PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Wangjannoi Payakaroon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Talib Kweli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Payakaroon comes to the cage accompanied by thai fight music. Kweli is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 2Pac - Hit em up . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Payakaroon
vs
Kweli

170 cm
27
158 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

160 cm
32
152 lbs
15 - 12 - 0

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Wangjannoi Payakaroon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Talib Kweli!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kweli tries to bum rush Payakaroon with a series of wild strikes but Payakaroon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Payakaroon looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kweli throws a right and a left that Payakaroon avoids nicely.
Kweli misses with a body punch
and Payakaroon counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kweli's knee momentarily.
Payakaroon tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kweli manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kweli misses with a double jab
and Payakaroon counters with a nice kick to the body.
Kweli tries to score a power double leg takedown but Payakaroon sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kweli somewhat.
Kweli fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A combination from Kweli does no damage.
Kweli has his takedown stuffed
and Payakaroon counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kweli takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kweli misses with a double jab
and Payakaroon counters with a nice uppercut.
Wangjannoi Payakaroon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kweli just misses with a punch to the body.
A punch combination from Kweli misses.
Payakaroon connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Horrible takedown by Kweli or perhaps it was just good defense by Payakaroon which made him look bad.
Wangjannoi Payakaroon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Talib Kweli.
Payakaroon avoids a punch combination nicely.
An inside leg kick lands from Payakaroon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kweli throws a looping overhand right but Payakaroon ducks down to avoid it.
Payakaroon throws a leg kick but Kweli sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kweli takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Kweli shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Payakaroon is refusing to be controlled, as Kweli sits in half guard.
Kweli is stalling here. Payakaroon is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kweli seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Payakaroon has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Kweli is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Payakaroon off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kweli is looking for the choke from the back position but Payakaroon is controlling his hands well.
Payakaroon is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Kweli tightening his grip on Payakaroon, looking for the choke.
Kweli misses with punches from the back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Payakaroon fending off the submission attempt from Kweli.
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!
Kweli is landing with strikes. Payakaroon can't take much more of this.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kweli is trying to stick to Payakaroon's back but Payakaroon is turning into Kweli. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kweli's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Payakaroon.
Payakaroon looking to sit in guard and control but Kweli gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kweli loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kweli with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kweli pushing down on Payakaroon's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talib Kweli dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Payakaroon slips a jab and a cross from Kweli.

Kweli dives in and scores a takedown into Payakaroon's guard.
Kweli looking to pass the guard.
Kweli is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kweli throws a big right hand that misses.
Payakaroon seems keen to control Kweli's posture.
Kweli has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Payakaroon is trying to keep Kweli in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payakaroon keeping moving, preventing Kweli from controlling successfully.
Payakaroon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kweli on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Wangjannoi Payakaroon wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kweli closes this distance looking for a takedown but Payakaroon circles away.
Payakaroon looks to land a combination but Kweli avoids it well.
Payakaroon paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Kweli decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kweli trying to mount his opponent but Payakaroon defends it.

Kweli wants to work for an arm triangle but Payakaroon is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kweli missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Talib Kweli has got the better of the ground game so far.
Payakaroon has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kweli is working away from the top position though.
Kweli wants to control but Payakaroon is keeping him busy.
Kweli prevents Payakaroon from improving his position.

Kweli looking for a submission but Payakaroon manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli trying to control but Payakaroon is working from the bottom.
Kweli preventing the sweep.
Kweli working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kweli wants to control from the top but Payakaroon keeps moving.
Payakaroon wants to sweep here but Kweli controlling him for the moment.
Payakaroon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kweli fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Payakaroon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kweli.
Payakaroon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kweli.
A head kick misses from Payakaroon.

Payakaroon has taken the fight to the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payakaroon throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kweli blocks an elbow strike.
Payakaroon connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kweli's face.
Payakaroon content to slow the pace in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talib Kweli showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice shot by Kweli.
Payakaroon fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Payakaroon ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kweli fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Payakaroon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kweli throws an off balance right hand
and Payakaroon counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kweli's knee momentarily.
Kweli shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Payakaroon pinned against the cage. Payakaroon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kweli lands a jab-cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kweli throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Payakaroon.
Kweli needs to keep his hands up - Payakaroon had a free shot at his head there.
Kweli fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Payakaroon manages to avoid it.
Kweli is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Payakaroon rather than just go for the knockout.
Kweli looks to land a combination but Payakaroon avoids it well.
Kweli swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kweli throws a right hand that Payakaroon ducks under and follows up with a left that Payakaroon also avoids with ease.
Payakaroon on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kweli misses with a body shot.
Payakaroon cracks Kweli with an open hand slap.
Kweli has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Payakaroon finds it's way round the side to connect with Kweli's head.
Kweli fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wangjannoi Payakaroon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Talib Kweli.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payakaroon displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kweli.
Kweli ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Payakaroon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Payakaroon goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kweli fails with a takedown attempt.
Kweli fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kweli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kweli jabs Payakaroon right on the nose. Payakaroon blinks but takes it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli swings widly with a right hand
and Payakaroon counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kweli falls off balance throwing a combination
and Payakaroon counters with a leg kick.
Kweli circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wangjannoi Payakaroon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A left and a right from Kweli both land. Nice combination.

Kweli decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Payakaroon tries to get to full guard but Kweli has control of the leg.
Payakaroon is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kweli is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Payakaroon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kweli.
Kweli missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Talib Kweli is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Payakaroon looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Payakaroon missing with punches from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Talib Kweli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kweli 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Talib Kweli!