PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hugues De Payen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magnus Ahriman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

De Payen
vs
Ahriman

185 cm
21
180 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
180 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hugues De Payen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Magnus Ahriman!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahriman on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by De Payen. De Payen obviously looking to wear him down.
A jab from De Payen misses.
Ahriman lands with a shot to the body.
Ahriman lands a jab to De Payen's midsection.
A nice inside leg kick there by De Payen. That's going to slow Ahriman down.
De Payen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
De Payen throws a hook to the side of Ahriman's head but Ahriman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
De Payen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
De Payen misses with an uppercut
and Ahriman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
De Payen misses with a body shot
and Ahriman counters with a nice uppercut.
De Payen connects with a solid leg kick.
Ahriman checks the leg kick.
De Payen sizes up Ahriman with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nice defenses there by Ahriman.
A telegraphed right hand from Ahriman misses the target.
Ahriman checks a low kick from De Payen.
De Payen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Ahriman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in De Payen's half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
De Payen wants to improve his position but Ahriman is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahriman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
De Payen has hold of Ahriman's hands but Ahriman slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
De Payen is doing well to control the position and prevent Ahriman from advancing to side control.
Ahriman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. De Payen defending well though.
De Payen is looking to improve his position.
Ahriman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ahriman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. De Payen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ahriman.
De Payen wants to control but Ahriman is keeping busy and won't allow it.
De Payen gets full guard.
De Payen looking to control.
Ahriman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
De Payen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ahriman is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahriman with a nice head shot there.
De Payen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ahriman!
Ahriman wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by De Payen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ahriman is looking to get to half guard.
De Payen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
De Payen throwing strikes here but Ahriman is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Ahriman holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as De Payen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Ahriman can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Payen throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Ahriman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ahriman wants to hold on but De Payen pushes him away.
De Payen tries to control but Ahriman wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
De Payen punching from mount but Ahriman doing a good job of avoiding damage.
De Payen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
De Payen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Ahriman sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Ahriman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ahriman is defending against the submission attempts here by De Payen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hugues De Payen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ahriman moves forwards but De Payen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ahriman looks to score with a jab to the body but De Payen is just out of range.
Hugues De Payen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Payen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ahriman slips under a jab from De Payen.
De Payen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
De Payen misses with a hook.
De Payen tries a low kick but Ahriman avoids it.
De Payen takes a swing at Ahriman's ribcage but misses.
A big right from Ahriman misses.
De Payen swings for the body but Ahriman moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ahriman throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. De Payen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ahriman is in De Payen's guard.
De Payen can't keep his opponent in guard - Ahriman advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ahriman throwing shots but De Payen is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Payen trying to hold on to Ahriman's head to control him but Ahriman postures up.

De Payen is defending against the submission attempts here by Ahriman.

Ahriman stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
De Payen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ahriman manages to avoid it.
Ahriman cracks De Payen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
De Payen throws a hook but Ahriman avoids it easily.
De Payen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
De Payen misses with an attempted mid kick.

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.
Ahriman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by De Payen.
De Payen throws an off balance right hand
and Ahriman counters with a nice body shot.
De Payen thows a leg kick but Ahriman checks it
and Ahriman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
De Payen misses with a lunging right hand
and Ahriman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ahriman fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. De Payen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
De Payen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
De Payen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hugues De Payen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ahriman cracks De Payen with a good jab.
De Payen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ahriman counters with a nice uppercut.
Ahriman moves away from the strike by De Payen.
A chopping leg kick lands by De Payen.
De Payen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
De Payen throws an off balance right hand

and Ahriman counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in De Payen's guard now.
De Payen managing to control the position.
Ahriman trying to control the position from guard on top but De Payen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Payen trying to control the position.
Ahriman postures up in De Payen's guard and throws a big left but De Payen blocks it.
De Payen keeping moving, preventing Ahriman from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ahriman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ahriman tries to free his leg and advance position but De Payen is retaining full guard.
Ahriman trying to control but De Payen is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ahriman won't allow De Payen to get back to his feet.
De Payen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ahriman trying to control the position from guard on top but De Payen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ahriman is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! De Payen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! De Payen has escaped and now he's on top!
De Payen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Ahriman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Ahriman 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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

De Payen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ahriman lands a nice shot that snaps De Payen's head back.
Ahriman takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
De Payen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ahriman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
De Payen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
De Payen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ahriman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
De Payen throws a low kick, looking for Ahriman's leg but Ahriman calmly moves out of range.
De Payen throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Ahriman to counter with a crisp jab.
A shot to the body from De Payen misses
and Ahriman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
De Payen misses with a lunging right hand

and Ahriman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
De Payen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ahriman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. De Payen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ahriman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahriman trying to control the position from guard on top but De Payen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ahriman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. De Payen is keeping the position for now.
Ahriman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
De Payen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ahriman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ahriman looking to sit in guard and control but De Payen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ahriman is pulling down on De Payen's head. It's preventing any offense from De Payen, at least for the moment.

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.

Ahriman had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. De Payen defends it easily.
De Payen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ahriman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in De Payen's guard.
De Payen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ahriman is one step ahead there.
Ahriman is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Payen keeping full guard, as Ahriman tries to pass.
De Payen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ahriman won't allow De Payen to sweep him here.
Ahriman cracks De Payen with a solid left hand.
Ahriman postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
De Payen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
De Payen looking for a sweep. Not yet De Payen, not yet.
Ahriman throwing strikes but missing.
Ahriman won't allow De Payen to sweep him here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ahriman trying to control but De Payen is working from the bottom.
Ahriman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ahriman is looking to work some ground and pound but De Payen has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magnus Ahriman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ahriman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magnus Ahriman!