PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Max Payne (ranked 374 p4p, 52 weight class) and Paul Maul (ranked 632 p4p, 89 weight class). Payne comes to the cage accompanied by Bad Company. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Payne
vs
Maul

174 cm
33
184 lbs
21 - 16 - 1

180 cm
36
182 lbs
30 - 25 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Sin City Allstars

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 1, fighting out of New York, Max Payne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 25 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Maul!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payne punishes Maul's body with a nice straight punch.
Maul fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Payne is out of range.
Payne throws the kick towards the body but Maul avoids it.
Maul moves out of range of the strikes.
Payne blocks a leg kick.
Maul lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Maul shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Payne but Payne pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Payne jabbing away but nothing is landing.
No joy there for Payne, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Maul throws out a leg kick but Payne moves out of range and Maul only half commits.
Payne needs to keep his hands up - Maul had a free shot at his head there.
Maul throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maul slips under a jab from Payne.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payne lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Maul takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Maul moves out of range as Payne strikes.
Maul misses with a left hand
and Payne counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Maul thinking.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Payne checks a leg kick.
Payne fires out a quick counter leg kick but Maul just manages to avoid it.
Maul uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Payne.
Maul misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maul dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Payne misses with a low kick.
Maul throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Payne on the side of the head.
Good standup being displayed there by Payne as he connects with a hook.
Maul throws a series of punches but Payne avoids them all with ease.
Payne looks to land a combination but Maul avoids it well.
Payne swats away the attempt to clinch by Maul.
Payne is looking to slow Maul down with leg kicks.
Maul looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Payne throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maul misses with a leg kick
and Payne counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Payne defending well as Maul loads up on a big left hand.
Maul throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Payne sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Payne lands a nice leg kick that just misses Maul's sensitive parts.
Payne fails to land with a series of punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Payne throws a good cross that connects.
Payne looks to throw the jab but Maul is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne lands a glancing blow to the side of Maul's head.
Payne tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Maul is able to avoid easily.
Maul wants to counter the offense by Payne and move into the clinch position.
Maul lands a right hook to the body.
Payne lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Maul shoots in for a takedown but Payne shows good takedown defense.
Payne throws a body shot but no joy.
Payne pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maul moves away from the strike by Payne.
Payne scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Payne misses the shot to the body.
Maul gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Maul scores with a sloppy right hand. Payne should have avoided that one.
Maul staying out of range there.
Payne misses with an uppercut.
Maul shoots in but Payne avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Max Payne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Maul.
Maul lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Maul throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Payne rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maul moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maul with the counter takedown but Payne avoids it easily.
Maul uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Payne.
Maul is looking to chop away at Payne's legs.
Maul checks a leg kick.
Payne tries to move into range but Maul moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Maul connects with a body shot.
Payne scores with a nice head shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Payne misses the target.
Maul feints the counter takedown.
Payne defending well as Maul loads up on a big left hand.
Payne throws a leg kick that misses.
Payne misses with a two punch combination.
Payne fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Maul has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Maul fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Payne manages to avoid it.
Maul uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Payne has time to react.
A slow jab from Payne misses its intended target.
Maul throws a low kick but Payne moves out of range easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Payne misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Maul takes a swing at Payne's ribcage but misses.
A good leg kick by Maul.
A clash of legs there as Payne blocks the low kick.
Maul throws out a powerful jab.
Payne throws a hook to the side of Maul's head but Maul sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maul buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Payne takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Payne takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Maul moves out of range as Payne strikes.
Maul throws a shot from downtown. Payne moves away and avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payne scores with a jab to the jaw.
Maul connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Payne throws a lazy uppercut
and Maul counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maul takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Maul takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Payne dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Good shot there by Payne.
Payne moves out of range as Maul strikes.
Payne takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Maul throws a body shot but no joy.
Payne with a hook.
Left hook, right uppercut from Maul.
Payne takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Maul scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maul. Payne does a little dance to reset 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!
Maul scores with a crisp jab that stopped Payne in his tracks.
Good leg kick by Maul there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A jab from Payne misses.
Maul ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maul looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Maul throws a quick inside leg kick.
Max Payne is winning the standup battle so far.
Payne moves out of range of the strikes.
Payne takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Payne takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The crowd cheers as Maul lands an impressive looking overhand right. Payne doesn't seem phased though.
Maul tries to work over Payne's front leg with a kick but Payne checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne misses with a hook
and Maul cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A big left from Payne misses.
Maul ducks under a wild hook from Payne.
A clash of legs there as Payne blocks the low kick.
Maul uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Payne.
Maul fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Payne checks it well.
Payne throws a looping overhand right but Maul ducks down to avoid it.
Maul tries to clinch there but Payne circles away.
Payne takes a swing at Maul's ribcage but misses.
Payne takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Maul slips under a jab.
Maul swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Payne takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Maul slips under a jab.
Max Payne is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maul tries a low kick but Payne avoids it.
Maul dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A left lands for Payne.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Maul lands an impressive looking overhand right. Payne doesn't seem phased though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maul misses with a lunging right hand
and Payne counters with a nice uppercut.
Payne throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maul changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Payne misses with an uppercut. Maul saw that one coming.
Payne blocks a low kick nicely.
Payne misses with a straight right.
