PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nogueira Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dzambolat Kokoev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Payne
vs
Kokoev

188 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nogueira Payne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dzambolat Kokoev!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Igor Prikhodko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Payne gets caught napping as Kokoev dives in and scores a takedown. Payne manages to retain guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kokoev preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Payne looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kokoev passes into half guard.
Kokoev blocks the strikes from Payne.
Payne trying to control here.
Nice strikes from Kokoev there.
Kokoev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Payne does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Payne makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Payne.
Kokoev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Payne is proving hard to escape from.
Payne wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Kokoev is now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kokoev wants to stand but Payne has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Kokoev wants to take a breather but Payne is having none of it.
Kokoev throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Payne gets full guard.
Kokoev slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Kokoev stands up and waves to Payne to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kokoev counters with a single leg into guard. Payne didn't expect that.
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 is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Payne really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Payne not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kokoev wants to pass the guard but Payne is keeping the position.
Kokoev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kokoev wants to control from the top but Payne keeps moving.
Payne looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kokoev puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kokoev is looking to stall here but Payne recovers full guard.
Kokoev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kokoev trying to control the position from guard on top but Payne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kokoev advances to half guard.
Kokoev thows a huge punch but Payne dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne tries to get to full guard but Kokoev has control of the leg.
Kokoev stops Payne from getting back to his feet.
Kokoev wants to take a breather but Payne is having none of it.
Payne is positioning himself well to prevent Kokoev advancing to mount.
Payne is breathing heavily.

Kokoev is working for a submission of some sort.
Payne trying to hold on to Kokoev's head to control him but Kokoev postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dzambolat Kokoev dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Payne tries for a takedown but Kokoev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kokoev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Payne sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kokoev somewhat.
Payne is looking to chop away at Kokoev's legs.
Payne misses with a takedown attempt - Kokoev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nogueira Payne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Payne shoots for a double leg takedown but Kokoev sprawls well. He's pushed Payne's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nogueira Payne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Payne closes the distance but Kokoev moves to the side

and Kokoev counters with a takedown into side control.

Kokoev thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kokoev tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kokoev trying to control the position but Payne is working away.

Kokoev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Payne knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Payne is looking to regain half guard here but Kokoev keeps moving and retains side control.
Payne wants to control but Kokoev postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne looks to move to half guard but instead Kokoev has passed into mount! Damn!
Payne is working to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kokoev avoids the attempt from Payne to control.
Kokoev lands with some strikes.
Kokoev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Payne tries to lock up and control but Kokoev gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne can't escape the position.
Kokoev content just to control the position here.
Kokoev wants to control the pace but Payne is squirming around nicely.
Kokoev throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Payne tries to hold on but Kokoev pushes him away.
Kokoev working Payne over with strikes here.
Payne is working to get back to half guard.
Kokoev trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kokoev controlling from mount.

Kokoev with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Payne tries to lock up and control but Kokoev gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payne is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Kokoev with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dzambolat Kokoev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Payne throws a leg kick that misses.
Payne shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kokoev pinned against the cage. Kokoev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kokoev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Payne avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kokoev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Payne sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Payne throws a head kick that misses.
Kokoev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Payne sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Payne closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kokoev counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kokoev wants to clinch up but Payne keeps it at a distance.
Kokoev 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.
Payne throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Kokoev counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Payne is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Payne fails with the takedown.
Payne shoots for a takedown but Kokoev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nogueira Payne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kokoev.
Payne thows a body shot but no joy.
Payne fails with the takedown.
Kokoev tries to clinch but Payne moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Payne.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Payne enables Kokoev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Payne manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kokoev engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Kokoev decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Payne, up you get!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kokoev scores with a spinning back kick!

Kokoev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Payne avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kokoev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kokoev trying to control from half guard but Payne is working away.
Kokoev stops Payne from getting back to his feet.
Kokoev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Payne does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kokoev stalling.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dzambolat Kokoev.
Kokoev defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Payne.

Kokoev pushes Payne up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kokoev trying to stall but Payne improves his position.

Kokoev manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Dzambolat Kokoev has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kokoev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Payne looking to pass the guard.
Kokoev is trying to keep Payne in close.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payne throwing strikes but missing.
Nogueira Payne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dzambolat Kokoev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kokoev looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dzambolat Kokoev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kokoev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dzambolat Kokoev!