PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Given Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Payne has chosen Lose Yourself as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hawkins
vs
Payne

185 cm
19
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tyler Hawkins!
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, Given Payne!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawkins is looking to clinch but Payne is avoiding it.
Hawkins stuffs the takedown.
Payne shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hawkins as he jumps to the side.

Hawkins changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Payne looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hawkins controlling the position.
Hawkins could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Hawkins decides to stand up, so the ref orders Payne to his feet.
Hawkins misses with a takedown attempt - Payne sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Payne with a poor takedown

and Hawkins counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Payne!
Tyler Hawkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Given Payne.
Hawkins takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hawkins punishing his opponent with strikes.
Hawkins controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne wants to hold on but Hawkins pushes him away.
Payne looks gassed!
Hawkins cracks Payne with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Hawkins in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hawkins in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Hawkins wants to finish this one by submission but Payne is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hawkins.
Hawkins controlling from mount.
Payne is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hawkins working for a submission but Payne is keeping him at bay.
Hawkins takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Payne tries to lock up and control but Hawkins gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hawkins sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hawkins landing strikes, looking to finish!
Payne keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hawkins has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Payne's face.
Hawkins tries to control but Payne wriggling away.
Payne wants to hold on but Hawkins pushes him away.
Hawkins prevents Payne from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Payne tries to hold on but Hawkins postures up.
Payne is looking to get to half guard.
Hawkins controlling his opponent.
Hawkins prevents Payne from getting the reversal.
Hawkins content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Hawkins dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hawkins tries to clinch but Payne is having none of it.
Hawkins shoots in for a takedown but Payne shows good takedown defense.

Payne fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hawkins, pushing him back against the cage.
Payne missing with knees to the body.
Hawkins jumps guard but Payne stands there with Hawkins around his waist. Hawkins gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hawkins wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hawkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Payne shoots in but Hawkins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice sprawl there from Payne as Hawkins shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Hawkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Hawkins. No joy for Payne on that attempt.
Hawkins with a poor takedown

and Payne counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hawkins changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Payne fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Payne misses with a takedown attempt - Hawkins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Payne with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hawkins counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Hawkins decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne with a poor takedown

and Hawkins moves into the clinch.

Hawkins has hold of one of Payne's legs. Payne is fighting the takedown attempt but Hawkins gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Payne really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hawkins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hawkins showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hawkins stops Payne from standing up.
Hawkins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hawkins trying to control but Payne is working from the bottom.
Hawkins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Hawkins stands up and waves to Payne to follow him.
Hawkins has a takedown stuffed.
Hawkins throws a sloppy head kick

and Payne counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne scores with a shoulder strike.
A short body shot lands from Payne as the two fighters clinch.

Payne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hawkins will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Payne tries to clinch but Hawkins is having none of it.
Hawkins has his takedown stuffed
and Payne counters with a three punch combo that has Hawkins backing up. Hawkins nods at Payne to acknowledge the strikes.
Tyler Hawkins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Payne lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hawkins takes a step back to recover.
Hawkins throws a sloppy head kick
and Payne counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hawkins's knee momentarily.

Hawkins gets a takedown into half guard.
Hawkins keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Hawkins is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Payne is just riding it out for now. Hawkins eventually gives up the hold.
Hawkins passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins controlling the position easily from mount.
Hawkins is landing with some decent strikes but Payne is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hawkins controlling the pace for now.
Hawkins is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Payne can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hawkins landing strikes from the mount and Payne is in trouble!
Hawkins sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins with shots to the head and body - Payne looks very uncomfortable down there.
Payne wants to control but Hawkins is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawkins breaks from Payne's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Payne is squirming around, avoiding Hawkins's attempts to control the action.
Payne tries to hold on but Hawkins postures up.
Payne is trying desperately to improve position.
Hawkins is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Payne can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Payne working to try and regain half guard.
Payne gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Hawkins dominated that second round.
That's time! Hawkins's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hawkins misses with a left hand

and Payne counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hawkins!
Hawkins tries to hold on but Payne postures up.
Payne trying to control but Hawkins is having none of it.
Payne avoids the attempt from Hawkins to control.
Hawkins 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.
Payne trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hawkins holds on, trying desperately to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Payne can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hawkins is looking to escape.
Hawkins can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins wants to control but Payne is having none of it.
Payne working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Payne swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hawkins is now in Payne's guard. A big mistake from Payne there, giving up the dominant position!
Payne looking for a sweep. Not yet Payne, not yet.

Payne looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Payne kicks Hawkins off and gets to his feet.

Payne gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Payne has Hawkins pressed against the cage.
Hawkins fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Payne tries to pull guard but Hawkins holds him up against the cage and eventually Payne drops back down to his feet.
Hawkins goes for a takedown in the clinch but Payne prevents it.

Payne pulls guard successfully.
Hawkins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hawkins advances position into side control!

Hawkins tries for a kimura but Payne is defending well.

Hawkins decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Hawkins gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins prevents Payne from improving his position.
Hawkins is thwarting Payne's attempts to control the position.
Payne is trying to stand back up but Hawkins is controlling him
Hawkins prevents Payne from improving his position.
Hawkins tries to pass the half guard into mount. Payne knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hawkins wants to control but Payne is keeping him busy.
Payne trying to control but Hawkins postures up.
Tyler Hawkins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hawkins controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Payne keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Hawkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Payne has a takedown stuffed.
Hawkins shoots in for a takedown but Payne shows good takedown defense.
Payne misses with a takedown attempt - Hawkins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hawkins falls off balance throwing a combination
and Payne counters with a head kick.

Payne rushes Hawkins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hawkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Payne.
Hawkins throws an elbow that misses.
Payne prevents Hawkins from breaking the clinch.
Payne can't break the clinch.
Payne tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hawkins just stands there and leans against the cage.

Payne manages to break the clinch.
Hawkins tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Payne counters by clinching up.
Payne tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hawkins just stands there and leans against the cage.
Payne wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Given Payne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hawkins goes for a takedown attempt but Payne pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Hawkins changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Payne looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tyler Hawkins.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hawkins, 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 30:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Hawkins!