PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Walter Payton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Warden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Payton
vs
Warden

183 cm
24
195 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

190 cm
22
195 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Walter Payton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Jason Warden!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Warden drives through and clinches with Payton against the cage.
Payton lands a body punch.
Warden gets underhooks to prevent Payton's takedown attempt.
Warden misses with a knee to the head.
Payton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Warden fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A head kick misses from Warden.
Payton lands with a kick to the ribs.

Warden closes the distance and clinches.
Payton tries to land knees in the clinch but Warden avoids the damage to the body.
Warden crunches a lovely knee into Payton's ribcage.
Payton lands a shoulder strike.
Warden has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Payton is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The referee calls for Payton to work.
Payton has a couple of punches blocked by Warden.
Payton looking to slow down the pace here.

Warden has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Payton clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payton tries to escape the position.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Warden.
Payton is trying to break free.
Payton is working hard here to advance position.
Warden doesn't have the hooks in and Payton manages to turn into his guard.
Payton prevents Warden from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Payton trying to control the position from guard on top but Warden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Warden trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Warden is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Warden is trying to control the position but Payton postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Payton fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walter Payton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Warden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Payton tries to clinch but Warden moves away
and Warden counters with a body kick.
Payton is breathing heavily.

Warden moves into the clinch.
Payton trying to control the position but instead, Warden has worked for underhooks and has pushed Payton into the cage.
Payton tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Payton is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Warden gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Payton wants a takedown.
Knees to the body from Warden.
Warden misses with a knee strike.
Warden can't get the takedown.

Warden has clasped his hands together around Payton's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Payton is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payton takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Warden working the ground and pound from side control.
Warden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Payton is looking to reverse the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Warden scoring with punches from side control.
Payton taking punishment in the form of punches.
Payton is trying to work for a sweep but Warden has mounted him!
Payton tries to hold on but Warden pushes him away.
Warden with shots to the head and body - Payton looks very uncomfortable down there.
Warden lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Warden punishing his opponent with strikes.
Payton takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Warden in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Payton is in all sorts of trouble here.
Warden dominating with strikes here.
Warden putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Warden lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Payton hang on?
Payton tries to reverse the position but Warden maintains control.
Warden pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Payton is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Warden with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Warden dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Payton wants to clinch but Warden slips to the side

and Warden counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Payton's guard now.
Payton looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Warden puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Payton gets full guard.
Payton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Warden trying to control but Payton is working from the bottom.

Warden stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Walter Payton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Payton closes the distance and pushes Warden back into the cage.
Payton scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Warden is pushing Payton up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Warden breaks from the clinch.
Warden rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Payton moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Warden bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Warden is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Payton has escaped the position, nice work there.
Payton manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Payton wants to get back to full guard.
Warden working over Payton with some ground and pound. Payton looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Payton is looking for a sweep. Warden is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Payton throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Warden in particular looking to stall.
Payton tries to roll over but Warden keeps him under control.
Nice strikes from Warden there.
Warden not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Payton feints and as Warden raises his hands in defense, Payton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Payton is looking to advance position but Warden has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Jason Warden has got the better of the ground game so far.
Payton in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Warden landing shots from mount.
Warden trying to control but Payton is having none of it.
Payton is looking to get to half guard.
Warden connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Warden with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payton wants to hold on but Warden pushes him away.
Payton is working to get back to half guard.
Warden pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Payton on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Payton tries to get out of the position.
Payton is trying to escape the mount.

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.
Payton tries to hold on but Warden postures up.
Warden is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Payton can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Warden avoids the attempt from Payton to control.
Payton is desperately trying to improve his position but Warden has a good base and remains in mount.
Warden scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Payton is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Payton takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Warden tries to control but Payton wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Warden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Warden clinches.
Payton digs a right hand into Warden's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Warden's gas tank.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Warden.
Payton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Warden fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Warden closes the distance and clinches.
Payton misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Warden gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Payton with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Warden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Payton doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Warden counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walter Payton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Payton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Payton is working an open guard so Warden takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Warden changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Payton looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Warden creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Warden landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Payton is trying to improve his position.
Warden working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Payton is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Warden decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Payton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Warden, pushing him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Payton fails to land.
Warden landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Warden connects with a nasty looking knee right to Payton's face.
Payton goes for a takedown attempt but Warden pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Warden lands with a kick to the ribs.
Warden looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Walter Payton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Payton wants to clinch

and Warden counters with a single leg into guard. Payton didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warden is in close to Payton's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Warden won't allow Payton to sweep him here.

Payton is looking for a triangle but Warden pushes his legs off easily.
Payton throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Payton throws a couple of heel strikes.
Payton throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Payton wants to sweep here but Warden controlling him for the moment.
Payton keeping moving, preventing Warden from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Warden fails with the takedown.
Payton wants to clinch

and Warden counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Payton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Payton looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Payton wants to sweep but no luck.
Payton is trying to control the position but Warden postures up.
Walter Payton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Payton is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Warden is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Warden landing with the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Payton looks to throw the jab but Warden is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Warden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Warden has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Warden!