PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Evan Payton (ranked 607 p4p, 83 weight class) and Uriah Small (ranked 1355 p4p, 180 weight class). Uriah Small has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Evan Payton's chin.

Payton
vs
Small

180 cm
35
192 lbs
20 - 16 - 0

183 cm
30
200 lbs
16 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Evan Payton!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Uriah Small!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payton throws a jab but it's blocked by Small.
Payton blocks a jab.
Payton lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Payton lands a jab to the nose.
Payton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Payton takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Small lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Payton shoots in looking for a takedown. Small tries to sprawl out of it but Payton keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Small manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've been hearing reports that Payton has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Small moves into range and clinches up with Payton.
Payton has a couple of punches blocked by Small.
Small misses with a body punch.
Payton wants to take the fight to the mat but Small manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Small misses with a punch on the inside.

Payton has picked Small up - he's going for a ride! Payton dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
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 controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payton has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Payton forces the positional change into back control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Small prevents Payton from getting a body triangle.

Payton is looking for the choke from the back position but Small is controlling his hands well.

Payton seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Small's chin but Small turns very nicely into Payton's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Small.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payton trying to control the position.
Payton lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Payton trying to control but Small is working from the bottom.
Payton pushing down on Small's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Payton in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payton seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Small for as long as he can get away with.

Payton in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Small tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Payton!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Evan Payton!
Evan Payton retains his middleweight title!
Evan Payton thanked the fans post fight for their support.