PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lance Erickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Erickson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Of Wolf And Man - Metallica. Robert Payne could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Lance Erickson's chin.

Payne
vs
Erickson

185 cm
21
196 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
212 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Improved boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Robert Payne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lance Erickson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Erickson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Erickson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Payne looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Erickson chips away with some ground and pound.
Erickson stays in close to Payne's body and controls the position.
Erickson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Erickson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Erickson working the head and body with strikes.
Payne tries to bench press Erickson off him but Erickson keeps the position.
Payne looks to move to half guard but instead Erickson has passed into mount! Damn!
Payne is in a horrible position here. Erickson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Erickson raining down shots from the mount!
A nice elbow there by Erickson.
Erickson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Payne is looking to escape.
Erickson unloading with bombs!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne is looking to improve his position but Erickson isn't that keen on the idea.
Erickson trying to control but Payne is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Erickson landing strikes from the mount.
Erickson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Erickson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Erickson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Erickson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Erickson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Payne can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Erickson looking to finish Payne with some ground and pound. This is bad for Payne!
Erickson landing punches.
Erickson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Payne swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Payne is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Erickson is landing with some decent strikes but Payne is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Erickson trying to control but Payne is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne is looking to improve his position but Erickson isn't that keen on the idea.
Erickson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Erickson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Erickson with a couple of short strikes.
Payne is trying desperately to improve position.
Payne taking shots to the head.
Erickson landing strikes from the mount and Payne is in trouble!
Erickson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Payne can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Erickson lands with some strikes.
Payne tries to reverse the position but Erickson maintains control.
Erickson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Payne looks a forlorn figure.
Payne manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Payne gets back to full guard.
Payne tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Payne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Erickson with a nice head shot there.

Payne pushes Erickson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Payne throws a right and a left that Erickson avoids nicely.

Payne changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Erickson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Payne scores with punches from side control.
Payne looks up at the clock and then as Erickson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Payne smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Payne cracks Erickson with a big right hand but Erickson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Erickson misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Erickson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Erickson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Erickson gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erickson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Erickson trying to control the position.
Erickson looking for a sweep. Not yet Erickson, not yet.

Erickson working for a triangle but Payne defends it easily.
Erickson lands a decent shot there.
Payne with a flurry of punches that miss.
Erickson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Payne scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Erickson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Payne lands a couple of digs.
Erickson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Erickson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Erickson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Payne's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Erickson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Erickson has managed to clinch.
Erickson gets underhooks to prevent Payne's takedown attempt.
Erickson stops a takedown attempt from Payne.
Payne is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Payne. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Erickson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Erickson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Payne sprawls well initially but Erickson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Well, if Erickson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Erickson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Payne misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Erickson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Payne!
Payne is trying desperately to improve position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Erickson landing shots from mount.
Erickson trying to control but Payne is having none of it.
Payne manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Erickson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Erickson uses his free foot to push down on Payne's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Payne.
Payne regains half guard.
Payne is trying to get back to full guard.
Erickson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Payne with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Payne taking some punishment here, with Erickson in his half guard.
Payne is not content to let Erickson control the position.
Erickson prevents Payne from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Erickson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Erickson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne looking for a sweep. Not yet Payne, not yet.
Erickson wants to pass the guard but Payne is keeping the position.
Erickson pushing down on Payne's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Erickson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Erickson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Erickson wants to pass to mount but Payne is defending the position.
Erickson lands strikes from half guard.
Payne scores with a few weak punches.
Erickson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Erickson working over Payne with some ground and pound. Payne looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Payne is pressing down on Erickson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Payne is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Erickson postures up and lands a big shot to Payne's brow.
Payne wants to stand but Erickson is controlling the position.
Erickson trying to control the position from guard on top but Payne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Erickson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Payne is proving hard to escape from.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Payne thuds his right hand into Erickson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Erickson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Erickson jabs Payne right on the nose. Payne blinks but takes it well.
Payne slips a jab and a cross from Erickson.
Payne throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Erickson moves into the clinch successfully.

Erickson breaks the clinch.

Erickson pushes Payne up against the cage in a clinch.

Erickson drags the fight down to the ground.
Erickson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Payne is one step ahead there.
Erickson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Erickson winds up and cracks Payne with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Erickson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Erickson is nestled in close to Payne, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Payne is in trouble now - Erickson has advanced to mount!
A nice elbow there by Erickson.
Erickson scoring with strikes but Payne is staying in there.
Lance Erickson has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Erickson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Payne in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Erickson with a couple of short strikes.
Payne is wriggling around trying to escape.
Payne slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Payne makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Payne.
Erickson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Erickson stands up from Payne's guard - Erickson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Erickson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Erickson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Erickson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Erickson connects with a couple of short punches.
Payne throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Erickson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Erickson feints and as Payne raises his hands in defense, Erickson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Erickson postures up and lands a big shot to Payne's brow.
Erickson with a nice head shot there.
Erickson stopping the sweep attempt from Payne.
Erickson trying to control the position from guard on top but Payne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Erickson preventing the sweep.
Erickson won't allow Payne to get back to his feet.
Erickson postures up and lands a big shot to Payne's brow.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Erickson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Payne's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Payne duly obliges.
Jab from Payne.

Erickson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Payne wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Erickson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Erickson working the body and head with strikes.
Erickson has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne throwing hammer fists to the chest of Erickson. What's that going to do exactly?
Erickson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Erickson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Payne?
Erickson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Payne is rocked!
Erickson looking to control but Payne is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Oh Payne is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
A nice elbow there by Erickson.
Erickson lands a heavy elbow.
Erickson is landing with some decent strikes but Payne is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Payne keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Payne is working hard here to advance position.
Erickson looking to finish Payne with some ground and pound. This is bad for Payne!
Payne is trying to escape the mount.
Payne seems to have got his legs back now.
Payne is squirming around, avoiding Erickson's attempts to control the action.
Erickson is landing with some decent strikes but Payne is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Payne tries to reverse the position but Erickson maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erickson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Payne's face.
Erickson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Payne working to try and regain half guard.
Erickson controlling his opponent.
Payne slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Erickson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Payne is looking to improve his position.
Erickson tries to pass to full mount but Payne defends it.
Erickson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Erickson trying to mount his opponent but Payne defends it.
Payne punching from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Payne!
Erickson cracks Payne with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Erickson trying to control but Payne is having none of it.
Erickson controlling his opponent.
Erickson lands a big shot there that rocks Payne but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Erickson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Payne can't escape the position.
Erickson landing shots from mount.
Erickson working Payne over with strikes here.
Payne takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Erickson lands a heavy elbow.
Payne sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Payne misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Erickson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne is looking to improve his position.
Erickson wants to stand up but Payne has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Erickson postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Payne to stand up.
Payne scores with a one two! Erickson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Erickson rushes Payne and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Erickson manages to break the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Erickson.
Erickson cracks Payne with a big elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Payne throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Payne is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Erickson tries to advance to mount but Payne denies him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payne tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Erickson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Erickson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Robert Payne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Erickson lands a nice forearm strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lance Erickson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Erickson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lance Erickson!