PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Toby Diaby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teddy Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Payne comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Freestyler kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Teddy Payne is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Diaby
vs
Payne

185 cm
22
199 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

183 cm
26
199 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Nemesis Cage Clothing (SALE)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Toby Diaby!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Teddy Payne!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payne tries to clinch but Diaby is having none of it.
The fighters circling - Diaby throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diaby connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Payne momentarily.

Diaby closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Diaby tries to move into full mount but can't pass Payne's legs.
Payne trying to remain calm as Diaby controls from the top position.
Payne tries to escape but Diaby is in control.
Diaby laying and praying for a moment but Payne takes advantage and regains half guard.
Diaby is trying to control the action in half guard but Payne is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Payne wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaby wants to control but Payne is keeping him busy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Diaby throws a right and a left that both miss.
Diaby moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Payne closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like Payne is going to stand back up.
Diaby trying to control but Payne postures up.
It looks like Payne is going to stand back up.
Diaby tries to get to full guard but Payne has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne misses with a head shot. Diaby uses the momentum to regain guard.
Diaby trying to control the position.

Diaby pushes Payne off and gets back to his feet.
Diaby looks to score with a jab to the body but Payne is just out of range.
Payne is looking to clinch but Diaby is avoiding it.
Diaby throws a jab when Payne was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaby slips under a jab from Payne.
Diaby circles away from the clinch attempt.
Good shot there by Diaby.
Payne ducks under a wild hook from Diaby.

Diaby gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Diaby drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diaby looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Payne is pressed up against the cage. Diaby has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Payne down to the mat. Payne avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Diaby throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Payne sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Payne looks to clinch
and Diaby counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A combination from Diaby does no damage.
Payne closes the distance but Diaby moves to the side
and Diaby counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Payne tries to clinch
and Diaby counters with a stiff right hand.
Payne tries to clinch up
and Diaby counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaby scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Diaby looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Payne!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Payne is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Diaby lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Payne hang on?
Diaby is landing with some decent strikes but Payne is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Diaby thowing shots but they're missing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice elbow there by Diaby.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A left lands for Diaby.
Diaby dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Payne tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Diaby counters with a left to the body.
Payne tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Diaby counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Diaby in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Diaby controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Diaby trying to control the position from guard on top but Payne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Payne is breathing heavily.
Diaby cracks Payne with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne keeping full guard, as Diaby tries to pass.
Payne is looking to stand up but Diaby isn't so interested in that idea.
Diaby is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Diaby pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Payne is keeping the position for now.
Diaby cracks Payne with a solid left hand.

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.
Diaby wants to control from the top but Payne keeps moving.
Diaby missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaby trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Diaby looking to sit in guard and control but Payne gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Diaby trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaby scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Toby Diaby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Payne defending well as Diaby loads up on a big left hand.
Payne wants to clinch
enabling Diaby to counter with a crisp jab.
Payne misses with a hook.
Diaby fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Payne manages to avoid it.
Payne closes the distance looking to clinch
and Diaby counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The fighters circle momentarily. Diaby darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Payne tries to clinch
letting Diaby counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Diaby counters with a series of strikes. Payne will be more careful next time no doubt.
Diaby cracks Payne with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Payne looks to land a right hand but Diaby moved out of range.
Payne tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Diaby counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Diaby scores with a jab to the jaw.
Payne wants to clinch but Diaby slips to the side
letting Diaby counter with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaby throws a right and a left that Payne avoids nicely.
Diaby lands with a straight right. Payne didn't see that one coming.
Diaby scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Toby Diaby is winning the standup battle so far.
Diaby has his takedown stuffed

and Payne counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Payne.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toby Diaby dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Diaby.
Toby Diaby overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diaby tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Diaby postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Diaby working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Payne is not content to let Diaby control the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The strikes coming from Diaby are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne wants to get back to his feet.
Diaby trying to control the action but Payne is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Diaby misses with a series of wild punches.
Diaby looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Payne shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Payne was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Payne looking to ground and pound but Diaby is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaby avoids a series of strikes thrown by Payne.

Payne is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Diaby has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Diaby!
Diaby is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Diaby working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Diaby in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaby looking to sit in guard and control but Payne gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Payne must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Diaby has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Payne is looking to stand up but Diaby won't let him.

Diaby kicks Payne off and gets to his feet.
Payne takes one on the button.
Diaby paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Payne defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Diaby.
Diaby lands a nice shot that snaps Payne's head back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaby fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Diaby scores with a jab.

Diaby fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Payne sprawls well initially but Diaby persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Payne is looking to escape.
Payne is staying active underneath Diaby, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Payne is trying to stand.
Diaby looks to land a strike but Payne avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Payne keeping moving, preventing Diaby from controlling successfully.
Diaby pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Payne is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toby Diaby clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Diaby stuns Payne with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Diaby looks to land a combination but Payne avoids it well.
Diaby ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Payne moves away.
Diaby throws a body punch but Payne moves out of range.
A punch combination from Diaby misses.
Diaby fails with the takedown

and Payne moves into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Diaby.
Payne tries to land a knee to the head but Diaby blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaby keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Payne's efforts to push away.
Payne tries to land knees in the clinch but Diaby avoids the damage to the body.

Diaby is trying to trip Payne. He has hold of a leg but Payne is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Diaby persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Diaby trying to control but Payne is working from the bottom.
Payne is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Diaby is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaby thows a big elbow that misses.
Diaby 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.
Diaby throws a big right hand that misses.
Diaby throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diaby controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Payne keeping moving, preventing Diaby from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Payne tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Diaby counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Payne has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Diaby scores with a jab. Payne acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nice defenses there by Payne.
Diaby throws a combination. Payne tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Diaby closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Payne did well to prevent Diaby getting side control.
Diaby wants to pass to mount but Payne is defending the position.
Diaby 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 wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaby performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Diaby lands strikes from half guard.
Diaby sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Payne defending well though.
Diaby drops an elbow to the side of Payne's head.
Diaby throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Diaby is pressing down on Payne's thigh, looking to free his foot. Payne is holding on for now.
Diaby not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Payne taking some punishment here, with Diaby in his half guard.
Payne avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Diaby.
Diaby throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Diaby is trying to work for a kimura but Payne is defending well.
Diaby is looking to pass Payne's guard but actually Payne recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toby Diaby had his way with Teddy Payne in that round.
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!

Payne closes the distance looking to clinch

and Diaby counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Diaby.
Payne keeping moving, preventing Diaby from controlling successfully.
Diaby stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Payne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Diaby looking to sit in guard and control but Payne gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Payne decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Diaby, up you get!
Payne defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Diaby.
Payne tries to clinch but Diaby moves away
and Payne takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Diaby changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Payne tries to avoid it but Diaby manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Payne to the ground. Payne escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Payne tries to clinch but Diaby moves away

and Diaby decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Payne's guard.
Diaby won't allow Payne to get back to his feet.
Diaby wants to control from the top but Payne keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaby stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Payne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Payne working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diaby.
Payne keeping moving, preventing Diaby from controlling successfully.
Diaby postures up in Payne's guard and throws a big left but Payne blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Payne tries to clinch
and Diaby makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Diaby scores with a decent looking hook.
Payne closes the distance but Diaby moves to the side
and Diaby counters with a one-two to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Diaby.
Toby Diaby is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Diaby closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Diaby has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Payne tries to kick Diaby off but Diaby keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaby slows the pace down in half guard.
Teddy Payne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Toby Diaby showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Diaby, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 50:45
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 50:45
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toby Diaby!
Toby Diaby is the new middleweight champion!