PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Paige (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Sabre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paige comes to the cage accompanied by Led Zeppelin- Immigrant Song. Matt Sabre acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Paige
vs
Sabre

188 cm
23
199 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

189 cm
25
191 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Firebird Designs
Broken Halo Pride Nutrition

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Paige!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Sabre!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick by Paige misses
and Sabre counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sabre takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sabre lands with a thumping leg kick.
Paige lands with a nice body punch.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Paige - that will leave a mark!
Both fighters circling a little - Sabre finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Sabre chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Paige thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Sabre if he has to take too many more of those.

Sabre closes the distance and clinches.
Paige goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Paige tries a body shot but Sabre blocks it.
Paige tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sabre's elbow.
Paige tries to work over Sabre's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Paige goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sabre will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Paige up against the cage.
Paige blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Paige.
Sabre lands an elbow just above Paige 's eye.
Paige misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sabre can't find room to land a body shot as Paige controls the action.
Paige can't find room to land a body shot as Sabre controls the action.
Paige misses with a body punch.
Paige on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Paige misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paige lands a body shot.
Paige looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sabre tries to work over Paige's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sabre tries a body shot but Paige blocks it.
Sabre cracks Paige with a nice body shot.
A nice left hand lands by Sabre.
Sabre using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Paige can't find room to land a body shot as Sabre controls the action.
Paige misses with a punch to the body.
Paige fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sabre.
Paige misses with a hook from the clinch.
Paige misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paige misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sabre blocking some punches.
Paige tries to work over Sabre's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sabre lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Paige misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sabre's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Sabre lands a left hand.
Paige scores with a hook to the body.
Paige tries to break free but Sabre pushes him back against the cage.
Sabre avoiding damage.
Sabre is leaning against Paige and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sabre lands with a light punch inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Sabre is stalling here.
Paige tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sabre tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Paige's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Sabre.
A right handed body shot lands from Paige.
Sabre prevents a body shot from Paige.
Paige lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sabre.
Sabre tries for a takedown. No joy.
Paige lands a nice shot to the body.
Paige scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Paige as Sabre tries to tie him up.
Paige goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Paige can't find room to land a body shot as Sabre controls the action.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sabre.
Sabre tries to work over Paige's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Paige lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sabre backwards.

It looks like Matt Sabre has been cut.
Sabre prevents a body shot from Paige.
A right hand to the body from Sabre.
Sabre misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paige goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Paige misses with a punch on the inside.
Sabre digs a right hand underneath Paige's ribcage. Paige let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paige is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Paige tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Paige misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paige tries to throw a body punch but Sabre avoids it by throwing Paige back against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Sabre.
Paige lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Paige tries a body shot but Sabre blocks it.
Paige takes an elbow to the temple.
Sabre swings wildly with an uppercut but Paige uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sabre working aggressively here.
Sabre misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Paige.
Sabre is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Paige misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sabre creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sabre scores a nice knee to the body.
Paige tries to throw a body punch but Sabre avoids it by throwing Paige back against the cage.
Sabre prevents a body shot from Paige.
Paige tries to work over Sabre's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sabre content to slow the pace in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matt Sabre will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matt Sabre's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sabre feints and then cracks Paige's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Paige down.
Paige throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Paige scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sabre misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Paige.
Sabre lands a jab-cross combination.
Sabre uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Paige.
Paige throws a nice head kick!
Sabre cracks a nice hook into Paige's ribs.
Sabre does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Paige tries to clinch up.
Sabre lands a jab to Paige's midsection.
Paige misses the shot to the body.
Paige pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sabre thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Paige if he has to take too many more of those.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sabre.
Sabre ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Paige moves away.
Sabre misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabre thows a body shot but no joy.
Sabre misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Paige.
Paige has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sabre.
Paige swings for the body but Sabre moves out of range.
A low kick from Sabre is predictable there
and Paige counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sabre's knee momentarily.
Sabre cracks the inside of Paige's front leg.
Sabre throws a front kick aimed at Paige's knee but Paige avoids it well.
Sabre cracks the inside of Paige's front leg.
Paige gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Paige misses with the body kick
and Sabre counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Paige thinking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sabre punishes Paige's body with a nice straight punch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sabre.
Paige is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sabre.
Sabre lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sabre throws a low kick, looking for Paige's leg but Paige calmly moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabre turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good work by Paige as he checks the leg kick.
Sabre looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sabre lets loose with a powerful body kick. Paige will feel that in the morning.
Paige avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sabre buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Paige on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Sabre closes the distance and clinches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Paige misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paige goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sabre makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sabre cracks Paige with a nice body shot.
A body shot lands from Sabre.
A hook to the body from Sabre.
Paige goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paige tries to throw a body punch but Sabre avoids it by throwing Paige back against the cage.
Paige misses with a punch to the body.
Paige gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sabre.
Sabre lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Paige has a couple of punches blocked by Sabre.
Sabre lands an elbow inside that Paige shrugs off.
Sabre lands a body shot.
Sabre stalls.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sabre.
Sabre holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sabre lands a hook to the side of the head.
Paige wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sabre lands a damaging elbow.
Nice body punch from Sabre - that landed with a thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paige wants to break free but Sabre has control.
Paige takes a shot to the head.
Sabre pushes Paige back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sabre pushes off an throws an elbow but Paige leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Sabre gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Sabre is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Paige keeping moving, preventing Sabre from controlling successfully.
Sabre preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paige has momentary wrist control but Sabre slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Sabre showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt Sabre's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sabre looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sabre throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Paige.
Sabre takes a swing at Paige's ribcage but misses.
Sabre works Paige's body with a nice hook.
Paige throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Sabre closes the distance and pushes Paige back into the cage.
Matt Sabre seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Paige misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Sabre.
A body shot lands from Paige.
A right hook to the body lands for Paige.
Paige struggles to land a body shot inside as Sabre controls his hands.

