PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maurice Vontavious Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dexter Santaros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vontavious Payne comes to the cage accompanied by Hope. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vontavious Payne
vs
Santaros

194 cm
27
275 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

194 cm
29
240 lbs
16 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maurice Vontavious Payne!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dexter Santaros!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vontavious Payne takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Vontavious Payne has been working on his boxing with his coaches at aLion's MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Santaros's corner calls for a 1-2. Santaros obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Santaros on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Vontavious Payne misses with a straight right.
Santaros tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vontavious Payne was well out of range. Poor timing from Santaros.
Vontavious Payne punishes Santaros's body with a nice straight punch.
Santaros scores with a jab to the body.
Vontavious Payne looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Santaros swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Dexter Santaros seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Decent striking displayed by Vontavious Payne there.
Santaros takes a swing at Vontavious Payne's ribcage but misses.
Santaros connects with a jab.

Vontavious Payne closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Santaros's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Vontavious Payne got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santaros has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vontavious Payne has managed to get both his arms back between Santaros's legs - danger averted.
Vontavious Payne has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vontavious Payne trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vontavious Payne being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santaros is trying to keep Vontavious Payne in close.

Santaros is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Santaros trying to control the position.
Vontavious Payne landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vontavious Payne lands a couple of digs.
Vontavious Payne throws an elbow that misses. Santaros uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vontavious Payne's guard. Nice move by Santaros!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santaros missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Santaros throws a big right hand that misses.
Vontavious Payne lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Santaros lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Vontavious Payne has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Vontavious 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santaros wants to control from the top but Vontavious Payne keeps moving.
Vontavious Payne has his hands on Santaros's head, controlling the position.
Vontavious Payne keeping moving, preventing Santaros from controlling successfully.
Santaros trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vontavious Payne lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Vontavious Payne throws an elbow that misses. Santaros uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vontavious Payne's guard. Nice move by Santaros!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vontavious Payne has his hands on Santaros's head, controlling the position.
Santaros trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Vontavious Payne wriggles free and stands up.
Santaros takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vontavious Payne throws a head kick but Santaros moves out of range.
Santaros with a hook.
Vontavious Payne throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vontavious Payne connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
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 Maurice Vontavious Payne will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Santaros takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Vontavious Payne slips a straight right by Santaros.
Vontavious Payne tried to counter with a leg kick but Santaros avoided it.
Vontavious Payne tries to score with a low kick but Santaros moves his leg out of the way.
Santaros looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Vontavious Payne closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Santaros misses with a shot to the body
and Vontavious Payne counters with a nice leg kick.
Vontavious Payne throws a half hearted mid kick.
Santaros is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Vontavious Payne with a body shot.
Vontavious Payne looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Decent striking displayed by Santaros there.

Vontavious Payne gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Santaros blocking some punches.
Vontavious Payne lands with a left to the head.
A short uppercut from Vontavious Payne.
Santaros blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vontavious Payne lands a left hand that snaps the head of Santaros backwards.
Santaros takes a shot to the head.
Vontavious Payne misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santaros swings wildly with an uppercut but Vontavious Payne uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vontavious Payne throws a punch but it's blocked by Santaros.
Vontavious Payne misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vontavious Payne misses with a punch to the body.
Vontavious Payne misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vontavious Payne tries to work over Santaros's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vontavious Payne lands a right hand.
Santaros blocks a body shot from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne tries to throw a body punch but Santaros avoids it by throwing Vontavious Payne back against the cage.
A short right from Vontavious Payne on the inside.
Vontavious Payne tries to throw a body punch but Santaros avoids it by throwing Vontavious Payne back against the cage.
Vontavious Payne misses with a punch to the body.
Still in the clinch, Vontavious Payne scores with a nice short uppercut.
Santaros wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vontavious Payne lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vontavious Payne tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Santaros prevents a body shot from Vontavious Payne.
Santaros tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vontavious Payne lands a right hand that snaps the head of Santaros backwards.
Santaros can't get the takedown.
A shot in the inside from Vontavious Payne.
Santaros takes a shot to the head.
Vontavious Payne is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santaros can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Vontavious Payne.
A shot in the inside from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Santaros's elbow.
A short uppercut from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vontavious Payne throws a head punch that misses.

