PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Phil Paighn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zander Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Cage's choice of entrance music: Xander Intro. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Paighn
vs
Cage

200 cm
29
210 lbs
10 - 3 - 1

185 cm
29
215 lbs
13 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 10 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Phil Paighn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zander Cage!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paighn looks for the body kick but Cage saw that one coming.
Cage avoids the head kick by Paighn.
Paighn scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Paighn lands with a nice body kick.
Paighn walks into a left hand.
A head kick by Paighn misses
enabling Cage to counter with a crisp jab.
Paighn tries to work over Cage's front leg with a kick but Cage checks it.
Paighn misses with a low kick.
Paighn misses with a kick to the body
and Cage counters with a right hand to the body.
Paighn looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Paighn misses with a head kick.
Paighn throws a push kick but Cage slaps the foot to one side.
Cage connects with a crisp jab.
Paighn looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cage avoids the head kick by Paighn.
Paighn takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Paighn throws a head kick that misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Cage stuns Paighn with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Paighn fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cage checks it well.
Paighn drops his hands momentarily and Cage takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cage cracks Paighn with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage throws a series of punches but Paighn avoids them all with ease.
Cage lands a nice shot to the body.
Paighn thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Cage if he has to take too many more of those.
Cage looks gassed!
A head kick misses from Paighn.
Paighn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cage's jab looks to have found its range, popping Paighn under the eye.
Cage lands a jab to the head.
Cage throws a nice looking combination but Paighn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Paighn throws a body punch but Cage moves out of range.
Paighn throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Cage counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Paighn takes one on the button.
A combination from Cage does no damage.
Nice shot by Cage.
Cage jabs at Paighn's body.
Cage throws a series of strikes that have Paighn backpedaling.
Cage is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Paighn had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
A cross from Cage lands.
Paighn throws a body kick the misses
and Cage connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Paighn throws a head kick but Cage moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
No joy there for Cage, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Paighn throws a lazy body kick
and Cage counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cage scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Paighn throws a low kick but Cage moves out of range easily.
Cage scores with a hook.
Paighn throws a solid leg kick but Cage takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Paighn.
Cage throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Paighn on the side of the head.
Paighn tries to move into range but Cage moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Paighn tries a head kick but it misses.
Cage throws a combination. Paighn tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cage changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Paighn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cage scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Paighn throws a leg kick
and Cage cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cage uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Paighn has time to react.
Paighn walks into a jab.
Cage catches Paighn with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Paighn takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Cage.
Paighn ducks right into an uppercut from Cage.
Paighn throws a leg kick
and Cage counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cage lands with a nice body punch.
Cage works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Cage with a jab.
Cage lands with a right hand.
Paighn gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Cage counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Paighn thinking.
Cage scores with a jab. Paighn acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Paighn tries to land a front kick but Cage steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cage lands a jab to Paighn's midsection.
Paighn's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Cage connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Paighn scrambles back to his feet.
Cage feints a jab promting Paighn to slip. Cage then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Paighn slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Cage dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Paighn takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Cage darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cage lands a slapping body shot.
Cage getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paighn throws a jab but it's blocked by Cage.
Cage changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A head kick misses from Paighn.
Cage connects with a body shot that sends Paighn's belly button to the back.

Paighn clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paighn trying to land knees to the body.

Paighn breaks from the clinch.
Cage changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cage fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Paighn on the side of the head.
Cage cracks a nice hook into Paighn's ribs.
Cage cracks Paighn with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Paighn walks into a straight right hand from Cage.
Cage lands with a nice combination. Paighn backs away looking to recover.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Paighn.
Cage jabs at Paighn's body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cage scores with a hook.
Paighn throws a lazy head kick
and Cage counters with a left to the body.
Cage lands with a nice body punch.
Nice jab there from Cage.
Cage lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Paighn backs up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zander Cage dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cage fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Paighn looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Paighn takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Cage lands the left hand.
Paighn walks into a jab.
Cage lands an overhand right.
Cage feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Paighns jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cage scores with a shot to the body.
Cage lands with an uppercut that bounces Paighn off the cage and back into rage.
Cage scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cage lands a jab to the head.
A lazy left from Cage finds it's target.
Cage lands with a shot to the body.
Cage stuns Paighn with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Paighn throws a low kick, looking for Cage's leg but Cage calmly moves out of range.
Paighn takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cage.
Cage fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paighn takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paighn takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cage with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cage lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nice cross by Cage.
Paighn takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cage moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Paighn ducks right into an uppercut from Cage.
Cage comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cage lands a right hook to the body.
Cage works the jab nicely.
Paighn is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cage avoids the head kick by Paighn.
Zander Cage seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cage works the jab nicely.
Cage darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cage lands a body shot.
Paighn takes one to the chin there.
Cage lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Paighn backs up against the cage.
Paighn attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Cage lands with a nice body punch.
Cage connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cage connects with a body shot that sends Paighn's belly button to the back.
Paighn throws a push kick but Cage slaps the foot to one side.
Paighn throws a head kick that half lands.
Cage lands a jab to Paighn's midsection.
Cage ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Cage there.
Paighn throws a half hearted mid kick.
Paighn is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cage.
Cage works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Paighn lands a head kick!

