PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Paige (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Rubio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Paige is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Paige
vs
Rubio

180 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
26
186 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Paige!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Diego Rubio!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, David Schapiro and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paige's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rubio under the eye.
Rubio displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Paige throws out the jab.

Rubio instigates a clinch.
Rubio is struggling to control the position.
Rubio tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Paige smiles and moves away.
Paige throws a hook to the side of Rubio's head but Rubio sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Paige throws a shot from downtown. Rubio moves away and avoids it.
Rubio is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Rubio on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

It looks like Diego Rubio has been cut.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Rubio clinches up against the cage.
Rubio drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paige breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rubio moves out of range as Paige strikes.
Rubio with the counter takedown but Paige avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Rubio.
Rubio staying out of range there.
Rubio lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Paige definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rubio keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Paige.

Rubio has closed the distance and engaged Paige in a clinch.
Rubio fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mike Paige has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diego Rubio.

Rubio manages to break the clinch.
Rubio defending well as Paige loads up on a big left hand.
Paige misses with a straight right.
Paige slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Rubio takes the fight into the clinch.

Rubio manages to break the clinch.

Rubio gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rubio tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Paige avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubio lands a hook that snaps the head of Paige backwards.

Rubio breaks the clinch.
Paige pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big right from Paige misses.
Paige looks to land a right hand but Rubio moved out of range.
Paige misses with an uppercut.
Paige throws a jab when Rubio was well out of range.
Despite the aggression on Rubio's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Rubio misses with the body kick
and Paige counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A jab from Paige misses.
Paige waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rubio.
A telegraphed right hand from Paige misses the target.

Rubio has taken the fight to the clinch.

Paige manages to break the clinch.
Rubio drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Rubio moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paige's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rubio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Paige, pushing him back against the cage.

Rubio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rubio clinches up against the cage.

Rubio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rubio moves away from the strike by Paige.
Paige rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rubio moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Rubio closes the distance and clinches.
Rubio tries a knee to the head but Paige blocks it.

Rubio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A big right from Paige misses.
As Paige backs off Rubio throws a huge counter combo but Paige manages to avoid it all.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rubio or perhaps it was just good defense by Paige, which made it look bad.
As Rubio looks to move away, Paige throws a big counter combo but Rubio just gets out of the way.
Paige is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rubio slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubio fails with the takedown.
Paige misses with a straight left.
Rubio uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Paige.
Rubio closes the distance and lands a one-two.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Paige sizes up Rubio with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Paige swings widly with a right hand
and Rubio counters with a series of strikes. Paige will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rubio moves out of range as Paige strikes.
Rubio steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Paige.
Nice sprawl there from Paige as Rubio shoots in.
Paige throws a hook but Rubio avoids it easily.
Paige cracks Rubio with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Paige throws a right hand that Rubio ducks under and follows up with a left that Rubio also avoids with ease.
A big right from Paige misses.

Rubio forces Paige back against the cage and clinches.

Rubio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
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 Mike Paige will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Diego Rubio's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Paige cracks Rubio with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Rubio gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rubio tries to land knees in the clinch but Paige avoids the damage to the body.

Paige's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rubio has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rubio there as he acknowledges the shot.
Paige misses with a looping left.
Paige sets himself, and Rubio steps forward looking for the clinch! Paige avoids it this time.
Paige lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rubio circles away quickly and effectively.
Rubio gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Paige.
Rubio uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Paige.
Paige throws a jab but it's blocked by Rubio.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rubio slips under a jab from Paige.
Paige missing with a left hand there. Rubio was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rubio flicks out a counter leg kick but Paige steps away.

Rubio has Paige up against the cage in a clinch.
Rubio slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paige gets underhooks to prevent Rubio's takedown attempt.
Rubio has Paige pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Paige manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rubio wants a takedown.
Mike Paige has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diego Rubio.
Rubio displaying some good clinch control by pressing Paige up against the cage.

Paige escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Paige.
Paige moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Paige misses with an uppercut.
Paige's corner calls for a 1-2. Paige 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.
The fighters circling - Paige throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Paige swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jab, jab by Paige - just one landing.

Rubio has Paige up against the cage in a clinch.
Rubio is working for takedown but Paige is calmly controlling the position for now.

Rubio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rubio slips under a jab.
As Paige backs off Rubio throws a huge counter combo but Paige manages to avoid it all.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Paige misses.
Paige misses with a hook.

Rubio moves into the clinch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rubio stalling against the cage.
Rubio is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Paige to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rubio's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rubio takes the fight into the clinch.
Rubio stalls.

Paige breaks the clinch.
Paige is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rubio can do to turn this around?
Paige misses the jab.

Paige tries to keep at a distance but Rubio has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rubio wants to take the fight to the mat but Paige manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubio drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rubio tries to score a body lock takedown but Paige shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rubio tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Paige just stands there and leans against the cage.

Paige manages to break the clinch.
Rubio takes one to the side of the head.
Paige jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mike Paige is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Rubio gets a clinch.
Rubio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Paige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Paige dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Diego Rubio's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Paige throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rubio sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Paige misses with a hook.

Rubio clinches up against the cage.

Paige manages to break the clinch.
Nice cross by Paige.
Paige avoids a kick to the body.
Rubio uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Paige.
Diego Rubio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rubio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Paige, pushing him back against the cage.
Paige blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Paige pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rubio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Paige, pushing him back against the cage.

Paige breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rubio clinches up against the cage.

Paige breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paige misses the jab.
And Rubio tries to counter it with a takedown but Paige pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Paige bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nice takedown defense from Paige. No joy for Rubio on that attempt.
Rubio shoots in for a takedown but Paige shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Rubio pushes Paige up against the cage in a clinch.
Rubio tries to pull guard but Paige forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mike Paige has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diego Rubio.

Rubio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Paige bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rubio's head backwards.

Paige gets tackled into the cage by Rubio. Rubio maintains the clinch.

Rubio pulls Paige into guard.
Paige trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rubio's guard.

Paige decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rubio, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Paige.
Paige lands the left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paige thows a left - swing and a miss!
Paige connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rubio uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Paige.
Rubio slips under a jab.
Paige throws a jab when Rubio was well out of range.
Rubio ducks under a wild hook from Paige.

Rubio gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rubio leaning against his opponent.
Rubio goes for a takedown attempt but Paige pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Rubio moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paige breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Paige keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Paige throwing a counter right hand but Rubio manages to avoid it.
Paige throws a jab when Rubio was well out of range.
Paige throws a jab but it's blocked by Rubio.

Rubio forces Paige back against the cage and clinches.
Rubio has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Paige is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rubio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rubio is trying to pull guard but Paige turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Paige manages to break the clinch.
Rubio has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Paige finds it's way round the side to connect with Rubio's head.
Paige cracks Rubio with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Paige lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Rubio pushes Paige up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubio taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rubio is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Paige pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rubio goes for a takedown in the clinch but Paige prevents it.
Rubio is stalling here.

Paige breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paige misses with a hook.
Paige throws a looping overhand right but Rubio ducks down to avoid it.
Diego Rubio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Paige is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paige throws a hook but Rubio blocks it.
Paige connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Paige showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Paige, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Paige!