PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurby Lovebug (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kurby Lovebug will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Payne
vs
Lovebug

160 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

150 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Payne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kurby Lovebug!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Payne looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Lovebug is looking for a sweep. Payne is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Payne is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Payne is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Lovebug has managed to free his arm - good work.

Payne is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Lovebug has managed to free his arm - good work.
Lovebug trying to control from the bottom.
Lovebug is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Payne is staying active.
Lovebug flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Payne is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Payne blocks the strikes from Lovebug.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lovebug actively working from the bottom here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lovebug throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lovebug throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lovebug throws a head kick but Payne moves out of range.
Lovebug misses the jab.
Payne slips a straight right by Lovebug.
Lovebug swings for the body but Payne moves out of range.
Lovebug ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Payne moves away.
Kurby Lovebug is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lovebug throws the left hand but Payne avoids the punch easily.
Lovebug misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Payne.
Payne uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lovebug.
Lovebug throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two 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.

Payne shoots in and bounces Lovebug off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Lovebug has eaten all the pies!
Payne throwing strikes from guard but Lovebug blocks nicely.
Payne wants to control from the top but Lovebug keeps moving.
Payne is breathing heavily.

Payne thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lovebug working a defensive guard here.
Lovebug thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Lovebug is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Payne trying to control but Lovebug is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Payne is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lovebug is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lovebug has escaped and now he's on top!

Payne looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Payne working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lovebug doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lovebug manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Payne had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lovebug is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Payne Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lovebug's back instead.

Payne patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Lovebug turns into Payne and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Lovebug drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lovebug jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lovebug throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Payne works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Payne isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Lovebug stacks Payne on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Lovebug!
Payne is trying to control Lovebug's posture but Lovebug avoids it.
Payne takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lovebug is trying to get an arm triangle but Payne is defending well.
Payne parries the strikes from Lovebug easily there. Lovebug is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Payne to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Payne dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lovebug misses the shot to the body.
Lovebug tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Payne was well out of range. Poor timing from Lovebug.
Lovebug swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lovebug misses with a wild body shot.
Payne keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lovebug ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Payne moves away.
Lovebug looks to score with a jab to the body but Payne is just out of range.
Lovebug throws a leg kick that misses.
Lovebug is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Payne rather than just go for the knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lovebug misses the shot to the body.
Lovebug swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lovebug is breathing heavily.

Payne shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lovebug manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Payne drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Payne jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lovebug had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Payne is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Lovebug Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Payne's back instead.
Payne breaks Lovebug's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Payne content to stall in guard here.

Lovebug throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lovebug keeping moving, preventing Payne from controlling successfully.

Lovebug is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two 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.
Payne landing with the ground and pound.
Payne trying to control the position from guard on top but Lovebug is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Payne drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lovebug looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lovebug looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lovebug!

Lovebug thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Payne gets back to half guard.

Lovebug is trying to work for a kimura but Payne is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lovebug seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Payne does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Payne wants to get back to full guard.

Payne looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Payne blocks a leg kick.
Payne keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Payne slips under a jab from Lovebug.
Lovebug swings for the body but Payne moves out of range.

Payne shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lovebug's guard.

Lovebug is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lovebug utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Payne is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lovebug is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lovebug has escaped and now he's on top!
Payne looking for a sweep. Not yet Payne, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Payne controls Lovebug momentarily but Lovebug frees himself.
Lovebug with a flurry of punches that miss.
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 James Payne will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Payne keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lovebug displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Payne.
Lovebug misses with a wild body shot.
James Payne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lovebug just misses with a punch to the body.
Lovebug throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lovebug misses with a straight left.
Lovebug misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lovebug fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Payne manages to avoid it.

Payne darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lovebug works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovebug wants to sweep but no luck.

Payne is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Payne drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Payne jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Payne wants to pass the guard but Lovebug is keeping the position.

Payne drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lovebug manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Payne has Lovebug in his guard.

Payne throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Payne is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lovebug defends well.
Kurby Lovebug has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lovebug accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lovebug thows a big elbow that misses.
Payne keeping full guard, as Lovebug tries to pass.
Payne manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Payne goes for an armbar but Lovebug turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Lovebug.

Payne escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lovebug gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lovebug postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lovebug thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Payne has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lovebug can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Payne is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Lovebug is defending well though. Payne let's go of the attempt for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lovebug turns into Payne and is now in his guard.

Lovebug thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Payne looking for the RNC.
James Payne is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Lovebug is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Payne showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Payne, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

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