PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Franklin Worner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Max Payne will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Worner
vs
Payne

180 cm
25
130 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Franklin Worner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Payne!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Payne is defended easily by Worner.
Worner looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Payne shoots in and drives through. Worner sprawls well.

Payne gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Worner to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Payne looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Payne has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Payne looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Worner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Payne is trying to control the position but Worner postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne has a closed guard, preventing Worner from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Max Payne.
Worner defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Payne.
Franklin Worner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Payne.
Payne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Worner swats him away and circles back towards the center.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Payne enables Worner to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Payne manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Payne working for a triangle but Worner defends it easily.

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

Payne is looking for a triangle but Worner pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne keeping full guard, as Worner tries to pass.
Worner is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Payne keeping full guard, as Worner tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Worner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Worner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Payne gets caught napping as Worner dives in and scores a takedown. Payne manages to retain guard.
Worner wants to stand but Payne is controlling his posture from full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Payne is on top in guard.
Worner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Payne trying to control the position from guard on top but Worner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne wants to stand but Worner is controlling his posture from full guard.
Worner keeping moving, preventing Payne from controlling successfully.

Worner is looking for a triangle but Payne pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payne trying to control the position from guard on top but Worner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franklin Worner dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Payne leaves Worner with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Payne throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Payne is looking to clinch.
Franklin Worner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Payne moves in looking to clinch but Worner pushes him off.
Worner on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Worner throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Payne's waist but Payne gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Worner off to one side.
Payne shoots in looking for a takedown. Worner tries to sprawl out of it but Payne keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Worner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Payne throws a nice inside leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Payne shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Worner as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Payne!

Payne closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Worner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Payne.
Payne wants to take a breather but Worner is having none of it.
Worner on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Worner tries to get out of the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Payne stops Worner from getting back to his feet.

Max Payne has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Worner shoots in looking for a takedown. Payne tries to sprawl out of it but Worner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Payne manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franklin Worner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Payne looks for a takedown but Worner sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne wants to clinch.
Payne with a poor takedown

and Worner counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Payne!
Franklin Worner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Payne can't escape the position.
Worner with good strikes from the mount here!
Payne really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Worner. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Worner with good strikes from the mount here!
Worner controlling from mount.
Worner with the ground and pound from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne is trying desperately to improve position.
Payne tries to lock up and control but Worner gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Worner looking to control and managing it successfully.
Payne tries to lock up and control but Worner gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Worner with shots to the head and body - Payne looks very uncomfortable down there.
Worner landing strikes, looking to finish!
Payne is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Worner lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Payne hang on?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Worner raining down hammerfists from mount.
Payne is desperately trying to improve his position but Worner has a good base and remains in mount.
Worner with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Franklin Worner will probably get the nod.
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 tries for a takedown but Worner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Payne scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Worner is doing well to control the position and prevent Payne from advancing to side control.
Payne trying to control from half guard but Worner is working away.
Worner is doing well to control the position and prevent Payne from advancing to side control.
Payne is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worner trying desperately to get to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Payne working for a guillotine from mount but Worner is in no mood to give up.
Worner is trying desperately to improve position.
Worner is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Worner is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Worner tries to hold on but Payne postures up.
Worner is squirming around, avoiding Payne's attempts to control the action.
Payne thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Worner tries to hold on but Payne pushes him away.
Worner is squirming around, avoiding Payne's attempts to control the action.
Payne sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Worner is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Payne prevents Worner from getting the reversal.
Payne trying to control but Worner is having none of it.
Worner tries to reverse the position but Payne maintains control.
Worner is just holding on here. Payne manages to take his back.
Worner tries to break free.
Worner covering up well under a series of strikes from Payne.
Max Payne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franklin Worner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Payne patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Payne comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Worner has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Franklin Worner!