PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Payton Wright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rogers comes to the ring accompanied by Demon Blues by ORANGE GOBLIN. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Rogers
vs
Wright

190 cm
44
182 lbs
39 - 40 - 0

172 cm
37
164 lbs
25 - 17 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 39 - 40 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steve Rogers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 17 - 1, fighting out of London, Payton Wright!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wright connects with a jab.
Rogers misses with a low kick.
Rogers shoots for a double leg takedown but Wright sprawls well. He's pushed Rogers's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Wright catches Rogers with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Wright has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Rogers fails with the takedown
and Wright counters with a nice uppercut.
Wright scores with a jab to the jaw.
An inside leg kick lands from Wright.
Rogers throws an overhand right that lands on Wright's shoulder, as Wright tries to avoid the shot.
Wright stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rogers throws a body punch but Wright moves out of range.
Rogers tries to bum rush Wright with a series of wild strikes but Wright uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Wright, as that shot connected.
Rogers takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Wright lands a leg kick that knocks Rogers off balance momentarily.
Rogers swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wright slaps away a takedown attempt from Rogers, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Rogers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wright lands a leg kick that knocks Rogers off balance momentarily.
Wright lands a nice shot that snaps Rogers's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Wright.
Nice sprawl there from Wright as Rogers shoots in.

Rogers shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rogers was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Wright pushes Rogers away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rogers gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Wright is trying to improve his position.
Rogers trying to control the position but Wright is working away.
You can see the frustration on Wright's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rogers is looking to take a break and control but Wright is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright dodges the ground and pound from Rogers.
Rogers working away.
Wright tries to bench press Rogers off him but Rogers keeps the position.
Rogers is looking to take a break and control but Wright is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rogers throwing strikes but Wright manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Wright throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wright misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rogers gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright passes into side control, despite Rogers's attempt to control the position.
Rogers wants to control but Wright postures up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rogers gets back to half guard.
Rogers flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rogers tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Wright has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
A nice elbow there by Wright.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers wants to hold on but Wright pushes him away.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rogers is looking to get to half guard.
Wright avoids the attempt from Rogers to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Payton Wright dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Rogers throws a lazy right hand but Wright sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rogers punishes Wright's body with a nice straight punch.
Rogers fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Wright drops his hands momentarily and Rogers takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Steve Rogers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rogers throws a series of punches but Wright moves out of range.
Wright looks to land a right hand but Rogers moved out of range.
Wright misses with a straight left.
Rogers with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Wright to score with a decent uppercut.
Rogers misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Wright counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Rogers scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Wright. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rogers working away.
Wright prevents Rogers from moving into mount.
Wright wants to control but Rogers postures up.
Wright wants to get back to his feet but Rogers drags him back down.
Rogers creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Wright sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers is looking to take a break and control but Wright is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rogers thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Wright's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Rogers thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rogers will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Wright sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rogers throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Wright desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Wright is trying to maintain the position but Rogers is very close to passing his half guard.
Steve Rogers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wright keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rogers prevents Wright from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wright avoids the body shot from Rogers.
Wright throws a solid leg kick but Rogers takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Wright.
Rogers throwing a counter right hand but Wright manages to avoid it.
Wright scores with a sloppy right hand. Rogers should have avoided that one.
Wright moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wright works the jab nicely.
Wright throws a lazy right hand but Rogers sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
As Wright looks to move away, Rogers throws a big counter combo bu Wright just gets out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers shoots for a double leg takedown but Wright sprawls well. He's pushed Rogers's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rogers looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rogers walks into a stiff left hand from Wright.
A chopping leg kick lands by Wright.
Rogers lands with a right hand.
Wright lands a jab to the nose.
Rogers takes one to the side of the head.
Rogers swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Wright as Rogers shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Rogers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wright looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rogers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wright's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rogers under the eye.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wright keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wright moves out of range of the strikes.
Rogers closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Rogers is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wright works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Oh Rogers is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Payton Wright seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rogers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A jab from Wright does it's job there.
Wright pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rogers seems to have got his legs back now.

Wright shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rogers is trying to maintain the position but Wright is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Payton Wright showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Wright closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rogers quickly recovers to half guard.
Rogers is trying to control but Wright manages to pass to mount!
Wright avoids the attempt from Rogers to control.
Rogers is wriggling around trying to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rogers wants to control from the top but Wright keeps moving.
Wright is trying to control the position but Rogers postures up.
Rogers trying to control the position from guard on top but Wright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Wright is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Rogers tries to land knees in the clinch but Wright avoids the damage to the body.
Wright scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Wright tries a body shot but Rogers blocks it.
Wright lands a hook to the side of the head.
Payton Wright is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Wright looking to stall.
Rogers has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A head punch on the inside from Rogers fails to land.
Wright gets underhooks to prevent Rogers's takedown attempt.
Rogers is trying to drag Wright to the mat but Wright just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Wright lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Wright's elbow.
Rogers tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Wright keeps control of Rogers as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rogers tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
I was talking to Rogers's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Wright blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rogers wants to take the fight to the mat but Wright manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Rogers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rogers throws a head punch that misses.
Wright on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Wright lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wright blocks it with crossed arms.
Rogers tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Wright avoids it.
Wright is leaning against Rogers and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rogers tries to break free but Wright pushes him back against the ropes.
Wright avoiding damage as Rogers throws knees to the body.
Wright lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Steve Rogers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wright prevents a body shot from Rogers.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rogers struggles to land a body shot inside as Wright controls his hands.
Rogers misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rogers goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Payton Wright comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wright 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Payton Wright!
A less than humble Payton Wright misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
Steve Rogers spoke after the fight, saying 'I'm gonna take some time off to work with a few new fighters in my fight camp and get them up to speed on the current fight games...but I will be back. '.