PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Keller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Payet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keller kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is War Music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Keller
vs
Payet

184 cm
22
167 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

173 cm
22
164 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Virgil Keller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Jonathan Payet!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keller keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Payet.
Payet tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Payet closes the distance and clinches.
Payet misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short uppercut from Payet.
Payet's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Payet misses with a punch on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Payet as the two fighters clinch.
Payet throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Keller wants to break free but Payet has control.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Payet as Keller tries to tie him up.
Payet throws a punch but it's blocked by Keller.

Keller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Keller uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payet misses with a jab to the body
and Keller counters with a straight right hand.
Payet throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Some wild striking there from Keller.
Payet misses with a two punch combination.
Jab, jab by Payet - just one landing.
Payet uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Keller.
Keller tests Payet's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Payet throws a body punch but Keller moves out of range.
A slow jab from Keller misses its intended target.
Keller's corner calls for a 1-2. Keller obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payet lands a jab to Keller's midsection.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Payet avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Keller swinging wildly here.
Keller takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Payet fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Keller manages to avoid it.
Payet moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Payet takes the fight into the clinch.
Payet tries a body shot but Keller blocks it.
Payet blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payet misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Payet lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Payet will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Keller up against the cage.
Keller is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Payet is defending well.
Payet working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Payet scores with a shot to the side of Keller's head.
A head punch on the inside from Payet fails to land.
Payet lands with a left to the head.
Payet tries to throw a body punch but Keller avoids it by throwing Payet back against the cage.
Payet misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Payet tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Payet tries a body shot but Keller blocks it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Payet - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Keller pressing his opponent against the cage.
Payet tries to work over Keller's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Payet pushes Keller back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Keller wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Payet tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Keller's elbow.
Payet has Keller pushed against the cage.

Keller wants the takedown. Payet is fighting it off but Keller persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Payet's guard against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Keller stopping the sweep attempt from Payet.
Keller controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Payet dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Payet pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Payet throws a one two combo.
Keller misses with a hook to the body

and Payet counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Payet.
Payet misses with a hook from the clinch.

Keller breaks from the clinch.
Payet tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Keller comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Payet misses with a looping left.
Keller is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Nice shot by Payet.
Payet doesn't manage to clinch there - Keller circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Payet.

Payet has taken the fight to the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Payet.
Payet misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Keller changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Payet fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Payet ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Keller moves away.
Payet lands a leg kick that knocks Keller off balance momentarily.
Keller throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Keller misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Payet.
Payet connects with a leg kick. Keller looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keller looks to throw the jab but Payet is out of range.
Keller waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Payet.
Good standup being displayed there by Keller as he connects with a hook.
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!
Keller throws out a leg kick but Payet moves out of range and Keller only half commits.
Keller throws a right hand that misses
enabling Payet to counter with a crisp jab.

Payet moves into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Payet.

Keller's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Keller tests Payet's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Keller throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Payet sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Payet misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payet listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Payet pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Payet swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Keller.
Payet gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Keller.
A good leg kick by Keller.
Keller cracks Payet with an open hand slap.
Keller paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Payet fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Keller, pushing him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Keller takes a shot to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Keller.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Payet.
Payet stalls.
Keller looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Payet.
Payet swings wildly with an uppercut but Keller uses good head movement to avoid it.
Payet makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Keller looking to slow down the pace here.
Payet blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Payet lands a hook to the side of the head.
Payet content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Payet is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Payet showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Payet wants to clinch but Keller slips to the side
and Keller counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A slapping leg kick lands for Payet.
Keller turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Payet throws a lazy right hand but Keller sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Keller misses with a hook.
Payet lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Payet's corner calls for a 1-2. Payet obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Keller takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Payet takes one to the side of the head.
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!
Keller throws a quick inside leg kick.
Keller fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payet tries to clinch but Keller moves out of range.
Payet is looking to clinch but Keller is avoiding it.
Payet throws a shot to the body.
Payet is looking to clinch but Keller is avoiding it.
Keller throws a hook but Payet blocks it.
Keller uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Payet.
Keller misses with a looping left.
Keller uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Payet.
Keller throws a leg kick that is checked

and Payet holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Keller gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Payet regains guard.
Keller postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payet being controlled here, momentarily.
Payet 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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Payet is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Virgil Keller.
Payet looks for the body kick but Keller saw that one coming.
Keller throws a right hand that misses
and Payet counters with a series of strikes. Keller will be more careful next time no doubt.
Payet takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
No joy there for Keller, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Payet misses with a hook.
Payet uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Keller.
Payet throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Keller sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Payet keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Keller.
Payet misses with a body punch
and Keller counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keller throws a right and a left that Payet avoids nicely.
Keller throws a looping overhand right but Payet ducks down to avoid it.
Payet changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Payet scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Keller doesn't seem bothered though.
Keller misses the jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Payet wants to clinch up but Keller keeps it at a distance.
Payet blocks a jab.
Jonathan Payet is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Payet cracks a nice hook into Keller's ribs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Payet is looking to clinch but Keller is avoiding it.
Virgil Keller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Payet throws a body punch but Keller moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Virgil Keller.
I think Payet 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonathan Payet!
After winning the bout, Jonathan Payet thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.