PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Kogos (ranked 668 p4p, 880 weight class) and Walter Payton (ranked 92 p4p, 125 weight class). Payton has chosen Andre Nickatina - Yeah as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Kogos
vs
Payton

188 cm
32
222
21 - 14 - 1

194 cm
35
215
24 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

30th Century Beer Store
NARCOS

Brooklyn Apothecary
Silverguard Outfitters ðŸ›¡

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 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Kogos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Walter Payton!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payton throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kogos sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kogos lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Walter Payton has been cut.
A telegraphed right hand from Kogos misses the target.
Payton leaves Kogos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Payton misses with a right hand
and Kogos counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Payton on the wrong end of a nice jab.
We've been told by Kogos's head coaches at Soul Supremacy Rio that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A swing and a miss from Payton.
Payton takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Payton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Payton moves into the clinch successfully.
Nice body punch from Payton.
Kogos can't find room to land a body shot as Payton controls the action.
We've been informed that Payton has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Payton stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kogos.
Kogos working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right from Payton on the inside.
Payton lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kogos backwards.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kogos blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kogos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Payton gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kogos stalls.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Payton.
Kogos missing with knees to the body.
Kogos lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Payton misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Kogos fails to land.
A nice left hand lands by Payton.
Kogos pressing his opponent against the cage.
Payton lands a hook that snaps the head of Kogos backwards.
Payton creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kogos lands a left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Payton misses with a punch on the inside.
Payton can't find room to land a body shot as Kogos controls the action.

Kogos has clasped his hands together around Payton's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Payton defending against the ground and pound.
Payton is not content to let Kogos control the position.
Payton is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
You can see the frustration on Payton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kogos has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Payton is looking to reverse the position.
Payton takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
You can see the frustration on Payton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Payton is looking to reverse the position.
Payton takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Kogos misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Kogos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Payton keeps working.
Payton tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kogos wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kogos throws a strike aimed at the side of Payton's head but Payton avoids it well.
Payton avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kogos.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Payton is trying to get back to half guard.
Kogos working away.
Kogos working the body and head with strikes.
Payton tries to improve position but can't.
Kogos connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Payton some visible discomfort.
Kogos cracks Payton with a big elbow.
Payton gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Kogos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Walter Payton's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Payton on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That has opened up Walter Payton's cut even more.
Payton lands with a straight right. Kogos didn't see that one coming.
Payton ducks under a wild hook from Kogos.
Payton fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

It looks like Paulo Kogos has been cut.

Payton cracks Kogos with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Kogos looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Payton finish him?

Kogos is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Payton lunges in with a left hook that violently twists Kogos head around and knocks him out cold! Payton hops onto the cage and yells out at the top of his lungs - Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaah! They're showing the replay on the big screens now; that was nasty! I hope one of the photographers got a good shot of it.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Walter Payton!
Walter Payton spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.