PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Evan Payton (ranked 445 p4p, 64 weight class) and Derek Trucks (ranked 490 p4p, 74 weight class). Derek Trucks has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Payton
vs
Trucks

180 cm
35
192 lbs
21 - 16 - 0

183 cm
27
196 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Groove Gear
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 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 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derek Trucks!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Trucks wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Payton thuds his right hand into Trucks's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Trucks looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Donk. Payton catches Trucks right on the button with a cross.
Trucks stuffs the takedown.
Payton moves away from the strike by Trucks.
Payton misses with a right hand
and Trucks counters with a straight right hand.
Trucks throws a good cross that connects.
Trucks takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Payton thows a left - swing and a miss!
Payton looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Payton scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like Derek Trucks has been cut.
Trucks throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Payton counters with a single leg into guard. Trucks didn't expect that.
Trucks keeping moving, preventing Payton from controlling successfully.
Trucks is looking to stand up but Payton isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payton trying to control but Trucks is working from the bottom.
Payton is really struggling to control Trucks but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Payton is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Payton works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two 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.
Trucks is trying to stand.
Trucks is staying active underneath Payton, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Trucks won't allow Payton to pass to mount.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Payton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Payton scores with the left hand. Trucks knows he should have avoided that one.
Trucks works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Payton looks to land a left hand but Trucks moved out of range nicely.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Payton, as that shot connected.
Trucks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Payton needs to keep his hands up - Trucks had a free shot at his head there.
Payton just misses with a punch to the body.
Payton throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Trucks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Trucks rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Payton counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Payton is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Trucks doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Payton.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payton wants to advance to full mount but Trucks doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Trucks keeping full guard, as Payton tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Payton trying to control the position from guard on top but Trucks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Payton pushes down on Trucks's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Payton is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Trucks sees it coming and defends easily.
Payton is looking to stall here but Trucks recovers full guard.
Payton trying to control but Trucks is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Payton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Derek Trucks's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Trucks throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Payton on the side of the head.
A jab from Trucks misses.
Payton throws a predictable looking body shot
and Trucks counters with a straight right hand.
Payton connects with a body shot.
Trucks walks into a left hand.
Payton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Payton fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Trucks pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Payton.
Payton appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Trucks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Payton.
Payton throws a body shot but no joy.
Trucks swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Payton moves into the clinch.
Trucks misses with a short punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Trucks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trucks misses with a short punch on the inside.
Trucks scores with a shot to the side of Payton's head.

Payton gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Trucks regains guard.
Payton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Trucks swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Payton trying to control but Trucks is working from the bottom.
Payton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Trucks is keeping the position for now.
Payton trying to move into half guard but instead Trucks has managed to sweep!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trucks won't allow Payton to sweep him here.
Payton trying to keep a closed guard but Trucks is proving a slippery customer.
Trucks wants to stand but Payton has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Trucks gets to his feet. Payton looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Payton clinches up against the cage.
Payton fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Payton blocking some punches.
Good body shot from Trucks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trucks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Payton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Trucks gets through Payton's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Trucks throws a punch but it's blocked by Payton.
Payton tries to work over Trucks's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Trucks.
Trucks misses with a punch on the inside.
Trucks tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Trucks working aggressively here.
Trucks scores with a hook to the body.
Payton goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Trucks blocking some punches.
Payton can't find room to land a body shot as Trucks controls the action.

Trucks breaks from the clinch.
Trucks swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Payton.
Trucks walks into a stiff left hand from Payton.
Trucks has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Trucks there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payton avoids the body shot from Trucks.
A big right from Payton misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Trucks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Payton.
Payton swings away with a body shot that misses
and Trucks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Payton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Trucks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Trucks connects with an inside leg kick.
Trucks throws a lazy right hand but Payton sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Payton darts in trying to clinch
and Trucks counters with a straight right hand.
A big right from Payton misses.
Evan Payton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Trucks scores with a leg kick.
Payton throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Trucks on the side of the head.
Trucks takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Payton throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Derek Trucks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Derek Trucks's cut.
That's time! Payton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Payton throws a predictable looking body shot

and Trucks counters with a crisp one two that drops Payton! Trucks thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Payton to his feet! Payton is in big trouble!

Payton is still looking wobbly from the end of the last round!
Payton tries to close the distance and clinch but Trucks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Oh Payton is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Payton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Trucks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Payton seems to have got his legs back now.
Trucks avoids the body shot from Payton.
A head kick misses from Trucks.
Trucks digs a good body shot into Payton's ribs.
Payton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Trucks.
Payton scores with a crisp jab that stopped Trucks in his tracks.
A big right from Payton misses.
Payton lands with a hook. Trucks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Payton throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Trucks! But no joy.
Payton connects with a right hand. Trucks shakes it off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Trucks lands with a right hand.
The fighters circling - Trucks throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Payton is looking to counter punch.
Trucks misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trucks instigates a clinch.
Payton fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Payton drops down looking for an ankle pick but Trucks pulls his leg out and moves away.
Payton motions for Trucks to come forward. Payton throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Trucks lands a big right hand that sends Payton crashing to the mat! Trucks stays standing though and waves Payton back to his feet!
Trucks lands with a massive overhand right! Stick a fork in Payton - he's out cold! Ermm... I think I just mixed my metaphors but yeah... That was a nice KO! Big win for Trucks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Derek Trucks!
A very excited looking Derek Trucks made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.