PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Raban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Raban could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to John Payne's chin.

Raban
vs
Payne

200 cm
32
270 lbs
15 - 14 - 0

197 cm
25
286 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Raban!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Payne!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paul Aken and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raban looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Payne wants to hit a switch here but Raban passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Payne there!
Raban controlling the pace for now.
Raban wants to control the pace but Payne is squirming around nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raban raining down shots from the mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raban looking to finish Payne with some ground and pound. This is bad for Payne!
Raban can't control as he wanted to and Payne manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Payne trying to hold on to Raban's head to control him but Raban postures up.
Payne is looking for a sweep. Raban is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Raban trying to control from Payne's half guard. Payne has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Payne looking for a sweep. Not yet Payne, not yet.

Payne is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Raban is aware though and is defending well.
Raban won't allow Payne to sweep him here.
Raban is stalling in the full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Payne looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Raban landing some decent shots from guard.
Payne being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Payne takes a kick to the side of the head.
Raban lands a nice leg kick that just misses Payne's sensitive parts.
Left hook, right uppercut from Raban.

It looks like John Payne has been cut.
Some wild striking there from Raban.
And Payne tries to counter it with a takedown but Raban pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Raban looks to score with a jab to the body but Payne is just out of range.
Payne showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Raban.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Raban dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Payne's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Good leg kick by Raban there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A telegraphed right hand from Payne misses the target.
Raban digs a good body shot into Payne's ribs.
A left and a right from Raban both land. Nice combination.
Raban is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Payne can do to turn this around?
Raban shoots in and drives through. Payne sprawls well.
Raban lands with a thumping leg kick.
Raban throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Raban fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Payne with the counter takedown but Raban avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raban lands a nice looking body kick.
Payne fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Raban manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raban throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Payne counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Raban trying to hold on to Payne's head to control him but Payne postures up.
Payne slips a nice elbow through Raban's hands, connecting with Raban's forehead.
Raban is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Payne's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Payne's back!
Payne can't escape the position.
Payne trying to control but not successfully.
Raban wants to control but Payne is keeping busy.
Raban is not going to allow Payne to sit and survive in this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne can't escape the position.
Raban is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Payne right now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raban really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Payne.
Raban is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Raban biding his time, looking for the opening.
Raban misses with an elbow to the head.
Raban biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne rolls, trying to escape but Raban keeps control of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raban gets his hands free as Payne looks to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Raban dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Payne's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Raban scores with a head kick.
Payne doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Payne shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Raban with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Raban scores with a leg kick.
Payne on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A nice combination there by Raban.
Payne throws a hook but Raban avoids it easily.
Raban tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Payne defends well and Raban ends up having to push Payne into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Raban bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Payne is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Raban.
Raban shoots in for a double leg but Payne sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And Payne tries to counter it with a takedown but Raban pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Payne misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raban.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne stuffs the takedown attempt from Raban. Raban gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Raban. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters circling - Raban throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Payne getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Raban misses with an attempted mid kick.
Payne throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Payne misses with a looping left.
Raban went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Raban looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Raban scores with a jab to the body.
Raban lands a jab-cross combination.
Raban thows a left - swing and a miss!
Raban throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
John Payne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne avoids the head kick by Raban.
Raban misses with a few strikes there.
Payne is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Payne blocks a head kick by Raban.
Raban throws a head kick but Payne moves out of range.
Payne feints the counter takedown.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Payne walks forward, straight into a front kick from Raban.
Raban walks into a straight right hand from Payne.
Raban throws a head kick but Payne moves out of range.
Payne avoids the head kick by Raban.
Raban does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Raban throws a head kick but Payne moves out of range.

Raban shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Payne's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raban 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.

Payne looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Raban cracks Payne with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Raban content to stall in guard here.

Payne looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Payne takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Raban shoots in for a double leg but Payne sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Raban showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Raban has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Raban!
A less than humble James Raban misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.