PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tony Bova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and max payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bova comes into the arena with I came to bring the pain! blaring out of the sound system. Tony Bova is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Bova
vs
payne

175 cm
22
155 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

190 cm
20
155 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Paladin Fight Wear

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 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Bova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, max payne!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bova looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? payne is fending him off so far but Bova persists. Nope, payne circles away and we're back to standing.
payne is looking to clinch.
payne tries to clinch up.
payne looking to land some kicks to the body here.
payne throws a sloppy head kick and Bova moves out of range easily.
payne tries to clinch but Bova moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
payne throws a head kick but Bova moves out of range.
payne shoots and misses

so Bova counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bova throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
payne trying to strike off his back.
Bova might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
payne avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bova with a flurry of punches that miss.
payne preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bova is pushing down on payne's leg trying to pass to half guard. payne is fighting to maintain full guard but Bova has managed to sneak the leg through.
Bova throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bova throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bova shoots in but payne avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Bova decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bova thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed payne's head.
Bova thows a huge punch but payne dodges it nicely.
payne is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bova's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bova's back!
Bova looking very determined here, making life difficult for payne.
payne avoiding Bova 's attempts to control his hands.
Bova is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bova breaks payne's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
payne is looking to stand up but Bova isn't so interested in that idea.
Bova thows a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bova accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
payne is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bova shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Bova. That's going to take a lot out of him.
payne tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
payne fails with the takedown

and Bova counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
payne looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
payne not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
payne working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bova.
Bova throws a strike but payne rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bova tries to strike from the bottom.

Bova working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because payne has passed into half guard!

payne is looking for a kimura but Bova is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for payne to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Bova dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

payne tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Bova decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in payne's guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
payne has his foot on Bova's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bova works his way back into a safe position though.
Bova throwing strikes but missing.
payne trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

payne is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bova defends well.
Bova tries to free his leg and advance position but payne is retaining full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
payne is breathing heavily.

payne had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bova defends it easily.
Bova in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bova postures up in payne's guard and throws a big left but payne blocks it.
Bova working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bova postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bova loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bova throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
payne shoots and misses

and Bova counters with a nice double leg into side control. payne won't be happy with that.
Bova working the body and head with strikes.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Bova tries to move to mount but payne blocks the move with his legs.
Bova looks up at the clock and then as payne takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Bova smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
payne is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
payne taking punishment in the form of punches.
payne defending against the ground and pound.
Bova cracks payne with an elbow. That is naaassty.
payne tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Bova is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, payne has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bova is working payne over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
payne tries to escape but Bova is in control.
payne is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Bova prevents payne from standing back up.
Bova not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nice strikes from Bova there.
Bova throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bova not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bova connects with a nice short shot to payne's temple.
Ground and pound from Bova.

payne is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bova pulls his head out easily.
Bova sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. payne defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bova thows a huge punch but payne dodges it nicely.
payne pushes Bova off looking to stand but Bova dives back in and keeps control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
payne with a poor takedown

and Bova counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in payne's guard now.
payne keeping moving, preventing Bova from controlling successfully.
Bova distracts payne with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
payne trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bova with a flurry of punches that miss.

payne throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Bova dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bova closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
payne wants to control but Bova postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bova in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
payne gets back to half guard.
payne blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bova.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bova is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bova missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bova thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing payne to regain full guard.
Bova won't allow payne to get back to his feet.
Tony Bova overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
payne throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Bova trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bova makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bova trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
payne throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

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

Bova drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bova throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bova scoring with punches from side control.
Bova fails to land a wild elbow strike.
payne is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Bova grinds an elbow into payne's temple.
Bova throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bova cracks payne with a big right hand but payne just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Bova misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
payne wants to control but Bova postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
payne is trying to get back to half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
payne misses with a body shot

and Bova counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for payne!
payne tries to hold on but Bova postures up.
Bova pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
max payne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bova blocks payne's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Bova lands a big shot there that rocks payne but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
payne is looking to get to half guard.
Bova landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
payne tries to lock up and control but Bova gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bova lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Bova putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Bova throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
A nice elbow there by Bova.
A nice elbow there by Bova.
Bova lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Bova throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
payne tries to get back to half guard but can't.
BOOM! Bova connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tony Bova is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bova looking to ground and pound but payne is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Bova showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bova, 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Bova!