PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lewis comes to the cage accompanied by Numb by Linkin Park. John Lewis looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Lewis
vs
Payne

200 cm
23
200 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

178 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Payne!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payne gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lewis counters with a nice double leg into side control. Payne won't be happy with that.
Lewis looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Payne is looking to reverse the position.
Payne is trying to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Payne's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Payne is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Payne's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Payne is trying to get back to half guard.
Payne wants to control but Lewis postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Payne is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lewis off and has taken his back!
Will Payne go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Payne looking for the RNC.

Payne looking to break Lewis's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Lewis remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Payne will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Payne working for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lewis wants to get back to his feet.

Lewis is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Payne gets his way!
Lewis turns into Payne and is now in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis trying to control the position from guard on top but Payne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Payne is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Payne is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Payne is working an open guard so Lewis takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lewis avoids the head kick by Payne.
Lewis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lewis wants it to stay on the feet.
No joy there for Lewis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Payne moves into the clinch.

Payne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payne fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
John Lewis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Payne.

Lewis closes the distance and pushes Payne back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anthony Payne will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lewis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Payne tries for a takedown but Lewis circles away easily

and Lewis counters by moving into the clinch.
Payne keeps control of Lewis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Payne misses with a punch to the body.
Payne trying to stall but Lewis improves his position.
Lewis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Payne looking for a takedown.

Payne pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Payne fails in his attempt to clinch.

Payne drives through and clinches with Lewis against the cage.
Lewis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne lands an uppercut.
Lewis is trying to push Payne away but Payne has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Payne manages to break the clinch.
Payne misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lewis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Payne shoots in for a takedown but Lewis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
John Lewis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Payne.
Nice takedown defense from Lewis. No joy for Payne on that attempt.
Payne shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Lewis counters with a shoot takedown. Payne fights it but they end up in guard.
Lewis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lewis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Payne is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lewis defends well.
Lewis 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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Payne is looking to stand up but Lewis isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Payne tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Payne controls Lewis momentarily but Lewis frees himself.
Lewis distracts Payne with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Lewis is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Payne is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Payne has escaped and now he's on top!
Payne stops Lewis from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Payne throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Lewis steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Payne. That one must have hurt.
Payne tries a head kick but it misses.
Payne looks to clinch

and Lewis decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Payne's guard.

Payne is looking for a triangle but Lewis pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payne keeping moving, preventing Lewis from controlling successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Payne trying to control the position here.
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 John Lewis will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Payne tries to close the distance and clinch but Lewis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Payne with a poor takedown

and Lewis counters by clinching up.
A frustrated look appears on Lewis's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Payne is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Lewis misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Payne.
Payne goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lewis prevents it.
Lewis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Payne avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Payne tries to pull guard but Lewis holds him up against the cage and eventually Payne drops back down to his feet.
John Lewis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Payne.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne tries to score a body lock takedown but Lewis shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Payne tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Payne is looking to break free of the clinch but Lewis has double underhooks.
Payne trying to stall but Lewis improves his position.

Lewis decides to pull guard.
Payne looking to sit in guard and control but Lewis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Payne looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lewis controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne trying to control the position.
Lewis scoring with punches to the head and body.

Payne had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lewis defends it easily.
Lewis controlling from the top position.
Payne should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Lewis wants to control from the top but Payne keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne pulls Lewis in close to prevent any damage.
Payne is looking to stand up but Lewis isn't so interested in that idea.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lewis is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lewis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
John Lewis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of John Lewis.
No luck for Payne with that takedown attempt.
Payne closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lewis circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Payne gets caught napping as Lewis dives in and scores a takedown. Payne manages to retain guard.
Lewis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lewis trying to control the position from guard on top but Payne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lewis is looking to work some ground and pound but Payne has wrist control.
Payne looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Payne looking for a guillotine here but Lewis defends easily.
Lewis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Lewis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lewis has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Lewis!
A pretty intense looking John Lewis took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.