PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noah Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noah Payne has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Mendez
vs
Payne

194 cm
21
280 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
266 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

[CBK] Smashwear Clothing

[CBK] Smashwear Clothing
[CBK] Smashwear Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Xavier Mendez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Noah Payne!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payne misses with a hook

and Mendez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Payne's guard now.
Mendez is looking to stand up but Payne won't let him.

Payne is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mendez defends well.

Payne has his foot on Mendez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mendez works his way back into a safe position though.
Payne is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Payne is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mendez defends well.

Payne is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mendez is aware though and is defending well.

Payne throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Payne is working an open guard so Mendez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Xavier Mendez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Payne counters with a straight right hand.
Mendez misses with an uppercut
and Payne connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mendez misses with a body punch
and Payne counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mendez thinking.
Mendez throws a front kick aimed at Payne's knee but Payne avoids it well.
Mendez throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Payne counter with a right hand.
Mendez pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Payne back to the cage. Mendez follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Mendez misses with a body shot.
Mendez misses with a double jab
and Payne counters with a stiff right hand.
Mendez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Payne on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendez tries a head kick but it misses.
Mendez misses with a double jab
and Payne counters with a nice body shot.
Mendez defending well as Payne loads up on a big left hand.
Payne checks a low kick from Mendez.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Payne.

Payne closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Payne not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Payne not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Payne missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Payne missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Payne tries to pass to full mount but Mendez defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Payne is looking for a kimura here.
Mendez looks like he's trying to stand up.

Payne seems to be looking for submissions.
Mendez trying to control here.
Payne wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mendez keeps working.

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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mendez trying to hold on to Payne's head to control him but Payne postures up.
Payne prevents Mendez from improving his position.
Payne wants to pass to mount but Mendez is defending the position.

Payne is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mendez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Payne.
Payne has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mendez can't escape the position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Payne is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Mendez can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Payne working the ground and pound effectively.
Payne looking to finish Mendez with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mendez!
Mendez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Payne working for a guillotine from mount but Mendez is in no mood to give up.
Mendez is in all sorts of trouble here.

Payne looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Mendez wants to control but Payne is having none of it.
Mendez is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Payne looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Mendez holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Payne tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Payne goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Mendez is on top in guard.
Payne keeping moving, preventing Mendez from controlling successfully.

Payne is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mendez is aware though and is defending well.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Payne lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mendez!
Payne unloads with some shots from mount but Mendez bucks and avoids them well.
Mendez is squirming around, avoiding Payne's attempts to control the action.
Payne throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Mendez is looking to improve his position but Payne isn't that keen on the idea.
Mendez is squirming around, avoiding Payne's attempts to control the action.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The referee warns Mendez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Mendez is squirming around, avoiding Payne's attempts to control the action.

Payne goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Mendez is on top in guard.

Payne is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mendez wants to control from the top but Payne keeps moving.
Mendez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Payne on the ground.
Mendez tries to stand but Payne is controlling from the bottom.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Payne has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Payne looking to control.

Mendez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mendez wanted to stand there but Payne had control of the position.
Payne striking off his back but it's not causing Mendez any problems.
Mendez trying to control but Payne is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payne throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mendez throws a predictable looking body shot
and Payne counters with a three punch combo that has Mendez backing up. Mendez nods at Payne to acknowledge the strikes.
Payne throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Mendez to counter with a crisp jab.
Mendez falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Payne to counter with a crisp jab.
An inside leg kick from Mendez misses.
Mendez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Mendez closes the distance but Payne moves to the side
and Payne counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mendez swinging wildly here.
Payne throws the left hand but Mendez avoids the punch easily.
Mendez tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Payne is able to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne lands a nice shot to the body.
Payne thuds a left hand into Mendez's body.
Payne scores with a jab.
Mendez closes the distance but Payne moves to the side
and Payne counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mendez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Xavier Mendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendez lands with a right hand.
Nice shot lands for Payne.
Mendez throws a predictable looking body shot
and Payne counters with a stiff right hand.
Mendez lands a jab to the head.
Mendez gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Payne.
Mendez tries to clinch but Payne moves away

and Payne counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mendez won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mendez taking a bit of punishment here - Payne scoring with strikes.

Payne tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Payne has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Payne tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Payne working the ground and pound but Mendez is defending the strikes.
Payne throws an elbow but Mendez slips to the side and avoids it well.
Mendez is working to avoid the ground and pound but Payne connects with a decent elbow.
Mendez stops Payne from passing to mount.
Mendez manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is looking to improve his position.
Payne wants to control but Mendez is keeping him busy.
Mendez wants to improve his position but Payne is controlling well.
Payne thows a huge punch but Mendez dodges it nicely.
Mendez is trying to control but Payne passes into side control!
Payne fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Payne wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mendez, who protects the arm well.
Mendez wants to control but Payne postures up.

That's four 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 misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Mendez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Payne wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Payne fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Payne throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Payne working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Mendez regains half guard, as Payne was trying to land strikes.
Payne throwing shots but Mendez is blocking nicely.
Payne is keen to just control but Mendez is a slippery customer.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Payne throwing shots but Mendez is blocking nicely.
Payne throwing shots but Mendez is blocking nicely.
Payne seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Noah Payne has got the better of the ground game so far.
Payne prevents Mendez from improving his position.

Payne seems to be working for a kimura but Mendez defends the submission attempt.
Payne throwing shots but Mendez is blocking nicely.
Mendez is trying to control but can't.
Payne wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mendez keeps working.

That's six 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.

Payne in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Mendez tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Payne!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Noah Payne!
Noah Payne is the new heavyweight champion!