PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eoin McGregor (ranked 2944 p4p, 4988 weight class) and Henry Payne (ranked 366 p4p, 536 weight class). Eoin McGregor had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

McGregor
vs
Payne

175 cm
18
161
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Nutritional Shaved Ice

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Eoin McGregor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Henry Payne!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Payne closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McGregor quickly recovers to half guard.
McGregor is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Payne scores with a couple of nice shots.
McGregor keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McGregor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Payne.
Payne drops an elbow to the side of McGregor's head.
McGregor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Payne.
McGregor is breathing heavily.
Payne is thwarting McGregor's attempts to control the position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Payne connects with a nice short shot to McGregor's temple.
McGregor is refusing to be controlled, as Payne sits in half guard.
Payne works his way into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payne working the head with strikes.

Payne decides to stand up, so the ref orders McGregor to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Payne or perhaps it was just good defense by McGregor, which made it look bad.
McGregor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Payne swivels and escapes.
McGregor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Payne.
McGregor shoots in looking for a takedown but Payne manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McGregor's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Payne closes the distance and pushes McGregor back into the cage.

Payne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Payne closes the distance and clinches.
Payne lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Payne lands a hook to the side of the head.

Payne manages to break the clinch.
McGregor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Payne counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eoin McGregor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Payne shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McGregor as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne throws a right and a left that McGregor avoids nicely.
Payne attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
McGregor half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Payne gets a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Payne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Payne has managed to clinch.
McGregor misses with a short punch on the inside.
McGregor is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Payne gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Payne tries to break free but McGregor pushes him back against the cage.
Payne missing with knees to the body.
McGregor tries to pull guard but Payne holds him up against the cage and eventually McGregor drops back down to his feet.
Payne tries to circle away but McGregor has him pinned against the cage.
Payne lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McGregor has him pressed against the cage.

Payne breaks the clinch.
Payne moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Payne instigates a clinch.
McGregor tries to pull guard but Payne holds him up against the cage and eventually McGregor drops back down to his feet.
Payne tries to land knees in the clinch but McGregor avoids the damage to the body.
Payne is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Payne is trying to push McGregor away but McGregor has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Payne is trying to push McGregor away but McGregor has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Payne doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McGregor tries for a takedown. No joy.
McGregor prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Payne pulls guard successfully.
McGregor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Payne is keeping the position for now.
Payne looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
McGregor wants to pass the guard but Payne is keeping the position.
Payne is trying to control the position but McGregor postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Payne dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Payne throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

McGregor clinches.

Payne manages to break the clinch.
McGregor with a poor takedown
and Payne counters with a two punch combo.
Payne lands a slapping body shot.
Payne tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McGregor paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Payne moves into range and clinches up with McGregor.
Payne stops a takedown attempt from McGregor.

Payne breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payne scores with a nice right hand.
Payne bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps McGregor's head backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Payne tries for a takedown but McGregor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Henry Payne seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A looping hook to the body misses from Payne. McGregor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Payne lands with a hook. McGregor tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Payne pushes McGregor up against the cage in a clinch.

Payne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Payne tries to clinch there but McGregor circles away.

Payne closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Payne scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Payne is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
McGregor is trying to maintain the position but Payne is very close to passing his half guard.
Payne is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Henry Payne has got the better of the ground game so far.

Payne decides to return to a standing position.
McGregor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Payne.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor tries to clinch up.

Payne moves into the clinch.
Payne lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of McGregor backwards.

McGregor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
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!
McGregor is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Payne.
McGregor tries to clinch but Payne is having none of it.
McGregor slips a jab and a cross from Payne.
Payne misses with a wild body shot.
Payne throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McGregor.
Payne misses with a kick to the body
and McGregor counters with a left and a right that stings Payne.
McGregor slips a jab and a cross from Payne.
Eoin McGregor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Payne displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McGregor.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eoin McGregor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Payne scores with a four punch combination!

McGregor closes the distance and clinches.
McGregor looking to stall.

Payne manages to break the clinch.

Payne gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows McGregor to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Payne has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Payne looking to hit a scissor sweep but McGregor is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne looking to control.
McGregor wants to pass the guard but Payne is keeping the position.
Payne has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Payne keeping moving, preventing McGregor from controlling successfully.
Payne controlling the position.

Payne is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Payne showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Payne shoots in looking for a takedown but McGregor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Payne's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Jab by Payne.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McGregor.
Payne scores with a three punch combo!

Payne closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

McGregor breaks the clinch.
Henry Payne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - McGregor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Payne defends it nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McGregor as he avoids it easily.
McGregor keeps the fight on the outside.

Payne moves into range and clinches up with McGregor.
Henry Payne seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
McGregor keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Payne's efforts to push away.
McGregor throws a punch but it's blocked by Payne.

Payne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Payne scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Payne has managed to clinch.
Payne wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McGregor displaying some good clinch control by pressing Payne up against the cage.
Payne wants to break free but McGregor has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor blocks a punch to the side of the head.

McGregor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Payne throws a front kick aimed at McGregor's knee but McGregor avoids it well.
McGregor swats away the attempt to clinch by Payne.
Nice shot lands for Payne.
McGregor stuffs the takedown.
McGregor attempts a counter takedown but Payne avoids it well and moves away.
Eoin McGregor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Payne.
The fight stays on the outside here - McGregor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McGregor dives in and grabs Payne's left leg, looking for a takedown. Payne pushes down on McGregor's head and hops out.
Payne steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McGregor tries to clinch but Payne moves away
and Payne connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Payne moves in looking to clinch but McGregor pushes him off.
Payne misses with a few strikes there.
McGregor dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Payne. That did some damage!
Payne tries to bum rush McGregor with a series of wild strikes but McGregor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Payne misses with a hook
and McGregor counters with a nice uppercut.
Payne misses with a wild body shot.
Payne jabs McGregor right on the nose. McGregor blinks but takes it well.
Payne throws a push kick but McGregor slaps the foot to one side.
McGregor is looking for a counter combo.
Payne dodges the punch combination from McGregor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne works over McGregor's head and body with a nice combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Payne misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McGregor seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

McGregor darts in and clinches Payne up against the cage.

McGregor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Payne fails in his attempt to clinch.

Payne closes the distance and pushes McGregor back into the cage.

Payne breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Payne lands a nice shot to the body.
McGregor throws a front kick that sends Payne stumbling back into the cage.

Payne darts in and clinches McGregor up against the cage.
Eoin McGregor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henry Payne is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McGregor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Payne comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Payne has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Payne!