PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eugene Burns III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burns III comes into the arena with Off with his head- Big Pun blaring out of the sound system. Payne has chosen Here Comes The Pain as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Burns III
vs
Payne

188 cm
29
245 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

186 cm
20
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eugene Burns III!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justin Payne!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns III shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Payne sprawls well. Payne wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Burns III gets slowly back to his feet.
Burns III throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Payne counters with a right hand to the body.
Burns III shoots and misses
and Payne connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Burns III throws a lazy uppercut
and Payne counters with a three punch combo that has Burns III backing up. Burns III nods at Payne to acknowledge the strikes.
Payne stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eugene Burns III. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burns III throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Payne counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Burns III shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Burns III showed some decent athleticism there.
Payne wants to get back to full guard.
Payne really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Burns III. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Payne desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Burns III seems to be looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Burns III is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns III not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Burns III is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Payne doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Burns III.
Payne controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Burns III is thwarting Payne's attempts to control the position.

Burns III looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Burns III is trying to work for a kimura but Payne is defending well.
Payne is trying to control but can't.

Burns III seems to be working for a kimura but Payne defends the submission attempt.
Payne is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns III not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Payne trying to control here.

Burns III is working for a kimura but Payne is defending it quite comfortably.
Payne tries to get to full guard but Burns III has control of the leg.
Payne is trying to stand.

Burns III is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Burns III looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Payne regains full guard. Nicely done.
Burns III postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Payne can do anything to dispel that myth.
Burns III tries to free his leg and advance position but Payne is retaining full guard.
Payne working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burns III.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Payne is on top in guard.

Burns III looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Payne passes into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Justin Payne will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Payne's corner calls for a 1-2. Payne obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Payne lands a lovely overhand right.
Burns III misses with an uppercut
and Payne cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Burns III shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Payne as he avoids it easily.
Burns III with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Payne to score with a decent uppercut.
Payne has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Burns III finds it's way round the side to connect with Payne's head.
Good shot there by Payne.
Payne connects with a body shot.

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!
Burns III is trying to escape the mount.
Payne wants to take his opponent's back but Burns III doesn't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns III is in all sorts of trouble here.
Payne takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Burns III is looking to get to half guard.
Burns III sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Payne seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Burns III regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns III trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Burns III trying to strike off his back.

Burns III looking for a guillotine here but Payne defends easily.

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

Burns III working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Payne has passed into half guard!
Burns III slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Payne must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burns III is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Payne is aware though and is defending well.

Burns III has his foot on Payne's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Payne works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Payne avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Burns III is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Payne is stalling in the full guard.
Payne trying to stand up but can't free himself from Burns III's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burns III is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Burns III has his foot on Payne's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Payne works his way back into a safe position though.
Burns III 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payne wants to control from the top but Burns III keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eugene Burns III dominated that second round.
That's time! Burns III's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Burns III walks into a straight right hand from Payne.
Burns III misses with a right hand
and Payne counters with a left to the body.
Payne throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Payne lands with a nice combination. Burns III backs away looking to recover.
Payne scores with a sloppy right hand. Burns III should have avoided that one.
Good shot there by Payne.
Payne is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Burns III throws a lazy uppercut
and Payne counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Payne works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Payne closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Burns III throws a combination that misses
and Payne counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Payne lands a jab-cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Payne scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Payne works the jab nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burns III falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Payne counter with a right hand.
Payne connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Payne throws a head kick but Burns III moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Payne fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Burns III, pushing him back against the cage.

Payne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Payne scores with a nice right hand.
Burns III fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Payne avoids it really well and circles away.
Payne tests Burns III's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Burns III takes one on the button.
Burns III takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Payne is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Burns III gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Payne lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Burns III walks into a jab.

Payne gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Payne breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns III throws a poor cross that misses
and Payne connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Payne lands with a good body shot.
Payne scores with a jab to the jaw.
Payne tests Burns III's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Payne connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Burns III's hands.
Payne moves into range and connects with a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice shot lands for Payne.
Payne scores with a three punch combo!
Burns III looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Payne dips to his left and cracks Burns III with an uppercut!
Justin Payne seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Burns III is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Payne.
Payne lands a right hook to the body.
Burns III walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Payne connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Burns III momentarily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Burns III.
Payne is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Payne has a takedown stuffed.
Payne feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Burns IIIs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns III misses with a hook
and Payne cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice straight punches there by Payne. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Payne.
A punch lands to the side of Burns III 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Payne lands a jab to the nose.
Payne lands a head shot.
Payne might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Burns III gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Payne.
Payne lands a jab to the head.
Payne lands a really nice looking cross but Burns III seems unphased.
Payne tries for a takedown but Burns III sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Burns III gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Burns III rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Payne counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A cross from Payne lands.
Decent striking displayed by Payne there.
Payne thuds his right hand into Burns III's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nice takedown defense from Payne. No joy for Burns III on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eugene Burns III. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Payne scores with the left hand. Burns III knows he should have avoided that one.
Burns III swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Payne cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Eugene Burns III has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne misses with an attempted mid kick.
Burns III gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Burns III moves forwards but Payne connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Payne closes the distance and clinches.

Payne manages to break the clinch.
Jab by Payne.
Eugene Burns III seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Payne throws a head kick but Burns III moves out of range.
Payne lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A lazy left from Payne finds it's target.
Burns III gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Payne counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Payne lands with an uppercut that bounces Burns III off the cage and back into rage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Payne lands a nice hook to Burns III's body. Burns III takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Payne with a nice cross.
Payne moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Payne scores with a crisp jab that stopped Burns III in his tracks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Payne comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Payne has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Justin Payne!
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight for Justin Payne!
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight for Justin Payne!

Justin Payne wins by unanimous decision!