PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Evan Payton (ranked 2904 p4p, 421 weight class) and Optimus Rimes (ranked 2427 p4p, 356 weight class). Rimes has chosen Sweet Dreams by Marilyn Manson as his entrance music. Optimus Rimes has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Payton
vs
Rimes

180 cm
29
192 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

204 cm
43
217 lbs
26 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Urban Fighter

Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Evan Payton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Optimus Rimes!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Trevor Gratis and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payton with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rimes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rimes displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rimes looks to score with a jab to the body but Payton is just out of range.

Payton drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Rimes pushes Payton off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Decent striking displayed by Payton there.
Payton shoots in for a double leg but Rimes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Despite the aggression on Rimes's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Payton throws a body punch but Rimes moves out of range.

Rimes gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Payton has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Payton forces his way into half guard.
Rimes trying to control but Payton postures up.

Payton is looking for a kimura but Rimes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Payton to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rimes trying to hold on to Payton's head to control him but Payton postures up.
Payton wants to control but Rimes is keeping him busy.

Rimes manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Payton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rimes pinned against the cage. Rimes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rimes throws a chopping leg kick but Payton manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rimes on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Payton lands with a nice body punch.
Rimes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A big right from Payton misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payton checks a low kick from Rimes.
Rimes moves out of range as Payton strikes.
Payton takes a swing at Rimes's ribcage but misses.

Payton feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rimes told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
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!
Payton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rimes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Payton is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Payton is fighting to break Rimes's control of his arms but Rimes is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Payton is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Payton preventing the sweep.
Rimes wants to stand and escape but Payton is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payton controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rimes keeping full guard, as Payton tries to pass.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rimes throws a solid leg kick but Payton takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rimes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Payton.
It seemed like Rimes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan Payton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rimes cracks Payton with an open hand slap.
Rimes just misses with a punch to the body.
Payton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rimes manages to avoid it.
Optimus Rimes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Payton checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Payton closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rimes did well to prevent Payton getting side control.

Payton seems to be looking for submissions.
Rimes tries to get to full guard but Payton has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payton is trying to control the action in half guard but Rimes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rimes is trying to control but can't.
Rimes is trying is best to control the position here.
Payton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rimes gets back to full guard.
Payton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Payton stopping the sweep attempt from Rimes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Optimus Rimes will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Payton throws an overhand right that lands on Rimes's shoulder, as Rimes tries to avoid the shot.
Payton throws a jab when Rimes was well out of range.
Jab, jab by Payton - just one landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Payton misses the target.
Payton shoots in but no luck this time.
Rimes tries a quick counter leg kick but Payton is wise to it.
Rimes needs to keep his hands up - Payton had a free shot at his head there.
Payton misses with a takedown attempt
and Rimes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rimes looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Payton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Payton scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Evan Payton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rimes slips under a jab.
Payton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Payton.

Payton drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payton wants to pass the guard but Rimes is keeping the position.
Rimes looking for a sweep. Not yet Rimes, not yet.
Payton postures up.
Payton stays in close to Rimes's body and controls the position.
Evan Payton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rimes wants to sweep here but Payton controlling him for the moment.
Rimes keeps trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Payton wants to control from the top but Rimes keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rimes controlling Payton's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Payton misses the body punch
and Rimes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Payton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Payton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rimes moves away.
Payton misses with a lunging right hand
and Rimes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Payton throws the left hand but Rimes avoids the punch easily.
Payton throws a body shot but no joy.
Evan Payton is winning the standup battle so far.
Rimes lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Rimes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Payton manages to avoid it.
Rimes lands a right hook to the body.
Rimes lands a jab to Payton's midsection.
Rimes misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payton throws a body shot but no joy.
Rimes let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Rimes just misses with a punch to the body.
Payton takes a swing at Rimes's ribcage but misses.
Good exchange - Payton coming out on top.
Payton gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Payton throws a body shot but no joy.
Payton takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Payton listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Payton moves out of range as Rimes throws a body kick.
Rimes feints and then cracks Payton's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Payton down.
Payton tries to clinch up.
Rimes throws out a counter right but Payton avoids it with no problem.
Rimes is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Payton rather than just go for the knockout.
Payton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rimes.
Rimes tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Payton misses.
Rimes scores with a jab.
Payton misses with a hook
and Rimes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rimes fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Payton on the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rimes takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Payton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Payton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan Payton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Payton rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rimes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Payton blocks a jab.
Rimes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rimes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It seemed like Rimes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Payton rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rimes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rimes is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rimes. Payton does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Optimus Rimes 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. This is the final round!

Payton checks the leg kick nicely there.
Payton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rimes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Payton throws a jab when Rimes was well out of range.
Rimes moves out of range of the strikes.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rimes! But no joy.
Rimes catches Payton with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Payton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rimes moves away.

Payton is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rimes's half guard.
Rimes preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Payton is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rimes doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Payton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payton tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rimes knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rimes regains full guard. Nicely done.
Payton trying to control the position from guard on top but Rimes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rimes looking for a sweep. Not yet Rimes, not yet.
Rimes keeping full guard, as Payton tries to pass.
Rimes wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Payton looking to pass the guard.

Payton is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rimes controlling the position.
Rimes keeping moving, preventing Payton from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Payton digs a good hook to Rimes's body.
Rimes lands a nice looking body kick.
Payton looks to land a left hand but Rimes moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payton throws a right hand that misses
and Rimes counters with a low kick, right behind Payton 's knee.
Payton misses the shot to the body.
Payton walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rimes.
Rimes has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rimes there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rimes throws a shot from downtown. Payton moves away and avoids it.
Payton attempts a counter takedown but Rimes avoids it well and moves away.
Payton connects with an inside leg kick.
Evan Payton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Payton scores with a jab. Rimes acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rimes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Payton.
Payton shoots for a takedown but Rimes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Payton throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rimes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rimes looks to land a right hand but Payton moved out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Payton. Rimes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rimes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Payton.
Rimes has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rimes moves away from the strike by Payton.
Rimes looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rimes walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Payton darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rimes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Some wild striking there from Payton.
Payton gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Payton gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rimes.
Rimes scores with a nice strike.

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 Evan Payton.
I think Rimes 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Optimus Rimes!
A determined Optimus Rimes didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!