It seemed like Maul was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Maul drops his hands momentarily and Payne takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Maul swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Maul lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Payne circles away quickly and effectively.
Payne misses with a jab, cross combination.
Maul defending well as Payne loads up on a big left hand.
Payne misses with a low kick as Maul jumps back.
Maul moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Payne throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maul.
Payne swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Payne keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Maul connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Payne looks to land a left hand but Maul moved out of range nicely.
Maul wants to counter with a clinch but Payne pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Payne with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Maul does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Payne is looking to counter punch.
Maul throws an overhand right that lands on Payne's shoulder, as Payne tries to avoid the shot.
A little feinted left hand from Payne on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Good leg kick by Payne there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Maul scores with a jab.
Payne lands a leg kick that knocks Maul off balance momentarily.
Payne attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Maul throws a counter combo.
Maul misses with a low kick.
Maul looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Maul avoids the body shot from Payne.
A head kick from Maul lands but Payne takes it in his stride.
Payne tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maul was well out of range. Poor timing from Payne.
Maul uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Payne.
Maul is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maul. Payne does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maul pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Payne back to the cage. Maul follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
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!
Payne smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne throws a hook but Maul avoids it easily.
Payne throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Payne misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maul.
Maul misses with a wild combination.
Maul slips a jab from Payne.
Maul tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Payne misses with a body shot.
Payne looks to land a left hand but Maul moved out of range nicely.
Maul throws a counter combo.
Maul throws a shot to the body.
Payne ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maul misses with a straight left.
Payne bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Payne looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Payne scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maul is looking to slow Payne down with leg kicks.
Maul throws a hook to the side of Payne's head but Payne sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Payne checks a leg kick nicely.
Payne half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Maul keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Payne.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Maul 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Payne fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Maul has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Maul misses with a hook.
Maul tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Payne throws a hook to the side of Maul's head but Maul sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maul is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Payne with a body shot.
Payne tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maul was well out of range. Poor timing from Payne.
Maul now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
No joy there for Payne, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maul takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Payne takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Maul throws a hook but Payne blocks it.
Maul bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Payne's head backwards.
Maul just misses with a punch to the body.
Payne takes one to the chin there.
Maul waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Payne.
Maul's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Jab, jab by Maul - just one landing.
Payne looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Maul misses with a low kick.
Payne is looking for a counter combo.
Payne takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maul lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Payne misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maul sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maul misses with an uppercut. Payne saw that one coming.
Maul throws an overhand right that lands on Payne's shoulder, as Payne tries to avoid the shot.
Payne scores with a leg kick.
A big right from Maul misses.
Payne takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Payne slips a jab from Maul.
Payne throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maul sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Payne has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Maul.
Payne throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maul just misses with a punch to the body.
Payne throws a jab when Maul was well out of range.
Maul's corner calls for a 1-2. Maul obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Payne is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maul.
Payne scores with a nice right hand.
Payne throws a jab when Maul was well out of range.
Payne sets himself, and Maul steps forward looking for the clinch! Payne avoids it this time.
A jab lands there for Payne.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
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!
Maul throws a low kick, looking for Payne's leg but Payne calmly moves out of range.
Payne moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Maul avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maul clobbers Payne with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Maul fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Payne looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
No joy there for Payne, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Payne fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maul manages to avoid it.
Maul throws a low kick, looking for Payne's leg but Payne calmly moves out of range.
Maul defending well as Payne loads up on a big left hand.
Payne throws a looping overhand right but Maul ducks down to avoid it.
Maul tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The fighters circling - Payne throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Payne fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Maul throws a poor cross that misses
and Payne counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maul lands with a nice body punch.
A shot to the liver by Maul. Beautiful body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne swings for the body but Maul moves out of range.
Nice shot lands for Maul.
Payne checks a leg kick nicely.
Payne throws a jab but it's blocked by Maul.
Payne blocks the body kick.
Payne takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Maul ducks under a wild hook from Payne.
Payne stalks Maul and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Maul's face. Maul staggers backwards, shaken.
A bone on bone clash there as Payne blocks the leg kick.
Payne moves out of range of the leg kick from Maul.
Payne throws a quick inside leg kick.

Maul moves into the clinch.
Payne is trying to push Maul away but Maul has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Maul scores with a shot to the side of Payne's head.
Maul misses with a short punch on the inside.

Payne pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maul misses with a low kick.
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!
Maul throws a shot from downtown. Payne moves away and avoids it.
Good work by Maul as he checks the leg kick.
Payne misses with a leg kick.
Maul tries to counter with a clinch but Payne shakes him off and moves away.
Payne is looking to chop away at Maul's legs.
Payne lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Maul dodges the punch combination from Payne.
Maul on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Payne scores with a decent looking hook.
Maul misses the shot to the body.
Payne swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A low kick from Maul is predictable there
and Payne counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maul tries a head kick but it misses.
Maul throws a hook but Payne avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maul walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Maul on the wrong end of a nice jab.

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 Max Payne.
I think Payne 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Max Payne!
During a confident post fight interview, Max Payne thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.