PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chris Cyborg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wangjannoi Payakaroon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cyborg comes to the cage accompanied by Awaken . Payakaroon comes into a darkened arena with his song building. thai fight music 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.

Cyborg
vs
Payakaroon

168 cm
24
155 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

170 cm
24
158 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Cyborg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wangjannoi Payakaroon!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Payakaroon does no damage.
Payakaroon leaves Cyborg with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Payakaroon throws a leg kick that is checked

and Cyborg decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Payakaroon's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Payakaroon keeping full guard, as Cyborg tries to pass.
Payakaroon wants to sweep here but Cyborg controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cyborg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cyborg looking to pass the guard.
Payakaroon keeping moving, preventing Cyborg from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cyborg postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Payakaroon utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cyborg slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Payakaroon can do anything to dispel that myth.
Payakaroon seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Payakaroon throws a poor cross that misses
and Cyborg counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Payakaroon.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cyborg.
Cyborg is looking to take a break and control but Payakaroon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cyborg works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Cyborg creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Payakaroon sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Payakaroon is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payakaroon avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Cyborg.
Payakaroon is not content to let Cyborg control the position.
Cyborg tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Payakaroon is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cyborg misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Cyborg cracks Payakaroon with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Cyborg working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The ground and pound from Cyborg seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Cyborg working away.
Cyborg 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.
Cyborg looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Payakaroon is avoiding damage well.
Payakaroon is trying to control Cyborg's posture but Cyborg avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cyborg advances to full mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cyborg punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Payakaroon tries a head kick but it misses.
Payakaroon misses with a body kick.
Cyborg throws a series of punches but Payakaroon avoids them all with ease.
Payakaroon throws a leg kick but Cyborg moved away.
Cyborg misses with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cyborg throws a head kick that misses.
Payakaroon moves in looking to clinch but Cyborg pushes him off.
Payakaroon avoids the head kick by Cyborg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cyborg. Payakaroon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Payakaroon throws a front kick aimed at Cyborg's knee but Cyborg avoids it well.
Cyborg is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Payakaroon.
Cyborg fails with a takedown attempt.
Cyborg lands a nice leg kick that just misses Payakaroon's sensitive parts.
Wangjannoi Payakaroon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cyborg will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Payakaroon moves out of range of the leg kick from Cyborg.
Cyborg slips under a jab.
Cyborg takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Payakaroon feints a jab promting Cyborg to slip. Payakaroon then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cyborg slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Payakaroon connects with a high kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cyborg ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Payakaroon moves away.
A swing and a miss from Cyborg.
Cyborg throws a wild body kick that Payakaroon sees coming a mile off.
Cyborg thows a body shot but no joy.
Payakaroon avoids the body shot from Cyborg.
Cyborg chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Payakaroon can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payakaroon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Payakaroon checks a leg kick.
Payakaroon throws a body punch but Cyborg moves out of range.
Cyborg cracks a nice hook into Payakaroon's ribs.
Cyborg misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Payakaroon fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Cyborg defending well as Payakaroon loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wangjannoi Payakaroon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Payakaroon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cyborg circles away quickly and effectively.
Wangjannoi Payakaroon seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cyborg takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Payakaroon moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Payakaroon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Payakaroon throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Payakaroon tries to work over Cyborg's front leg with a kick but Cyborg checks it.
Payakaroon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cyborg shoots in looking for a takedown. Payakaroon tries to sprawl out of it but Cyborg keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Payakaroon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cyborg misses the shot to the body.
Payakaroon scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Payakaroon is looking to land body kicks.
A good leg kick by Cyborg.
Wangjannoi Payakaroon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payakaroon throws a solid leg kick but Cyborg takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Payakaroon.
Payakaroon misses with a head kick.
Payakaroon swinging wildly here.
Payakaroon blocks the body kick.
Payakaroon throws a lazy head kick
and Cyborg counters with a good low kick that Payakaroon was not able to check.

Payakaroon clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cyborg avoiding damage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cyborg takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Payakaroon is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Payakaroon tries to break the clinch but Cyborg is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Payakaroon's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Come on Cyborg - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Payakaroon trying to control the position but instead, Cyborg has worked for underhooks and has pushed Payakaroon into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Payakaroon's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cyborg has Payakaroon pressed against the cage, preventing Payakaroon from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Payakaroon's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Payakaroon is looking to control Cyborg's arms but Cyborg gets an underhook and turns him. Now Payakaroon has his back to the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Cyborg.
Stalling in the clinch from Cyborg.
Payakaroon taking a breather.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cyborg.
Good body shot from Cyborg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wangjannoi Payakaroon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Payakaroon has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wangjannoi Payakaroon!