Vontavious Payne tightens his grip and picks Santaros up, before dumping him to the ground. Santaros manages to land in guard.
Vontavious Payne wants to control from the top but Santaros keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santaros looking to control.
Vontavious Payne working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vontavious Payne lands a couple of digs.
Vontavious Payne controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Vontavious Payne scoring with punches to the head and body.

Santaros is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vontavious Payne with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Santaros is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vontavious Payne looking to pass the guard.
Santaros is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Vontavious Payne wants to stand but Santaros has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Our spies down at at Midnight MMA inform us that Santaros has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Santaros working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Santaros lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Vontavious Payne is wriggling around but Santaros manages to pass to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurice Vontavious Payne dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Santaros throws a lazy right hand but Vontavious Payne sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vontavious Payne uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Santaros.
Vontavious Payne fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Santaros looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Vontavious Payne lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Vontavious Payne tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vontavious Payne lands a leg kick that knocks Santaros off balance momentarily.
Santaros cracks Vontavious Payne with a right hand to the side of the head.
Vontavious Payne takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Santaros misses the shot to the body.
Vontavious Payne tried to score with a low kick but Santaros checks it.
Vontavious Payne's jab looks to have found its range, popping Santaros under the eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santaros throws a big shot that misses.
Santaros scores with a jab.
Santaros takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santaros shoots in and drives through. Vontavious Payne sprawls well.
Santaros has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Vontavious Payne.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vontavious Payne tries to land a leg kick but Santaros saw it coming and moves away.
Santaros takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Santaros misses with an uppercut.
Vontavious Payne getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Vontavious Payne uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Santaros.
Santaros scores with a jab. Vontavious Payne acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Vontavious Payne misses the target.
Vontavious Payne walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Santaros crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Vontavious Payne - the referee stops the clock and Santaros gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Vontavious Payne. Santaros manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Santaros shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vontavious Payne's guard.
Santaros trying to control but Vontavious Payne is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vontavious Payne wants to stand up but Santaros is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santaros trying to control the position from guard on top but Vontavious Payne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vontavious Payne utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Santaros working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Santaros stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vontavious Payne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vontavious Payne seems keen to control Santaros's posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vontavious Payne on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Vontavious Payne throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Santaros stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Vontavious Payne ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Santaros drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Santaros wants to control from the top but Vontavious Payne keeps moving.
Santaros stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vontavious Payne swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Vontavious Payne manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Santaros leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vontavious Payne stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Santaros takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vontavious Payne digs a right hand into Santaros's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Santaros's gas tank.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vontavious Payne scores with a hook to the body.
Vontavious Payne is working Santaros over against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne lands a right hand.
Vontavious Payne lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Vontavious Payne scores with a hook to the body.
Vontavious Payne scores with a shoulder strike.
Vontavious Payne lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Santaros backwards.
Santaros blocks a body shot from Vontavious Payne.
Santaros has a couple of punches blocked by Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurice Vontavious Payne clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vontavious Payne is looking to slow Santaros down with leg kicks.
Vontavious Payne thuds his shin into the meat of Santaros's side.
Santaros just misses with a punch to the body.
Vontavious Payne is looking to land body kicks.
Santaros takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Santaros connects with a right hand. Vontavious Payne shakes it off.
Santaros misses with a takedown attempt - Vontavious Payne sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Vontavious Payne closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vontavious Payne misses with the head strike.
A short right from Vontavious Payne on the inside.
Vontavious Payne lands a shot to the body.
Santaros is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Vontavious Payne digs a right hand underneath Santaros's ribcage. Santaros let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Santaros lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maurice Vontavious Payne has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Vontavious Payne lands a left hand.
Vontavious Payne is looking for a takedown.
Vontavious Payne lands a nice uppercut.
Santaros misses with a punch on the inside.
Vontavious Payne swings wildly with an uppercut but Santaros uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vontavious Payne throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Santaross head.
Santaros prevents a body shot from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne lands a hook that snaps the head of Santaros backwards.
Vontavious Payne blocking some punches.
Vontavious Payne doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vontavious Payne misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Santaros blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santaros looking for a takedown.
Santaros misses with a punch on the inside.
Vontavious Payne can't find room to land a body shot as Santaros controls the action.
A short body shot lands from Vontavious Payne as the two fighters clinch.
A short right from Vontavious Payne on the inside.
Vontavious Payne tries a body shot but Santaros blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vontavious Payne scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A right handed body shot lands from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Santaross head.
Vontavious Payne lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Vontavious Payne has a couple of punches blocked by Santaros.
Still in the clinch, Vontavious Payne scores with a nice short uppercut.
Vontavious Payne gets through Santaros's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Vontavious Payne misses with some punches.
Vontavious Payne stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vontavious Payne changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Santaros fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Vontavious Payne throws the kick towards the body but Santaros avoids it.
Santaros with the counter takedown but Vontavious Payne avoids it easily.
Santaros walks into a straight right hand from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne misses with a wild body shot.
Vontavious Payne looks for the body kick but Santaros saw that one coming.
An inside leg kick lands from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne misses with a body kick.
Santaros's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Vontavious Payne swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vontavious Payne fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maurice Vontavious Payne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santaros throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Vontavious Payne on the side of the head.
Santaros lands a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santaros walks into a jab.
Vontavious Payne ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A big left from Vontavious Payne misses.
The fighters circling - Vontavious Payne throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Santaros closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vontavious Payne circles away.
Vontavious Payne misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vontavious Payne throws a low kick but Santaros moves out of range easily.
Santaros loads up on a big right hand but Vontavious Payne slips the punch.
Santaros slips under a jab.
Santaros stuffs the takedown attempt from Vontavious Payne. Vontavious Payne gets slowly back to his feet.
Vontavious Payne keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurice Vontavious Payne had his way with Dexter Santaros in 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. This is the final round!