It looks like Zander Cage has been cut.
Paighn tries a low kick but Cage avoids it.
Cage catches Paighn with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Cage listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Cage scores with a jab to the body.
Paighn takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nice jab there from Cage.
Cage checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paighn walks into a stiff left hand from Cage.
Paighn finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Cage with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cage lands a really nice looking cross but Paighn seems unphased.
Paighn misses with a leg kick
and Cage counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cage fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cage takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Paighn thuds his shin into the meat of Cage's side.
Cage's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Cage duly obliges.
Cage lands with a hook. Paighn tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Paighn walks into a stiff left hand from Cage.
Paighn walks into a stiff left hand from Cage.
Paighn looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Cage lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Cage blocks a head kick by Paighn.
Paighn is looking to slow Cage down with leg kicks.
Paighn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Paighn takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cage scores with a nice strike.
Cage cracks Paighn with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Cage lands with an overhand left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A low kick from Paighn is predictable there
and Cage counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Paighn thinking.
Cage tests Paighn's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cage connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cage is working the combinations to good effect here.
Paighn takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nice body kick there by Paighn.
Paighn takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cage checks a leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Cage. Beautiful body shot.
Cage throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Paighn 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 Cage has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cage and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Cage ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cage feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Paighns jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Paighn attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cage moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cage scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Cage lands the left hand.
Cage changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cage lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zander Cage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zander Cage's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A left lands for Cage.
Paighn takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Paighn scores with a nice body kick.
Nice body punch from Cage.
Paighn moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Cage scores with a jab to the jaw.
Paighn moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Cage walks forward, straight into a front kick from Paighn.
Cage tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Paighn was well out of range. Poor timing from Cage.
Paighn misses with a head kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Paighn.
Cage scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Paighn ducks right into an uppercut from Cage.
Cage smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Paighn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cage swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cage jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Cage scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cage takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Paighn moves away from the strike by Cage.
Cage lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paighn throws a body kick that misses.
Paighn on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cage moves out of range of the body kick from Paighn.
Cage has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cage throws a body punch but Paighn moves out of range.
Cage scores with a nice head shot.
Paighn gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Paighn tries to land a body kick
and Cage counters with a stiff right hand.
Cage pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Paighn looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Paighn misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Paighn will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Cage connects with the punch.
Paighn wants to clinch up but Cage keeps it at a distance.
Paighn takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Paighn will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Paighn fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Cage is out of range.
Cage throws a nice looking combination but Paighn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cage lands with a straight right. Paighn didn't see that one coming.

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.
Cage lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cage moves out of range of the body kick from Paighn.
Cage fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Paighn takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cage stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Paighn takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Cage blocks a head kick by Paighn.
Paighn goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
That kick from Paighn tenderised Cage's leg. Cage is trying to keep his angry face on.
Paighn throws a leg kick but Cage sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cage connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Cage uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Paighn has time to react.
Cage lands with a nice body punch.
A shot to the liver by Cage. Beautiful body shot.
Cage with a hook.
Cage paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cage stuns Paighn with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Paighn moves forwards but Cage connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paighn walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cage scores with a nice right hand.
Cage lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Good leg kick by Paighn there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Paighn takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cage fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cage cracks Paighn with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Paighn throws a leg kick but Cage sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cage!
Cage cracks Paighn with an open hand slap.
Paighn takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cage throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Paighn stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Paighn feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cage's calf.
Paighn has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Cage scores with a punch to the head.
Phil Paighn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paighn on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Paighn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cage with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Cage.
Paighn takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cage swinging wildly here.
Paighn misses with a low kick as Cage jumps back.
Paighn shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cage throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Paighn stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Paighn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Paighn ducks right into an uppercut from Cage.
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!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Paighn.
A jab from Cage does it's job there.
Paighn throws a head kick but Cage moves out of range.
Cage fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cage fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Paighn on the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cage lands a really nice looking cross but Paighn seems unphased.
Paighn throws a sloppy head kick and Cage moves out of range easily.
A lazy body kick from Paighn
and Cage counters with a stiff right hand.
Cage's corner calls for a 1-2. Cage obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zander Cage comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cage winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zander Cage!