PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alessio Correha (ranked 1727 p4p, 91 weight class) and Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong (ranked 2877 p4p, 151 weight class). Payakarakatong has chosen "Song For The Dead" as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Correha
vs
Payakarakatong

163 cm
26
144 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

161 cm
20
131 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Venom Combat Sports
Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alessio Correha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Correha tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Payakarakatong manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Correha ducks under a wild hook from Payakarakatong.
Correha doesn't manage to clinch there - Payakarakatong circles away.
Payakarakatong cracks Correha with a good jab.
Jab, jab by Payakarakatong - just one landing.
Correha tries to clinch there but Payakarakatong circles away.
Payakarakatong appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Correha tries to clinch up.
Correha closes the distance but Payakarakatong moves to the side
and Payakarakatong counters with a good low kick that Correha was not able to check.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Correha tries to clinch but Payakarakatong moves out of range.
Correha wants to clinch but Payakarakatong slips to the side
and Payakarakatong counters with a nice low kick that buckles Correha's knee momentarily.
Correha fails in his attempt to clinch.
Payakarakatong connects with a nice looking jab.
Correha tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Correha looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Correha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Payakarakatong swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Correha tries to clinch but Payakarakatong is having none of it.
Correha on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Correha tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Payakarakatong counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Payakarakatong.
Alessio Correha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Correha fails with an attempt to clinch.
Payakarakatong swats away the attempt to clinch by Correha.
Correha tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Payakarakatong lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Correha tries to clinch there but Payakarakatong circles away.
Correha wants to clinch
and Payakarakatong makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Correha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Payakarakatong swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Correha closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Payakarakatong to counter with a crisp jab.
Correha takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Correha tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Payakarakatong counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Correha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Payakarakatong swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Correha tries to close the distance and clinch but Payakarakatong swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And Payakarakatong responds with a good body kick, but Correha manages to step out the way in time.
Correha keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Correha moves to clinch but Payakarakatong breaks away
and Payakarakatong counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Correha moves into the clinch successfully.
Correha prevents Payakarakatong from breaking the clinch.
Correha prevents a body shot from Payakarakatong.
Correha tries to pull guard but Payakarakatong holds him up against the cage and eventually Correha drops back down to his feet.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Payakarakatong.
Payakarakatong swings wildly with an uppercut but Correha uses good head movement to avoid it.
Payakarakatong misses with the head strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Payakarakatong.
Correha blocks a body shot from Payakarakatong.
Payakarakatong lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nice elbow from Payakarakatong.
Correha tries to pull guard but Payakarakatong forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Payakarakatong misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Correha tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Payakarakatong just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alessio Correha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Payakarakatong lands a body shot.
Payakarakatong doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right handed body shot lands from Payakarakatong.
Payakarakatong lands with a light punch inside.
Correha fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Payakarakatong struggles to land a body shot inside as Correha controls his hands.
Payakarakatong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Correha's elbow.
Correha jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Payakarakatong walks away with a smile on his face. Correha gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Payakarakatong connects with a solid leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Correha fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Payakarakatong, pushing him back against the cage.
Correha is trying to pull guard but Payakarakatong has him pressed against the cage.
Correha tries to pull guard but Payakarakatong forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Payakarakatong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Correha's elbow.
Payakarakatong digs a right hand underneath Correha's ribcage. Correha let out a lung full of air as it connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Good leg kick by Payakarakatong there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Correha closes the distance looking to clinch
and Payakarakatong counters with a nice body shot.
Correha takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Correha's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Payakarakatong connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Correha scrambles back to his feet.
Payakarakatong throws a jab when Correha was well out of range.
Correha tries to clinch there but Payakarakatong circles away.
Payakarakatong keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Correha darts in trying to clinch
and Payakarakatong connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Correha tries to clinch up.
Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Correha on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Correha tries to clinch up.
A big right from Payakarakatong misses.
Correha tries to clinch but Payakarakatong moves away
and Payakarakatong counters with a good low kick that Correha was not able to check.
Payakarakatong swats away the attempt to clinch by Correha.
Payakarakatong has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Payakarakatong paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Payakarakatong swats away the attempt to clinch by Correha.
Correha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Payakarakatong swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Correha is looking to clinch.
Payakarakatong lunges at Correha with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Correha's hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payakarakatong ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Payakarakatong keeps the fight on the outside.
A good leg kick by Payakarakatong.
Correha wants to clinch
and Payakarakatong counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Correha tries to clinch up
and Payakarakatong counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Correha closes the distance looking to clinch
and Payakarakatong counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Payakarakatong lunges at Correha with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Correha's hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payakarakatong throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Correha has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Correha tries to clinch but Payakarakatong is having none of it.
Correha wants to clinch but Payakarakatong slips to the side
and Payakarakatong counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Payakarakatong gets tackled into the cage by Correha. Correha maintains the clinch.

