PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bishop Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelly is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by i made it. Payne has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Jake Kelly will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Payne
vs
Kelly

180 cm
25
256 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
23
233 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bishop Payne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jake Kelly!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kelly checks a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Payne.
Kelly lands with a slapping head kick.
Kelly goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Payne has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kelly has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Payne is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Payne jumps into guard, dragging Kelly to the mat.
Kelly tries to free his leg and advance position but Payne is retaining full guard.
Payne keeping moving, preventing Kelly from controlling successfully.
Kelly wants to get up but he can't break Payne's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne wants to stand but Kelly is controlling the position.

Payne working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kelly doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kelly manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Payne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jake Kelly was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Payne scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kelly tries to improve position but can't.
Kelly is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Payne has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Kelly regains half guard, as Payne was trying to land strikes.
Payne is looking to stall here but Kelly recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly wants to stand and escape but Payne is having none of it.

Kelly uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Kelly looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kelly fails with the takedown.
Bishop Payne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Kelly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Payne manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kelly on his heels. He'll look to pass Kelly's guard now, I'm sure.
Payne trying to control the position from guard on top but Kelly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kelly is wriggling around but Payne manages to pass to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kelly blocking the ground and pound attempt from Payne.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bishop Payne will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Payne leaves Kelly with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kelly throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Payne misses with a series of wild punches.
Kelly throws a head kick that misses.
Payne rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kelly moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Payne gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Payne controls Kelly momentarily but Kelly frees himself.
Payne is pulling down on Kelly's head to control his posture.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly is stalling in the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kelly goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Payne closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kelly did well to prevent Payne getting side control.
Kelly wants to stand back up but Payne manages to pass into side control.
Kelly 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Payne tries for a kimura but Kelly is defending well.
Kelly struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne trying to control the action but Kelly is working from the bottom.
Kelly is trying to improve his position.
Kelly gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kelly is defending against the submission attempts here by Payne.
Kelly trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jake Kelly will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Kelly lands a head kick. Payne smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Payne gets caught flat footed, as Kelly shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Payne has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kelly has passed into side control.
A lull in the action here.

Kelly stands up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kelly throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly connects with a high kick.
Kelly tries a head kick but it misses.
Payne throws a head kick but Kelly moves out of range.
Kelly throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Payne.
Kelly throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kelly misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kelly throws a head kick that misses

and Payne decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kelly's guard.
Payne might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Payne wants to control from the top but Kelly keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Bishop Payne wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Kelly scores with a takedown into Payne's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Payne wants to stand but Kelly is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Payne has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kelly can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne trying to control the position.
Payne looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kelly puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Kelly really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Payne. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Payne is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kelly looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kelly in particular looking to stall.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bishop Payne wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Payne gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Kelly comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kelly has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Kelly!
Our winner, Jake Kelly, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.