PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sarah Fitz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Payne
vs
Fitz

180 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex Payne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sarah Fitz!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitz shoots for a takedown but Payne saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Payne drives through and clinches with Fitz against the cage.
Fitz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Payne will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Fitz up against the cage.

Payne gets control of Fitz's arms and successfully pulls guard. Payne will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fitz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Payne pushes Fitz off and scrambles back to his feet.
Payne tries for a takedown but Fitz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Payne really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Payne displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fitz.
Alex Payne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sarah Fitz.
Payne shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fitz defends it nicely.
Payne darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Payne shoots in looking for a takedown. Fitz tries to sprawl out of it but Payne keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fitz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Payne wants to clinch but Fitz slips to the side
enabling Fitz to counter with a crisp jab.

Payne moves into range and clinches up with Fitz.
Payne managing to block the knees to the body from Fitz.
Fitz throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Payne turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Payne manages to end up in side control.
Payne takes a little break here. Fitz wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Payne stands up.
Payne with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitz tries to clinch but Payne is having none of it.
Fitz shoots in but Payne avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fitz looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Payne looks for a takedown but Fitz sprawls well.
Payne shoots in looking for a takedown. Fitz tries to sprawl out of it but Payne keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fitz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fitz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Payne as he avoids it easily.
No luck for Payne with that takedown attempt.
Fitz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Payne but Payne pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fitz takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Payne scores with a head kick.
Payne shoots for a double leg takedown but Fitz sprawls well. He's pushed Payne's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Payne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fitz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fitz doesn't manage to clinch there - Payne circles away.

Fitz clinches up with Payne and pushes him back against the cage.

Payne pulls Fitz into guard.
Payne looking for a sweep. Not yet Payne, not yet.
Payne trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne keeping moving, preventing Fitz from controlling successfully.

Payne is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fitz is aware though and is defending well.
Payne manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fitz tries to improve his position but instead Payne has taken his back!
Fitz is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitz is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Payne.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Payne dominated that round.
That's time! Payne's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Payne looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fitz is fending him off so far but Payne persists. Nope, Fitz circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fitz is defended easily by Payne.
Sarah Fitz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Payne circles away from the clinch attempt.
Payne displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Fitz misses with a looping right.
Fitz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Horrible takedown by Payne or perhaps it was just good defense by Fitz which made him look bad.
Payne lands a nice looking kick to the body. Fitz takes a step back to recover.
Fitz is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fitz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alex Payne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sarah Fitz.
Fitz stuffs the takedown attempt from Payne. Payne gets slowly back to his feet.
Fitz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Payne.
Payne changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fitz tries to avoid it but Payne manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fitz to the ground. Fitz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Payne shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fitz defends it nicely.
Fitz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Payne tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fitz swivels and escapes.
Alex Payne is winning the standup battle so far.
Fitz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fitz wants it to stay on the feet.
Payne swats away the attempt to clinch by Fitz.
Payne fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fitz wants to clinch but Payne slips to the side
and Payne counters with a good low kick that Fitz was not able to check.
Payne shoots for a double leg takedown but Fitz sprawls well. He's pushed Payne's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Fitz scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fitz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitz stuffs the takedown attempt from Payne. Payne gets slowly back to his feet.
A jab from Fitz does it's job there.
Payne delivers a nice body kick.
Payne throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Fitz's head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Payne decides to pull guard.
Payne keeping moving, preventing Fitz from controlling successfully.
Fitz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Payne. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fitz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Payne works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fitz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitz distracts Payne with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Payne is pulling down on Fitz's head. It's preventing any offense from Fitz, at least for the moment.
Fitz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fitz trying to control but Payne is working from the bottom.
Fitz wants to stand but Payne has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payne pulls Fitz in close to his closed guard and prevents Fitz from doing any damage or advancing position.
Fitz is looking to stand up but Payne won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alex Payne will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Payne circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fitz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Payne circles away.
Payne fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fitz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Payne shoots in but no luck this time.
Fitz leaves Payne with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Payne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fitz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fitz fails with a takedown attempt.
Payne closes the distance and clinches up with Fitz, looking for a takedown. Payne pushes Fitz against the cage but Fitz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fitz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Payne manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne jabs at Fitz's body.

Payne moves into the clinch successfully.
Payne is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Fitz pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Fitz has picked Payne up - he's going for a ride! Fitz dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Alex Payne overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
It looks like Fitz is going to stand back up.
Payne slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Fitz being controlled here momentarily.
Fitz stays in close to Payne's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Payne looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Payne has a closed guard, preventing Fitz from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fitz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fitz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Payne's guard.
Fitz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitz trying to control the position from guard on top but Payne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Payne pulls Fitz in to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fitz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Payne manages to avoid it.

Payne takes the fight into the clinch.

Payne has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fitz uses from the top position.

Fitz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Payne has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fitz has managed to get both his arms back between Payne's legs - danger averted.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Payne is on top in guard.
Payne working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne stops Fitz from standing up.
Fitz trying to control the position.
Payne controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sarah Fitz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Fitz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Payne gets to his feet - Fitz follows without any prompting.

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 Alex Payne.
Well Payne 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 Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Payne!