PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marion Polk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Payne
vs
Polk

186 cm
25
189 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

KAISER
Happy Pills

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Payne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marion Polk!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polk takes a swing at Payne's ribcage but misses.
Polk lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Payne chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Polk can pounce on him.
A slow jab from Polk misses its intended target.

Payne moves into range and clinches up with Polk.
Polk is trying to break the clinch but Payne has him pressed against the cage.
Payne blocking some punches.
Payne lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Marion Polk has been cut.
Knees to the body from Payne.
Payne has Polk pressed against the cage, preventing Polk from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Payne.
Polk wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Payne connects with a nasty looking knee right to Polk's face.
Polk wants to break free but Payne has control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Payne prevents Polk from breaking the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Payne.
Payne prevents Polk from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polk has had enough of the clinch but Payne keeps him there for the moment.
Payne has Polk pushed against the cage.
Payne misses with a knee strike.
Polk wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Payne has him pressed against the cage.
Polk takes a knee to the side of the body.
Polk is trying to break free.
Payne lands a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Payne.
A knee to the head by Payne.
Polk tries to land knees in the clinch but Payne avoids the damage to the body.
Polk is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Polk tries to break the clinch but Payne is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Polk's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knees to the body from Payne.
Polk is trying to break the clinch but Payne has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne connects with a knee to the head.

Polk is rocked!
Polk tries to break the clinch but Payne is controlling the position.
Polk can't break the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Payne.
Polk misses with a knee to the head.
Polk tries to break free but Payne pushes him back against the cage.
Polk is trying to break the clinch but Payne is controlling him.
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!
Polk taking a breather.
Polk is trying to force a seperation but Payne has the dominant position.
Payne lands a knee to the head.
Polk is still on wobbly legs! Can Payne finish him?
Come on Payne - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Polk tries to break the clinch but Payne is controlling the position.
Payne keeps control of Polk as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Polk seems to have recovered his senses.
Polk wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Payne has him pressed against the cage.
Payne unloads a knee to the mid-section. Polk lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Payne keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Polk's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Polk's efforts to push away.
Polk working hard to break the clinch.
Polk is trying to break the clinch but Payne is controlling him.
Payne keeps control of Polk as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Payne content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Payne comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Polk looking to slow down the pace here.
Payne is struggling to control the position.
Polk looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Payne leaning against his opponent.
Payne landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polk is trying to break free.
Polk tries to circle away but Payne has him pinned against the cage.
Payne landing knees to the head.
Polk wants to break the clinch but can't.
Payne prevents Polk from breaking the clinch.
Payne slowing the pace effectively.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Payne obliges.
Payne using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Payne connects with a nasty looking knee right to Polk's face.
Payne with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Polk is looking to break free of the clinch but Payne has double underhooks.
Polk wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Payne has him pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Payne jerks Polk's head down, straight into the path of a devastating knee! Polk drops to the floor in a crumpled heap! Payne goes to throw a finishing haymaker but pulls out - good sportsmanship from Payne because Polk was completely out of it. That was a nice finish - just the right level of brutality to send everyone home happy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee). John Payne!
During a confident post fight interview, John Payne thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.