PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edison Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jason Payne has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnston
vs
Payne

158 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
175 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edison Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jason Payne!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Russell Pearce and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payne throws a sloppy head kick and Johnston moves out of range easily.

Payne dives in and scores a takedown into Johnston's guard.
Payne in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Payne tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnston is retaining full guard.
Payne is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnston has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Payne is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Payne wants to control from the top but Johnston keeps moving.
Payne looking to pass the guard.
Payne tries to stand but Johnston is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jason Payne hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Payne decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Payne seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Payne seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Johnston does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Johnston tries to roll over but Payne keeps him under control.

Johnston is defending against the submission attempts here by Payne.
Payne has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Payne trying to control from half guard but Johnston is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Payne trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Payne looking to pass the guard.
Johnston keeping moving, preventing Payne from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jason Payne.

Johnston fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Payne, pushing him back against the cage.
Payne stalling in the clinch but Johnston improves position.
Johnston unloads a knee to the mid-section. Payne lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Payne jumps guard.
Johnston with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Payne looking for a guillotine here but Johnston defends easily.
Payne looks winded!
Johnston postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston stopping the sweep attempt from Payne.

Payne throws his legs up looking for a submission but Johnston uses it to pass to side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payne is looking to regain half guard here but Johnston keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Payne dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnston shoots in and gets a takedown into Payne's guard.
Payne has momentary wrist control but Johnston slips an elbow through the middle.
Johnston has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Johnston throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnston postures up.
Payne looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnston is one step ahead there.
Payne is trying to control the position but Johnston postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne is striking but Johnston is not phased and passes to half guard.
Payne keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Payne trying to control here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jason Payne.

Payne shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Johnston's guard.
Johnston trying to control the position.
Payne trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne trying to control but Johnston is working from the bottom.
Johnston is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnston wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Payne is now in half guard.
Johnston is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Payne works his way into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Johnston holds on for dear life.
Poor strikes thrown by Payne there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Payne controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Payne jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Johnston is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Johnston and Payne has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Payne trying to control the action but Johnston is working from the bottom.
Payne is working Johnston over with some ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Payne 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. This is the final round!

Johnston gets a double leg takedown into Payne's guard.
Payne is trying to hold Johnston in close to prevent damage but Johnston has managed to pass into half guard.
Payne is trying to control but can't.
Johnston prevents Payne from standing back up.
Payne is trying to maintain the position but Johnston is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jason Payne was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Johnston dives in for a single leg takedown but Payne sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Johnston working hard to break the clinch.
Payne can't break the clinch.

Johnston has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Payne is trying to keep an underhook but Johnston manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Johnston throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jason Payne has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnston missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnston thows a huge punch but Payne dodges it nicely.
Payne is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne tries to get to full guard but Johnston has control of the leg.
Johnston takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Edison Johnston just wasn't active enough.

Payne shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Payne was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnston can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne tries to stand but Johnston is controlling his head.
Johnston can't do much from the bottom here.
Payne trying to control the action but Johnston is working from the bottom.
Johnston wants to control but Payne postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is letting Payne control him for a moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Payne closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Johnston to the mat! Johnston manages to get full guard.
Payne looking to pass the guard.
Payne trying to control but Johnston is working from the bottom.
Payne takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payne postures up in Johnston's guard and throws a big left but Johnston blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jason Payne.
I've got Payne 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Payne!
A very excited looking Jason Payne made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.