PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Denny Spears (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Denny Spears had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Spears
vs
Payne

191 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Denny Spears!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jason Payne!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Anthony Taglia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Payne gets a double leg takedown into Spears's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Spears keeping moving, preventing Payne from controlling successfully.
Payne tries to free his leg and advance position but Spears is retaining full guard.
Payne is looking to stand up but Spears won't let him.
Payne wants to control from the top but Spears keeps moving.
Spears is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jason Payne was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Spears scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Spears will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Payne sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spears is looking for a kimura but Payne is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Spears to get the leverage.
Payne is looking to improve his position.
Spears thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Payne is defending against the submission attempts here by Spears.
Spears is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Payne manages to get to full guard.
Spears stopping the sweep attempt from Payne.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spears tries to stand but Payne is controlling from the bottom.
Payne wants to get back to his feet but Spears is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Payne is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Spears wants to stand but Payne is controlling his posture from full guard.
Payne is trying to control the position but Spears postures up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jason Payne hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Payne looks for a takedown but Spears sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spears fails with an attempt to clinch.
Payne misses with a series of wild punches.
Payne fails to land the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Payne is defended easily by Spears.
Denny Spears has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Payne.

Payne gets tackled into the cage by Spears. Spears maintains the clinch.
Payne is looking to break free of the clinch but Spears has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Payne manages to break the clinch.
Payne shoots and misses
and Spears counters with a nice leg kick.
Spears throws a series of punches but Payne moves out of range.
Payne shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Spears sprawls well. Spears wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Payne gets slowly back to his feet.
Payne looks winded!
Payne takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Jason Payne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spears darts in trying to clinch
and Payne counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Spears gets the takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Denny Spears 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.

Payne avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Payne will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Payne tries to land a front kick but Spears steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Payne shoots in for a double leg but Spears sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Spears throws a body kick that misses.
Spears ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Denny Spears is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Spears stuffs the takedown.
Denny Spears has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Payne.
Payne keeps the fight on the outside.
Spears stuffs the takedown.
Payne with a poor takedown

and Spears moves into the clinch.
Payne is breathing heavily.

Spears gets control of Payne's arms and successfully pulls guard. Spears will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Spears is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spears working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Payne wants to stand but Spears is controlling his posture from full guard.
Spears wants to sweep here but Payne controlling him for the moment.
Spears is working hard here to advance position.

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

Jason Payne has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Payne fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A big left from Spears misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Payne darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Payne throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Payne tries to clinch up.
Spears closes the distance and clinches up with Payne, looking for a takedown. Spears pushes Payne against the cage but Payne circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Payne shoots and misses
and Spears makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spears leaves Payne with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Payne blocks a head kick by Spears.
Spears is looking to clinch.
Spears tries a head kick but it misses.
Payne looks for a takedown but Spears sprawls well.

Spears darts in and clinches Payne up against the cage.
Payne tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Spears smiles and moves away.
Spears misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne blocks a low kick nicely.

Spears has taken the fight to the clinch.
Spears jumps guard but Payne turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Spears is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Spears has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Payne is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Payne tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Spears's elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payne taking a breather.
Spears is trying to pull guard but Payne turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Spears dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Spears tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Payne manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Spears will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Payne has his takedown stuffed
and Spears counters with a nice low kick that buckles Payne's knee momentarily.

Payne shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Spears is trying to defend but Payne finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Payne seems to be looking for submissions.
Spears keeping hold of Payne's head, controlling as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spears trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Spears can't escape the position.
Payne throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Payne sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Payne is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spears wants to control but Payne is having none of it.
Payne breaks from Spears's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Spears blocking the ground and pound.
Spears blocking the ground and pound.
Payne wants to stand but Spears is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Payne controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne wants to take Spears's back but he can't do it this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Spears working to try and regain half guard.
Payne controlling his opponent.
Payne wants to control the pace but Spears is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spears wants to hold on but Payne pushes him away.
Spears working to try and regain half guard.
Payne landing strikes from the mount.
Payne throwing strikes here but Spears is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Jason Payne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Denny Spears is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Payne working the ground and pound effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Payne comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Spears has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denny Spears!