PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antti Toronen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Antti Toronen has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Toronen
vs
Payne

193 cm
19
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

201 cm
19
210 lbs
1 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Toronen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Max Payne!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payne changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Toronen tries to avoid it but Payne manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Toronen to the ground. Toronen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Toronen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Toronen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Payne looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Toronen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Payne circles away.

Toronen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Payne tries to reverse the position but Toronen maintains control.
Toronen with good strikes from the mount here!
Payne throwing hammer fists to the chest of Toronen. What's that going to do exactly?
Payne is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Toronen looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Toronen has control of Payne's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Payne regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Toronen looking to control but Payne is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Toronen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Payne sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Payne is trying to get back to full guard.
Toronen wants to pass the guard but Payne is defending well.
Payne missing with punches from the bottom.
Payne wants to sweep but Toronen has passed to side control!
Payne sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Payne punching from the bottom.
Payne looks gassed!
Payne slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Toronen is looking to stand up but Payne won't let him.
Toronen lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne looking for a sweep. Not yet Payne, not yet.

Toronen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Toronen cracks the inside of Payne's front leg.
Toronen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Toronen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Payne's face.

Toronen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Toronen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Payne!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Toronen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Toronen trying to control but Payne is having none of it.
Toronen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toronen prevents Payne from getting the reversal.
Toronen controlling from mount.
Payne working to try and regain half guard.
Toronen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Toronen is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Payne has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Payne is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Toronen controlling from the full mount.
Toronen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Payne is looking to escape.
Payne swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Payne tries to reverse the position but Toronen maintains control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Toronen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Payne can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Toronen is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Payne is surviving well by controlling Toronen's body position as best he can.
Toronen with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Toronen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Toronen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Toronen blocks the strikes from Payne.
Well, if Toronen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Payne is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Toronen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Toronen's back!
Toronen looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Payne misses with a punch to the head.
Payne landing with strikes.
Payne throws a series of strikes and Toronen wriggles onto his back, so he's now mounted. He's in real trouble here.
Payne throws some wild stikes that Toronen manages to avoid easily.
Toronen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Payne on the ground.
Payne is breathing heavily.
Toronen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Toronen can't escape the position.
Toronen taking shots to the head.
Toronen is working to get back to half guard.
Toronen regains half guard.
Payne thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Toronen's head.
Payne thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Toronen's head.
Toronen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Toronen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Toronen lands with a punch from half guard.
Payne throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Toronen wants to control but Payne is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne won't allow Toronen to pass to mount.

Toronen stands up from half guard.
Payne keeps the fight on the outside.

Toronen pushes Payne up against the cage in a clinch.

Toronen pulls guard effortlessly.
Payne wants to pass the guard but Toronen is keeping the position.
Payne won't allow Toronen to get back to his feet.
Toronen seems keen to control Payne's posture.
Payne thows a big elbow that misses.
Toronen is trying to keep Payne in close.
Toronen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne is looking to get to half guard.
Toronen working Payne over with strikes here.
Payne is looking to get to half guard.
Toronen controlling the position easily from mount.
Payne tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Toronen is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Payne is surviving well by controlling Toronen's body position as best he can.
Payne is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Toronen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Payne is looking to escape.
A nice elbow there by Toronen.
Toronen with the ground and pound from mount.
Payne has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Toronen landing strikes from the mount and Payne is in trouble!

Toronen wants to finish this one by submission but Payne is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Toronen.
Payne really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Payne taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Toronen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Toronen forces Payne back against the cage and clinches.
Toronen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Payne backwards.
Toronen lands a body punch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Toronen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Payne prevents it.

Toronen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Payne shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Payne was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Toronen wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Toronen is looking to improve his position but Payne isn't that keen on the idea.
Payne looking to finish Toronen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Toronen!
Payne throwing strikes here but Toronen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Payne sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toronen is desperately trying to improve his position but Payne has a good base and remains in mount.
Payne is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Toronen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Payne throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Toronen blocking the ground and pound.
Toronen is trying desperately to improve position.
Payne misses with a head shot.
Antti Toronen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Toronen is looking to get to half guard.
Toronen tries to hold on but Payne postures up.
Toronen is looking to get to half guard.
Toronen wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Payne working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Payne throws some wild stikes that Toronen manages to avoid easily.
Toronen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Toronen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Payne thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Toronen's head.
Toronen gets full guard.
Payne prevents Toronen from getting back to his feet.
Toronen looking for a sweep. Not yet Toronen, not yet.
Payne lands a couple of elbows.
Payne pushes down on Toronen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Toronen is trying to stand up here but Payne is controlling him well.
Toronen is looking to control Payne's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Toronen avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne is looking to advance position but Toronen won't allow it.
Payne working Toronen over with strikes.
Payne stops Toronen from getting back to his feet.
Payne scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Toronen 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!
Toronen cracks Payne with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Payne from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Can Payne hold on?! Toronen is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Payne turns into Toronen and is now in his guard.
Payne forces his way into half guard.
Payne looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Toronen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Payne thows a big elbow that misses.
Payne throws a strike but Toronen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Toronen won't allow Payne to sweep him here.
Toronen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Payne doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Payne thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Payne keeping moving, preventing Toronen from controlling successfully.
Toronen is pushing down on Payne's leg trying to pass to half guard. Payne is fighting to maintain full guard but Toronen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Toronen wants to stand up but Payne is controlling the position.
Max Payne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Antti Toronen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Toronen slows the pace down in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Antti Toronen.
Well Toronen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antti Toronen!