Payakarakatong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Correha darts in trying to clinch
and Payakarakatong counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Correha is looking to clinch but Payakarakatong is avoiding it.
Correha tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Payakarakatong counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Correha tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Payakarakatong manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Correha fails with an attempt to clinch.
Payakarakatong doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Correha fails with an attempt to clinch.
Correha tries to clinch up but Payakarakatong circles away and keeps his distance.
Correha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Payakarakatong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Correha walks into a jab.
Payakarakatong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Payakarakatong throws out a counter right but Correha avoids it with no problem.
Correha tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Correha tries to clinch but Payakarakatong moves away
and Payakarakatong counters with a nice uppercut.
Correha tries to clinch up but Payakarakatong circles away and keeps his distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Payakarakatong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Correha tries to clinch but Payakarakatong is having none of it.
Correha is looking to clinch but Payakarakatong is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Correha wants to clinch
and Payakarakatong makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Alessio Correha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Correha drops his hands momentarily and Payakarakatong takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Correha closes the distance looking to clinch
and Payakarakatong counters with a nice uppercut.
Payakarakatong dips to his left and cracks Correha with an uppercut!
Correha closes the distance but Payakarakatong moves to the side
and Payakarakatong counters with a nice body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Correha tries to clinch there but Payakarakatong circles away.
Payakarakatong connects with an inside leg kick.
Correha wants to clinch but Payakarakatong slips to the side
and Payakarakatong counters with a nice low kick that buckles Correha's knee momentarily.
Payakarakatong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Correha wants to clinch up but Payakarakatong keeps it at a distance.
Payakarakatong only half commits to the counter leg kick.

Payakarakatong tries to keep at a distance but Correha has taken the fight into the clinch.
Payakarakatong misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Payakarakatong cracks Correha with a nice body shot.
Payakarakatong tries to work over Correha's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Payakarakatong tries a body shot but Correha blocks it.
Payakarakatong misses with a hook from the clinch.
Payakarakatong swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Correha blocking some punches.
Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A shot in the inside from Payakarakatong.
Payakarakatong tries to work over Correha's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Payakarakatong misses with the head strike.
Payakarakatong lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Correha backwards.
Payakarakatong lands a left hand that snaps the head of Correha backwards.
Alessio Correha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Correha.
Payakarakatong lands a body shot in the clinch.
Payakarakatong lands with a right to the head.

Payakarakatong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Correha wants to clinch.
Payakarakatong tries a quick counter leg kick but Correha is wise to it.
Correha looks to clinch
and Payakarakatong counters with a left to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Payakarakatong looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Payakarakatong connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Correha gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Correha closes the distance but Payakarakatong moves to the side
and Payakarakatong counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Correha wants to clinch.
Nice body punch from Payakarakatong.
Payakarakatong cracks Correha with an open hand slap.
Correha wants to clinch but Payakarakatong slips to the side
letting Payakarakatong counter with a right hand.
Correha moves to clinch but Payakarakatong breaks away
and Payakarakatong counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Correha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Payakarakatong swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Payakarakatong only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Crunch! Payakarakatong slams his shin into Correha's torso.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Correha fails with an attempt to clinch.
It seemed like Payakarakatong was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Payakarakatong misses with a body shot.
Correha tries to clinch but Payakarakatong moves out of range.
Correha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Payakarakatong swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick misses from Correha.
Correha tries to close the distance and clinch but Payakarakatong swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Payakarakatong was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Correha throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Jab, jab by Payakarakatong - just one landing.
Payakarakatong throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Correha takes the fight into the clinch.
Payakarakatong lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Correha backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Payakarakatong 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 24:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 24:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong!
Palaktingpuet Payakarakatong was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.