs.
Flannagan regains half guard.
Flannagan on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Payne is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Flannagan is just riding it out for now. Payne eventually gives up the hold.
Flannagan trying to get back to full guard but Payne takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Flannagan regains half guard.
Flannagan moves into full guard.

Flannagan looking for subs off his back but Payne has passed one foot through into half guard.
Payne seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Payne looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Flannagan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Payne lands with a punch from half guard.
Payne is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Flannagan!
Payne lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Flannagan hang on?
Flannagan regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teddy Payne dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Flannagan swings for the body but Payne moves out of range.
Payne lands a really nice looking cross but Flannagan seems unphased.
Flannagan misses with a wild combination.
Flannagan throws a right hand that Payne ducks under and follows up with a left that Payne also avoids with ease.
Flannagan catches Payne with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Flannagan defending well as Payne loads up on a big left hand.
Flannagan lands a nice hook to Payne's body. Payne takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Flannagan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Payne scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Payne with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Flannagan is trying to get back to full guard.
Payne trying to mount his opponent but Flannagan defends it.
Payne has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne prevents Flannagan from getting the reversal.
Payne 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.
Flannagan is breathing heavily.

Payne has control of Flannagan's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Flannagan regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Payne takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Flannagan is looking to improve his position but Payne isn't that keen on the idea.
Flannagan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Teddy Payne overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Flannagan strikes from the bottom but Payne uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Flannagan tries to bench press Payne off him but Payne keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne working the ground and pound.
Payne connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Flannagan some visible discomfort.
Flannagan striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

Payne is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Flannagan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Flannagan is trying to get back to half guard.

Payne stands up and beckons Flannagan to his feet.
Payne punishes Flannagan's body with a nice straight punch.
Payne darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Payne dips to his left and cracks Flannagan with an uppercut!
Payne moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Payne lands a jab to the nose.

Payne scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Payne trying to control from half guard but Flannagan is working away.

Flannagan looking for submissions off his back.

Flannagan looking for submissions off his back.
Flannagan on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Payne wants to take a breather but Flannagan is having none of it.
Payne slips a nice elbow through Flannagan's hands, connecting with Flannagan's forehead.
Flannagan throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Payne gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Payne closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Payne lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Payne is in close to Flannagan's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Payne trying to control but Flannagan is working from the bottom.
Payne working some strikes from top position.

Payne stands up and waves to Flannagan to follow him.
Rory Flannagan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Flannagan thows a left - swing and a miss!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Flannagan throws a right hand that Payne ducks under and follows up with a left that Payne also avoids with ease.
Flannagan is looking to clinch.
Flannagan misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teddy Payne dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Payne works over Flannagan's head and body with a nice combination.
Payne ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Flannagan moves away.
Flannagan tries for a takedown but Payne circles away easily
and Payne connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Payne cracks Flannagan with a good jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Payne, right into the meat.
Payne scores with a sloppy right hand. Flannagan should have avoided that one.

Payne shoots in and bounces Flannagan off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Payne postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Payne decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Flannagan, up you get!
Nice shot by Payne.

Payne drives through with a takedown into guard.
Payne distracts Flannagan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Flannagan 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.
Payne won't allow Flannagan to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Flannagan is striking from the bottom but Payne uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

Flannagan is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Payne pulls his head out easily.
Nice strikes from Payne there.
Payne working over Flannagan with some ground and pound. Flannagan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Payne prevents Flannagan from improving his position.
Payne tries to pass the half guard into mount. Flannagan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Flannagan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Payne decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Flannagan moves forwards but Payne connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Payne darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Flannagan takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Payne is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A cross from Payne lands.
Teddy Payne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Flannagan fails with the takedown
and Payne counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Payne lands a nice shot that snaps Flannagan's head back.
Flannagan swinging wilding here.

Payne closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Payne working over Flannagan with some ground and pound. Flannagan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Flannagan is looking for a sweep. Payne is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Payne controlling the action here.
Teddy Payne is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flannagan tries to get to full guard but Payne has control of the leg.
Flannagan tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Payne scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Payne in particular looking to stall.
Payne is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Flannagan can do to turn this around?
Payne passes to full mount!
Rory Flannagan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Flannagan flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

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.
Flannagan working to try and regain half guard.
Flannagan throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Payne controlling from the full mount.
Payne punishing his opponent with strikes.
Payne blocks Flannagan's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Flannagan is looking to improve his position but Payne isn't that keen on the idea.
Payne looking to control and managing it successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Flannagan sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Flannagan is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Payne pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Teddy Payne showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Payne has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Teddy Payne!