PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fajtah Thaijtah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Payne is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by RATM - Killing In The Name Of. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thaijtah
vs
Payne

180 cm
25
165 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
166 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Balco Boys - Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Fajtah Thaijtah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Max Payne!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thaijtah throws a half hearted mid kick.
Payne tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thaijtah swivels and escapes.
Thaijtah tries to clinch up

and Payne counters with a shoot takedown. Thaijtah fights it but they end up in guard.
Payne must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Thaijtah kicks Payne off and gets to his feet.
Payne fails with the takedown
and Thaijtah finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Payne looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Payne gets the takedown into side control.
Thaijtah pushes Payne away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Payne gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Payne.
Thaijtah wants to get back to his feet but Payne drags him back down.
Payne wants to take a breather but Thaijtah manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Payne.
Thaijtah is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Thaijtah has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Payne off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Payne.
Fajtah Thaijtah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Payne.
Thaijtah looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Thaijtah tries to clinch up but Payne circles away and keeps his distance.
Payne shoots in and drives through. Thaijtah sprawls well.
Thaijtah throws the kick towards the body but Payne avoids it.
Payne misses with a leg kick
and Thaijtah counters with a nice low kick that buckles Payne's knee momentarily.
Thaijtah scores with a leg kick.
Thaijtah throws a head kick that Payne semi-blocks.

It looks like Max Payne has been cut.
Thaijtah misses with a kick to the body.
Thaijtah thumps Payne with a low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Payne has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Thaijtah.
Thaijtah is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thaijtah closes the distance and pushes Payne back into the cage.
Thaijtah using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Thaijtah looking to throw knees to the head but Payne is blocking nicely.
Thaijtah scores with a knee to the head.
Thaijtah working Payne over with knees to the body.
Thaijtah stalling.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Thaijtah for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Thaijtah tries a knee to the head but Payne blocks it.
Thaijtah taking a breather.
Payne wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thaijtah using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Payne has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thaijtah connects with a knee to the head.
Thaijtah with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Thaijtah breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thaijtah but Thaijtah pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Fajtah Thaijtah is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice sprawl there from Thaijtah as Payne shoots in.
Thaijtah misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Payne.
Payne has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Thaijtah.
Payne avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thaijtah displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Payne.
Payne shoots and misses
and Thaijtah counters with a nice body kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thaijtah.
Thaijtah bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thaijtah looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Payne tries to score a power double leg takedown but Thaijtah sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Payne somewhat.
An inside leg kick lands from Thaijtah.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thaijtah drives through and clinches with Payne against the cage.
Thaijtah stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Thaijtah prevents Payne from breaking the clinch.

Payne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Payne takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Payne has his takedown stuffed
and Thaijtah counters with a leg kick.

Thaijtah moves into the clinch.
Thaijtah lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thaijtah stalling.
Payne is trying to push Thaijtah away but Thaijtah has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Payne wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thaijtah has him pressed against the cage.
Thaijtah with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fajtah Thaijtah dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Max Payne's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Payne shoots in looking for a takedown but Thaijtah manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Payne's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Payne shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Thaijtah's guard.
Thaijtah avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thaijtah wants to stand but Payne is controlling the position.
Payne throws a strike but Thaijtah rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Payne really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thaijtah. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Thaijtah decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Payne has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thaijtah wants to clinch

and Payne counters with a shoot takedown. Thaijtah fights it but they end up in guard.
Payne won't allow Thaijtah to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thaijtah kicks Payne off and gets to his feet.
Thaijtah throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice body kick from Thaijtah.
Thaijtah keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fajtah Thaijtah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Payne.
Thaijtah fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thaijtah looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Thaijtah keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A big right from Thaijtah misses.
Payne fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne tries to score a power double leg takedown but Thaijtah sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Payne somewhat.
Payne takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Payne misses with a takedown
and Thaijtah counters with a nice low kick that buckles Payne's knee momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thaijtah throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Thaijtah doesn't manage to clinch there - Payne circles away.
Payne showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thaijtah.
Payne scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Thaijtah lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Payne closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thaijtah circles away.
Thaijtah throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thaijtah counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Thaijtah tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Payne paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Thaijtah darts in and clinches Payne up against the cage.
Thaijtah throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Payne blocks it with crossed arms.
Payne tries to break the clinch but Thaijtah is controlling the position.
Payne wants to break free but Thaijtah has control.
Payne looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Thaijtah breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thaijtah darts in trying to clinch

and Payne counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Payne performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Payne is looking to take a break and control but Thaijtah is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Thaijtah to regain full guard.
Payne throws and elbow that misses. Thaijtah uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Payne's guard. Nice move by Thaijtah!

Payne is working an open guard so Thaijtah takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Payne.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thaijtah connects with a leg kick. Payne looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Thaijtah moves into the clinch.
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 Fajtah Thaijtah will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Max Payne's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Thaijtah tries a head kick but it misses.
Payne shoots in looking for a takedown but Thaijtah manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Payne's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Thaijtah throws a low kick, looking for Payne's leg but Payne calmly moves out of range.
Payne blocks a head kick by Thaijtah.
Fajtah Thaijtah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Payne blocks a head kick by Thaijtah.
Thaijtah stuffs the takedown attempt from Payne. Payne gets slowly back to his feet.
Payne misses with a takedown attempt - Thaijtah sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fajtah Thaijtah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Payne.
Thaijtah tries to land a front kick but Payne steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thaijtah is looking to clinch.
Thaijtah tries a head kick but it misses.
Fajtah Thaijtah is winning the standup battle so far.

Payne shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Payne showed some decent athleticism there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Thaijtah kicks Payne off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thaijtah stuffs the takedown.
Thaijtah connects with a solid leg kick.
Payne shoots in looking for a takedown. Thaijtah tries to sprawl out of it but Payne keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thaijtah manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thaijtah scores with a nice body kick.
Thaijtah wants to clinch.

Thaijtah clinches up with Payne and pushes him back against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Thaijtah just misses with a elbow thrown towards Payne's brow.
Thaijtah dodges an elbow strike from Payne.
Thaijtah landing knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thaijtah lands a nice knee to the body.
Thaijtah using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Payne has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Payne wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Thaijtah using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Thaijtah throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Payne blocks it with crossed arms.
Payne has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Payne's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Payne can't break the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Thaijtah.
Thaijtah tries a knee to the head but Payne blocks it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Payne as Thaijtah tries to tie him up.
A bit of stalling here from Payne.
Thaijtah throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Payne blocks it with crossed arms.
Thaijtah tries to land knees in the clinch but Payne avoids the damage to the body.
Thaijtah wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Thaijtah has Payne pressed against the cage, preventing Payne from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thaijtah throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Payne breaks from the clinch.
Payne changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thaijtah tries to avoid it but Payne manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thaijtah to the ground. Thaijtah escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thaijtah closes the distance but Payne moves to the side

and Payne counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Thaijtah wants to stand but Payne is controlling the position.
Payne throwing strikes from guard but Thaijtah blocks nicely.
Payne trying to control the position from guard on top but Thaijtah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Payne throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thaijtah works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Max Payne has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne 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.
Payne with a flurry of punches that miss.
Payne throws a strike but Thaijtah rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Max Payne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Payne trying to keep a closed guard but Thaijtah is proving a slippery customer.
Fajtah Thaijtah is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Thaijtah gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

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 Fajtah Thaijtah.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thaijtah, 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 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fajtah Thaijtah!