PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demarco Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and matt johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Payne comes to the cage accompanied by California Love by Tupac and Dr Dre. On his way into the cage it seems that Demarco Payne has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Demarco Payne seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Payne
vs
johnson

194 cm
19
189 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Demarco Payne!
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, matt johnson!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Payne avoids it really well and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from johnson is defended easily by Payne.
johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Demarco Payne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of matt johnson.
johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Payne, looking for a takedown. johnson pushes Payne against the cage but Payne circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Payne shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in johnson's guard.
Payne trying to control but johnson is working from the bottom.
Payne controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Payne.
Payne is pushing down on johnson's leg trying to pass to half guard. johnson is fighting to maintain full guard but Payne has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Payne thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed johnson's head.
Payne takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Payne thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
johnson is refusing to be controlled, as Payne sits in half guard.

Payne is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Payne is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Payne missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
johnson looks gassed!
johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Payne fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with johnson, pushing him back against the cage.
johnson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Payne breaks the clinch.
Payne moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
johnson shoots and misses

and Payne counters by clinching up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Payne.

Payne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Payne duly obliges.
Payne displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Payne looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Payne with a flurry of punches that miss.
Payne trying to control the position from guard on top but johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
johnson being controlled here, momentarily.
johnson working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Payne postures up and lands a big shot to johnson's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Payne chips away with some ground and pound.
Payne content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Payne feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Payne loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Payne sitting in guard here, content to control.
johnson wants to stand but Payne is controlling the position.
johnson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Payne stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
johnson is breathing heavily.
Payne throws a combination. johnson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Payne lands a right hook to the body.

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

Payne has picked johnson up - he's going for a ride! Payne dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
johnson taking some punishment here, with Payne in his half guard.
Payne missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Payne is thwarting johnson's attempts to control the position.
Payne looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
johnson tries to kick Payne off but Payne keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Payne in particular looking to stall.
Payne's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne is looking to take a break and control but johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Payne content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Payne knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for johnson on the ground.

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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Demarco Payne just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Payne!
johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.

Payne fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. johnson sprawls well initially but Payne persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Payne content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Payne is nestled in close to johnson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
johnson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demarco Payne dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Payne thuds his right hand into johnson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Payne counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for johnson!
johnson taking shots to the head.
Payne in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Payne controlling his opponent.
Payne postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. johnson looks a forlorn figure.
Payne tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne landing strikes, looking to finish!
Payne lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Demarco Payne overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Payne pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Payne landing strikes, looking to finish!

Payne has hold of johnson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and johnson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Payne landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne lands a nice shot to the head.

Payne working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Payne controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Payne cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
matt johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Demarco Payne is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne content just to control the position here.

Payne is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but johnson is surviving well by controlling Payne's body position as best he can.
Payne sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four 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.
The referee warns johnson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Payne tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Payne seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down johnson for as long as he can get away with.

And that's the end of the fight!
Demarco Payne showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:25
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26

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