PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Desmond Joseph (ranked 3853 p4p, 3962 weight class) and Payton Hampton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Payton Hampton has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Joseph
vs
Hampton

170 cm
24
140
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
135
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Desmond Joseph!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Payton Hampton!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hampton slaps away a takedown attempt from Joseph, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hampton throws out a counter right but Joseph avoids it with no problem.
Joseph fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A little jabbing left from Hampton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Joseph has his takedown stuffed
and Hampton counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Desmond Joseph. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joseph has his takedown stuffed
enabling Hampton to counter with a crisp jab.
Joseph shoots for a takedown but Hampton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Joseph tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hampton sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Joseph somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joseph shoots for a double leg takedown but Hampton sprawls well. He's pushed Joseph's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hampton looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Joseph misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A little jabbing left from Hampton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Joseph closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Joseph wants to take the fight to the mat but Hampton manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hampton working hard to break the clinch.
Hampton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Joseph is struggling to control the position.
Joseph looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Hampton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Joseph has his takedown stuffed
and Hampton connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Joseph is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Joseph shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hampton manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Joseph connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hampton managing to control the position.
Joseph throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hampton wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Joseph trying to control but Hampton is working from the bottom.
Hampton keeping full guard, as Joseph tries to pass.
Hampton is pulling down on Joseph's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph wants to control from the top but Hampton keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Joseph throwing strikes but missing.
Joseph 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Joseph looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hampton stuffs the takedown.
Joseph shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hampton sprawls well. Hampton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Joseph gets slowly back to his feet.
Hampton looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Joseph misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Hampton to counter with a crisp jab.
Desmond Joseph seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joseph shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hampton defends it nicely.
Joseph shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hampton pinned against the cage. Hampton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Joseph looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Joseph fails with a takedown attempt.
Hampton looks like he wants to counter punch here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Joseph throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hampton was covering up waiting for the punch and Joseph finishes the takedown easily into guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Payton Hampton dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hampton stuffs the takedown.
Joseph throws an off balance right hand
and Hampton counters with a straight right hand.
Joseph shoots in and drives through. Hampton sprawls well.

Joseph shoots in and bounces Hampton off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hampton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Joseph. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Joseph connects with a couple of short punches.
Hampton keeping moving, preventing Joseph from controlling successfully.
Hampton is controlling Joseph's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joseph stands up over Hampton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Joseph throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph is in close to Hampton's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hampton keeping moving, preventing Joseph from controlling successfully.
Joseph preventing the sweep.
Joseph wants to control from the top but Hampton keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joseph is working Hampton over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hampton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hampton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Joseph trying to control the position from guard on top but Hampton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hampton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Joseph closes the distance and clinches up with Hampton, looking for a takedown. Joseph pushes Hampton against the cage but Hampton circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Desmond Joseph. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joseph misses with a hook. Hampton ducked under it nicely.
Hampton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hampton wants it to stay on the feet.
Hampton looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Payton Hampton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Joseph defending well as Hampton loads up on a big left hand.
Joseph shoots and misses
and Joseph takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Joseph has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is trying to drag Hampton to the mat but Hampton just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hampton is trying to break the clinch but Joseph has him pressed against the cage.
Joseph is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hampton is defending well.
Hampton is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hampton has had enough of the clinch but Joseph keeps him there for the moment.
Hampton tries to break free but Joseph pushes him back against the cage.
Hampton goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Joseph has Hampton pressed against the cage, preventing Hampton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hampton wants to break free but Joseph has control.
Hampton is trying to force a seperation but Joseph has the dominant position.
Hampton tries to break free but Joseph pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hampton looking to slow down the pace here.
Hampton is looking to break free of the clinch but Joseph has double underhooks.

Hampton manages to break the clinch.
Hampton throws a jab when Joseph was well out of range.
A jab from Hampton misses.
Hampton throws a big shot that misses.
Joseph tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hampton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Joseph with a poor takedown
and Hampton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Joseph shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Joseph showed some decent athleticism there.
Hampton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joseph is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Payton Hampton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Joseph fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hampton, pushing him back against the cage.
Desmond Joseph has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hampton breaks from the clinch.
Joseph with a poor takedown
and Hampton counters with a stiff right hand.
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hampton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Joseph with a poor takedown
and Hampton counters with a nice uppercut.
Hampton throws a jab but it's blocked by Joseph.
Hampton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hampton wants it to stay on the feet.
Hampton looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Desmond Joseph. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joseph has a takedown stuffed.
Joseph shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hampton counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hampton gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Joseph to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joseph landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hampton has control of Joseph's left arm, preventing Joseph from doing any damage.
Joseph throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hampton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hampton is pulling down on Joseph's head. It's preventing any offense from Joseph, at least for the moment.
Joseph loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hampton has control of Joseph's left arm, preventing Joseph from doing any damage.

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.
Hampton 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.
Joseph working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Joseph has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Joseph's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Joseph postures up in Hampton's guard and throws a big left but Hampton blocks it.
Joseph throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hampton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Joseph trying to control the position from guard on top but Hampton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Joseph shoots and misses
and Hampton counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hampton 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.
Joseph shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hampton swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Joseph gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Joseph takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Joseph takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Joseph throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hampton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Joseph on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Joseph is rocked!

Joseph closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hampton's guard.
Joseph is looking to work some ground and pound but Hampton has wrist control.
Joseph preventing the sweep.
Hampton pulls Joseph in close to his closed guard and prevents Joseph from doing any damage or advancing position.
Joseph trying to control but Hampton is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hampton is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hampton looking for a sweep. Not yet Hampton, not yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joseph accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Joseph throws a right hand that misses
letting Hampton counter with a right hand.
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch but Hampton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joseph rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hampton counters with a nice uppercut.
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!
Joseph ducks under a wild hook from Hampton.
Joseph throws an off balance right hand
and Hampton counters with a nice uppercut.
Joseph misses with an uppercut
enabling Hampton to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Payton Hampton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hampton 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Payton Hampton!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Payton Hampton!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Payton Hampton!

Payton Hampton wins by unanimous decision!