Vontavious Payne connects with a body shot.
Santaros on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Vontavious Payne throws a lazy right hand but Santaros sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maurice Vontavious Payne is winning the standup battle so far.
Santaros walks into a left hand.
Santaros misses with an uppercut.
Santaros throws a sloppy body shot
and Vontavious Payne counters with an inside leg kick.
Nice body punch from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Santaros just misses with a punch to the body.
Santaros lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vontavious Payne moves out of range of the strikes.
Santaros connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Vontavious Payne lands a nice shot to the body.
Vontavious Payne misses with a shot to the body
and Santaros counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Santaros is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vontavious Payne thumps Santaros with a low kick.
Santaros ducks under a wild hook from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A big left from Vontavious Payne misses.
Vontavious Payne fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Santaros has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Santaros shoots in but Vontavious Payne avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Vontavious Payne moves into the clinch.
Vontavious Payne misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vontavious Payne lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Santaros.
Santaros looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nice body punch from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne misses with a body punch.
Santaros swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vontavious Payne can't find room to land a body shot as Santaros controls the action.
Santaros blocks an uppercut.
Santaros wants to break free but Vontavious Payne has control.
Vontavious Payne cracks Santaros with a nice body shot.
Vontavious Payne working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Vontavious Payne.
Vontavious Payne struggles to land a body shot inside as Santaros controls his hands.
Vontavious Payne tries to throw a body punch but Santaros avoids it by throwing Vontavious Payne back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch on the inside from Vontavious Payne fails to land.
Vontavious Payne lands a left hand.

Vontavious Payne has hold of one of Santaros's legs. Santaros is fighting the takedown attempt but Vontavious Payne gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vontavious Payne stands up over Santaros, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vontavious Payne landing some decent shots from guard.
Santaros being controlled here, momentarily.
Vontavious Payne lands a couple of elbows.
Santaros looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vontavious Payne is one step ahead there.
Vontavious Payne trying to control but Santaros is working from the bottom.
Maurice Vontavious Payne is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Santaros is pulling down on Vontavious Payne's head to control his posture.
Vontavious Payne throws a big right hand that misses.
Vontavious Payne is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Vontavious Payne chips away with some ground and pound.
Santaros tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dexter Santaros has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Santaros pulls Vontavious Payne in close to his closed guard and prevents Vontavious Payne from doing any damage or advancing position.
Vontavious Payne lands a couple of elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maurice Vontavious Payne showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vontavious Payne has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Gold scores the fight 50:45
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 50:45
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maurice Vontavious Payne!
Maurice Vontavious Payne retains his heavyweight title!
Maurice Vontavious Payne seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.