PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carl Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noah Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Burns
vs
Payne

190 cm
26
270 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

188 cm
31
266 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Firebird Designs

Hopkins Athletics
Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carl Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Noah Payne!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payne scores with a nice right hand.
Payne connects with the punch.

It looks like Carl Burns has been cut.
Payne throws out a powerful jab.
Burns showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Payne.
Burns with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A cross from Payne lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Burns closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Burns lands in his opponent's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Burns wanted to stand there but Payne had control of the position.
Burns showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Burns throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Payne is trying to control the position but Burns postures up.
Payne keeping moving, preventing Burns from controlling successfully.

Carl Burns has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Payne tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burns paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Burns bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Noah Payne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns slips a jab from Payne.
Payne throws a right and a left that both miss.

Burns scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Burns working the body and head with strikes.
Payne tries to improve position but can't.
Burns scores with punches from side control.

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!
Payne tries to buck Burns off but Burns is having none of it.
Payne is not content to let Burns control the position.
Payne can't do much from the bottom here.
Burns misses with the ground and pound.
Payne looking for a sweep but Burns has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Payne is trying desperately to improve position.
Payne is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Payne regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne trying to control but Burns postures up.
Payne is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Burns wants to free his trapped foot but Payne is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Burns has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Burns thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Payne's head.
Burns performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Burns prevents Payne from standing back up.
Burns is keen to just control but Payne is a slippery customer.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Payne preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns working the head and body with strikes.
Payne is pressing down on Burns's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Payne looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Burns postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Burns postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Payne keeping moving, preventing Burns from controlling successfully.
Burns throwing strikes but missing.
Payne trying to keep a closed guard but Burns is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

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

Burns got a little sloppy there for a moment and Payne has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Burns has managed to get both his arms back between Payne's legs - danger averted.
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 Carl Burns will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Carl Burns's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Payne looks to land a left hand but Burns moved out of range nicely.
Burns avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Payne shoots in for a takedown but Burns shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Payne has closed the distance and engaged Burns in a clinch.
Payne is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Burns is keeping busy.
Burns has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Burns scores with a shot to the side of Payne's head.
Burns prevents a body shot from Payne.
Payne fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Burns pulls guard.
Carl Burns overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burns avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Burns not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Payne scoring with punches to the head and body.
Burns working a defensive guard here.
Burns manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns working the ground and pound effectively.
Burns avoids the attempt from Payne to control.
Payne keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Burns scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Payne?
Payne is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The referee warns Payne that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burns postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Payne looks a forlorn figure.
Burns unloading with bombs!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Payne's face.
Payne is looking to improve his position but Burns isn't that keen on the idea.
BOOM! Burns connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Payne can't escape the position.
Burns is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Payne can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Payne is rocked!
Burns scoring with strikes but Payne is staying in there.
Payne is still in real trouble! Can Burns finish him?
Burns connects with a bit shot that sees Payne covering up! More strikes from Burns and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Burns is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Carl Burns!
Carl Burns gave a mention to 10th Degree Fightwear in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).