PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Cricket (ranked 3475 p4p, 448 weight class) and Evan Payton (ranked 2397 p4p, 328 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Rick Cricket has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Rick Cricket seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Cricket
vs
Payton

189 cm
36
208 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

180 cm
31
192 lbs
14 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Cricket!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Evan Payton!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch lands to the side of Payton 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Payton shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cricket's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Payton trying to control but Cricket is working from the bottom.
Cricket wants to stand but Payton is controlling the position.
Cricket keeping moving, preventing Payton from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cricket can't keep his opponent in guard - Payton advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Payton is trying to work for a kimura but Cricket is defending well.
Cricket looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Payton is working for a submission of some sort.
Cricket is looking to escape.
Payton looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Payton wants to free his trapped foot but Cricket is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Payton stops Cricket from getting back to his feet.

Payton is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cricket sees it coming and defends easily.
Payton stops Cricket from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Payton works his foot free and advances to mount.
Payton takes Cricket's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Cricket is in trouble.
Cricket is trying to stand back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cricket showing good submission defense here.

Cricket is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Payton is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Cricket fending off the submission attempt from Payton.
Cricket is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Payton patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Cricket is trying to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Payton is looking for the choke from the back position but Cricket is controlling his hands well.
Cricket trying to get back to his feet but Payton is in full control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Payton dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Payton uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cricket.
Cricket paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Payton connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Payton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cricket.
Cricket fails to land with a series of punches.
Payton jabs at Cricket's body.
Payton blocks a head kick by Cricket.
Cricket fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Payton looks for a takedown but Cricket sprawls well.
Cricket scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Payton shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cricket's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cricket wants to stand but Payton is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Payton slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Cricket wants to stand and escape but Payton is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Payton thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Payton looking to pass the guard.
Payton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cricket wants to get back to his feet but Payton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Payton wants to control from the top but Cricket keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Payton misses with a takedown attempt - Cricket sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Payton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cricket is looking to counter punch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Payton is defended easily by Cricket.
Rick Cricket has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evan Payton.
Payton scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cricket thuds his right hand into Payton's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cricket avoids the body shot from Payton.
Rick Cricket is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Payton.
Payton takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Cricket fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Payton lands with a nice body punch.
Cricket throws a series of punches but Payton avoids them all with ease.
Payton scores with a jab. Cricket acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rick Cricket is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cricket doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Payton shoots in looking for a takedown but Cricket manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Payton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Some wild striking there from Cricket.
A chopping leg kick lands by Payton.
Payton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cricket pinned against the cage. Cricket gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A little feinted left hand from Cricket on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Payton swings for the body but Cricket moves out of range.
Cricket tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

A jab-cross combination lands for Cricket and sends Payton crashing to the mat! Cricket follows him down to the mat - Payton regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Payton is rocked!
Payton trying to control from the bottom.
Payton is still in real trouble! Can Cricket finish him?
Cricket scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Payton seems to have recovered his senses.
Payton is looking for a sweep. Cricket is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Payton is pressing down on Cricket's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Payton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cricket trying to control the position from guard on top but Payton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've been hearing good reports from Cricket's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Cricket works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Payton is not content to let Cricket control the position.
Cricket is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Payton is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Payton felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Payton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Payton tries to roll over but Cricket keeps him under control.

Cricket seems to be looking for submissions.
Cricket trying to pass the guard but Payton defending well.
Payton moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cricket wants to control from the top but Payton keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Cricket dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cricket slips a jab and a cross from Payton.
Payton throws out a loose jab but Cricket uses good head movement to avoid it.
Payton scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Payton misses with a double jab.
Cricket lands a two punch combo.
Cricket slips a jab and a cross from Payton.
Cricket showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Payton.
Cricket throws a series of punches but Payton avoids them all with ease.
Payton slips under a jab from Cricket.
Payton throws a nice outside leg kick.

Cricket drops Payton with a big left hand and mounts him. Payton is in big trouble!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cricket moves to the back position.
The referee is taking a good look at Payton as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Cricket!
Payton trying to control the position but Cricket manages to sink in the hooks.
Cricket is hanging on to Payton's back as he tries to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cricket struggling to keep hold of the position.
Payton is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Will Cricket go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Payton rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Payton trying to control from the bottom.

Payton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Cricket is looking for a kimura but Payton is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cricket to get the leverage.
Payton is looking to control Cricket's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Payton avoid being mounted?
Cricket passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Payton!
Cricket working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payton is looking to get to half guard.
Cricket controlling the pace for now.
Payton is working to get back to half guard.
Payton is still trying to improve position.
Cricket scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Payton?
Cricket scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The referee warns Payton that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Payton wants to hold on but Cricket pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payton manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Cricket seems to be working for a kimura but Payton defends the submission attempt.
Well, if Cricket is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Evan Payton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Payton is looking to improve his position.
Payton punching from the bottom.
Payton is looking for a sweep. Cricket is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cricket is trying to control the action in half guard but Payton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Payton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Payton is pressing down on Cricket's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Payton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cricket gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Payton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cricket wants to control from the top but Payton keeps moving.
Cricket stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Payton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cricket trying to control but Payton is working from the bottom.
Cricket seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rick Cricket is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cricket wants to pass the guard but Payton is keeping the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Cricket showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cricket has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight for Rick Cricket!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Rick Cricket!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Rick Cricket!

Rick Cricket wins by unanimous decision!
Rick Cricket 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.