PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hugues De Payens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arman Shaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De Payens's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Rage against the machine - Bombtrack. Arman Shaker has the eye of the tiger tonight.

De Payens
vs
Shaker

187 cm
34
194 lbs
34 - 8 - 0

180 cm
28
194 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Museum of Monsters & Madmen
Sin City Allstars

Sin City Allstars

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 34 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hugues De Payens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arman Shaker!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Russell Pearce and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Payens scores with a nice strike.
De Payens throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shaker misses with a body kick.
It looked like De Payens wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shaker misses the shot to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from De Payens misses the target.
Shaker thuds a left hand into De Payens's body.
A solid body kick from Shaker.
De Payens cracks Shaker with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Shaker looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A jab from Shaker finds it's way through De Payens's defenses.
De Payens on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shaker. Shaker obviously looking to wear him down.
Shaker looks to land a body kick but De Payens moved away.
Shaker closes the distance and clinches up with De Payens, looking for a takedown. Shaker pushes De Payens against the cage but De Payens circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Shaker closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into De Payens's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shaker is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
De Payens seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. De Payens is keeping the position for now.
Shaker is still trying to improve position.
Shaker trying to control the position from guard on top but De Payens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now De Payens is on top in guard.

De Payens is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shaker has control of De Payens's left arm, preventing De Payens from doing any damage.
De Payens wants to control from the top but Shaker keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Shaker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from De Payens.
Shaker seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
De Payens throwing strikes from guard but Shaker blocks nicely.
Shaker looking for a sweep. Not yet Shaker, not yet.
Shaker keeping full guard, as De Payens tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
De Payens wants to control from the top but Shaker keeps moving.
De Payens looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaker seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
De Payens content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Shaker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shaker is on top in guard.

Shaker sitting in guard here, content to control.
De Payens controlling Shaker's posture.
Shaker looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
De Payens has control of Shaker's left arm, preventing Shaker from doing any damage.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Shaker working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaker slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Shaker is looking to take a break and control but De Payens is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
De Payens is looking for a sweep.
De Payens manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Shaker trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

De Payens seems to be working for a kimura but Shaker defends the submission attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shaker is controlling De Payens's trapped leg to prevent De Payens from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Arman Shaker will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shaker bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Shaker just misses with a punch to the body.
De Payens slips under a jab.
It looked like De Payens was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A slapping leg kick lands for De Payens.
De Payens moves out of range as Shaker throws a body kick.
Shaker throws a low kick but De Payens moves out of range easily.
De Payens ducks under a wild hook from Shaker.
De Payens throws a sloppy head kick and Shaker moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Payens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Shaker throws a head kick but De Payens moves out of range.
Shaker throws a hook to the side of De Payens's head but De Payens sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shaker is looking to land body kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaker misses with a kick to the body.
Shaker lands a jab to De Payens's midsection.
Shaker feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to De Payens's calf.
Shaker throws a shot from downtown. De Payens moves away and avoids it.
De Payens moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
De Payens scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
De Payens tries a head kick but it misses.
Arman Shaker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Payens throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Shaker counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shaker.
Shaker trying to control but De Payens is working from the bottom.
Shaker is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Shaker landing some decent shots from guard.
De Payens keeping moving, preventing Shaker from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaker seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
De Payens is trying to keep Shaker in close.
Shaker preventing the sweep.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
De Payens is working hard here to advance position.
Shaker tries to free his leg and advance position but De Payens is retaining full guard.
Shaker stopping the sweep attempt from De Payens.
Shaker trying to control but De Payens is working from the bottom.
Shaker not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaker looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now De Payens is on top in guard.

Shaker 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.
De Payens wants to control from the top but Shaker keeps moving.
De Payens looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shaker controlling De Payens's posture.
De Payens won't allow Shaker to sweep him here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De Payens throws a big right hand that misses.
De Payens looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shaker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shaker throws a solid leg kick but De Payens takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shaker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arman Shaker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

De Payens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shaker changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Shaker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but De Payens moves away.
Shaker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but De Payens moves away.
Shaker loads up on a big right hand but De Payens slips the punch.
De Payens fires out a quick counter leg kick but Shaker just manages to avoid it.
De Payens smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Shaker misses with an attempted mid kick.
De Payens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shaker is fending him off so far but De Payens persists. Nope, Shaker circles away and we're back to standing.
Shaker fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and De Payens has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by De Payens.
De Payens fails with a takedown attempt.
Arman Shaker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shaker throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
De Payens was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaker swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
De Payens throwing a counter right hand but Shaker manages to avoid it.
De Payens tries to clinch up.
De Payens scoring well with a low kick there.
De Payens misses with a looping right.
Shaker changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hugues De Payens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De Payens on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Shaker connects with a high kick.
Shaker misses with a kick to the body
and De Payens counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Shaker throws a sloppy head kick and De Payens moves out of range easily.
De Payens jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Shaker cracks De Payens with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Shaker connects with a leg kick. De Payens looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

De Payens pushes Shaker up against the cage in a clinch.
Shaker blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Payens lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hugues De Payens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

De Payens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A chopping leg kick lands by Shaker.
Shaker scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Shaker tried to score with a low kick but De Payens checks it.
A chopping leg kick lands by De Payens.
De Payens lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Shaker throws a chopping leg kick but De Payens manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Shaker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
De Payens moves out of range of the body kick.
Shaker misses with a body kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by De Payens.
De Payens avoids a kick to the body.
De Payens appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaker scores with a nice right hand.
De Payens takes a jab right on the kisser.
Shaker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and De Payens counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shaker lands a front kick.
De Payens moves out of range as Shaker throws a body kick.
Arman Shaker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shaker bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps De Payens's head backwards.
Shaker misses with a low kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Shaker.
De Payens takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The fighters circle momentarily. De Payens darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
De Payens thows a leg kick but Shaker checks it

and Shaker counters with a single leg into guard. De Payens didn't expect that.
De Payens wants to sweep here but Shaker controlling him for the moment.
Shaker sitting in guard, not really doing much.
De Payens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shaker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. De Payens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shaker trying to control the position from guard on top but De Payens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

De Payens is looking for a triangle but Shaker pushes his legs off easily.
Shaker stands and throws De Payens's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Shaker scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at De Payens to see if he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arman Shaker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shaker winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arman Shaker!
Arman Shaker managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Sin City Allstars, into his post fight interview.
In defeat, Hugues De Payens stepped up to the mic, saying 'Not only do you not understand my divine purpose, you judge me and cast stones. I will return, the time of judgement is upon your self, you are gods , wake up and realize you are the suffering you create, you are the love, we are one!'.