PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jeb Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Justin Payne will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Russell
vs
Payne

167 cm
26
163 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

186 cm
23
163 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Determined

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 Las Vegas, Jeb Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justin Payne!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking cross lands there for Payne.
Payne scores with a nice strike.
Payne swats away the attempt to clinch by Russell.
Payne throws a shot from downtown. Russell moves away and avoids it.
Russell tries to clinch up but Payne circles away and keeps his distance.
Payne moves out of range as Russell throws a body kick.
Russell tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Payne counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Payne throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Payne scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Russell is looking to clinch but Payne is avoiding it.

Russell has managed to clinch.
Russell tries to land knees in the clinch but Payne avoids the damage to the body.
Russell is pushing Payne up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Payne tries to break free but Russell pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for Payne to work.
Russell goes for a takedown attempt but Payne pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Russell shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Payne sprawls well. Payne wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Russell gets slowly back to his feet.
Russell tries to clinch there but Payne circles away.
Payne throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Russell uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Payne.
Russell is looking to slow Payne down with leg kicks.
Payne finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Russell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Payne swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Payne lands with an overhand left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell connects with a solid leg kick.
Payne lands a glancing blow to the side of Russell's head.
Russell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Russell wants to clinch
and Payne counters with a stiff right hand.
Payne circles away from the clinch attempt
and Russell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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!

Russell gets a clinch.
Payne working hard to break the clinch.
Payne blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Russell is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Payne is defending well for now.
Russell trying to land knees to the body.
Payne managing to block the knees to the body from Russell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell lands an elbow that stopped Payne in his tracks for a moment.
Russell misses with an elbow strike.
Russell missing with knees to the body.

Payne manages to break the clinch.
Payne fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Russell manages to avoid it.
Payne has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Russell tries to clinch up.
Russell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Payne throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
No joy there for Payne, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Payne swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Russell tries to clinch
and Payne connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Payne is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Russell had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Payne fails to land with a series of punches.
Russell moves to clinch but Payne breaks away
enabling Payne to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell ducks under a wild hook from Payne.
Russell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Payne pinned against the cage. Payne gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeb Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Payne fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Payne misses the target.
Payne is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Russell moves in looking to clinch but Payne pushes him off.
Russell slips under a jab from Payne.
Payne keeps the fight on the outside.
Russell wants to clinch but Payne slips to the side
and Russell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Payne keeps the fight on the outside.
Russell tries to clinch up
letting Payne counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Justin Payne will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Payne avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Payne throws a lazy right hand but Russell sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Payne rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Russell counters with a thumping low kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Russell - that will leave a mark!
Jeb Russell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russell tries to clinch up
and Payne counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Russell tries to clinch but Payne is having none of it.
Payne scores with a jab to the head.
Payne throws a looping overhand right but Russell ducks down to avoid it.
Russell tries to clinch up but Payne circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Russell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Russell throws an overhand right that lands on Payne's shoulder, as Payne tries to avoid the shot.
Payne lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne connects with the punch.
Payne throws a body kick that misses.
Payne avoids the head kick by Russell.

Russell moves into the clinch.
Russell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Payne avoids it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Payne managing to block the knees to the body from Russell.
Payne working hard to break the clinch.
Russell landing knees to the head.
Russell tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Russell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Payne pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Russell is trying to trip Payne. He has hold of a leg but Payne is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Russell persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Payne utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Russell decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Payne scores with a nice right hand.
Russell moves to clinch but Payne breaks away
and Payne counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Russell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Payne as he avoids it easily.
Russell uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Payne.
The fight stays on the outside here - Russell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Payne takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Payne takes a swing at Russell's ribcage but misses.
Payne digs a good hook to Russell's body.
Payne dips to his left and cracks Russell with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Russell looks to clinch
and Payne counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Russell closes the distance looking to clinch
and Payne counters with a right hand to the body.
Jeb Russell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Russell moves to clinch but Payne breaks away
and Payne connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Payne pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Russell back to the cage. Payne follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Russell, right into the meat.
Some bone on bone action there as Russell checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Russell looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Payne misses the jab.
Russell walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Payne checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Payne throws a hook but Russell avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell is looking to clinch but Payne is avoiding it.
Payne misses with a hook. Russell ducked under it nicely.
Russell misses with a head kick.
Payne fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Russell manages to avoid it.
Payne throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Russell counters with a low kick, right behind Payne 's knee.
Russell tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Payne counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russell tries to clinch but Payne is having none of it.
Russell wants to clinch
and Payne counters with a stiff right hand.
Payne throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good exchange - Payne coming out on top.
Russell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeb Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Russell rushes Payne and presses him up against the cage.
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 Jeb Russell will probably get the nod.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Payne circles away from the clinch attempt.
Russell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Payne manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Russell takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Russell takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Justin Payne seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Payne throws a leg kick that misses.
Russell tries to clinch up.
Russell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Payne throws a shot from downtown. Russell moves away and avoids it.
Payne throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Payne lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Russell at a distance.
Russell doesn't manage to clinch there - Payne circles away.
Russell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Payne.
Payne lunges at Russell with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Russell's hand.
Russell tries to clinch
enabling Payne to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell wants to clinch
and Payne counters with a straight right hand.
Russell moves away from the strike by Payne.
Payne swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Payne throws a shot from downtown. Russell moves away and avoids it.
Russell wants to clinch but Payne slips to the side
and Payne cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Russell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Payne throws a hook to the side of Russell's head but Russell sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Russell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Payne prevents a body shot from Russell.
Russell lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Russell drops down looking for an ankle pick but Payne pulls his leg out and moves away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Payne.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Payne.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Payne.
Payne swinging wildly here.
Payne lands a jab to the nose.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Payne, as that shot connected.
Payne throws a combination. Russell tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Russell tries to clinch
and Payne cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Russell tries to clinch there but Payne circles away.
Russell shoots in but Payne avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Russell takes a swing at Payne's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Payne swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Russell throws a nice inside leg kick.
Payne circles away from the clinch attempt
and Payne counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Russell fails in his attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Payne misses the target.
Russell moves to clinch but Payne breaks away
and Payne counters with a good, hard body kick but Russell shrugs it off.
Payne throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Russell sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Payne blocks the leg kick.
Russell on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Payne sprawls well. Payne wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Russell gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeb Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russell on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Russell looks to score with a jab to the body but Payne is just out of range.
Russell closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Russell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Payne paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Payne misses with a straight left.
Russell moves out of range as Payne throws a body kick.
Russell tries to clinch but Payne is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Russell tries to clinch up but Payne circles away and keeps his distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Payne comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Payne 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Payne!