Sabre works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Sabre stays in close to Paige's body and controls the position.
Paige working a defensive guard but Sabre manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paige can't do much from the bottom here.
Paige manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sabre's best efforts.
Paige is trying to stand back up but Sabre is controlling him
Paige is looking for a sweep. Sabre is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Paige has his hands clasped together around Sabre's back. He's all about the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sabre is just content to waste time from the top position. Paige takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Paige keeping moving, preventing Sabre from controlling successfully.
Sabre wants to pass the guard but Paige is keeping the position.
Paige is trying to control the position but Sabre postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabre passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sabre throws an elbow but Paige slips to the side and avoids it well.
Paige gets back to half guard.
Sabre controlling the pace.
Paige wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Paige regains full guard. Nicely done.

Paige is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sabre defends well.
Sabre wants to pass the guard but Paige is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Sabre really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Sabre's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sabre keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Paige looks to score with a jab to the body but Sabre is just out of range.
Paige on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd cheers as Sabre lands an impressive looking overhand right. Paige doesn't seem phased though.
Sabre throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Paige.
Sabre misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sabre throws a chopping leg kick but Paige manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Paige sizes up Sabre with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Paige is looking to wear down Sabre with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sabre keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Paige pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sabre is out of range and Paige settles back down.
Sabre smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sabre fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Matt Sabre seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Paige throws a right and a left that Sabre avoids nicely.
Sabre scores with a nice right hand.
Paige throws a sloppy body shot
and Sabre counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabre gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Paige.
Sabre looks to throw a body kick
and Paige makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sabre throws a jab but it's blocked by Paige.
Sabre will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A head kick by Sabre misses
and Paige counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Paige throws a body punch but Sabre moves out of range.
Paige shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Paige throws a lazy body kick
and Sabre counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sabre pivots, looking for a leg kick but Paige is out of range and Sabre settles back down.
Sabre keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sabre throws a leg kick
and Paige counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sabre thinking.
Paige misses with a hook to the body
and Sabre counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sabre wants to clinch but Paige slips to the side
and Paige makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sabre circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sabre counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabre scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sabre throws out a powerful jab.
Sabre scores with a crisp jab that stopped Paige in his tracks.
Sabre pivots, looking for a leg kick but Paige is out of range and Sabre settles back down.
Paige tries to land a body kick
and Paige takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sabre avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sabre misses with a body shot.
Sabre attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sabre avoids the body shot from Paige.
Paige misses with a hook to the body
and Sabre counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sabre throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Chris Paige is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sabre with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Paige fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sabre checks it well.
Sabre lands with a nice body kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabre swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Paige counters with a nice kick to the body.

Sabre scores a takedown into full mount!
Paige keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Paige regains half guard.
Sabre stalling.
Paige won't allow Sabre to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paige wants to control but Sabre is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sabre controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Sabre dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Matt Sabre's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A shot to the body from Paige misses
and Sabre counters with a nice uppercut.
Paige misses the body punch
and Sabre makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sabre misses with a body punch
and Paige counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sabre lands a nice looking kick to the body. Paige takes a step back to recover.
Paige moves out of range as Sabre throws a body kick.
Sabre swings away with a body shot that misses
and Paige counters with a big head kick but Sabre shrugs it off.
Paige throws a lazy body kick
and Sabre counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A low kick from Sabre misses
and Paige counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sabre scores with a head kick.
Sabre loads up on a big right hand but Paige slips the punch.
Paige takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Paige blocks the body kick.
Sabre moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sabre fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Paige looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Paige gets tackled into the cage by Sabre. Sabre maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paige misses with a punch to the body.
Paige has a couple of punches blocked by Sabre.
Paige misses with a punch to the body.
Paige tries a body shot but Sabre blocks it.
Sabre has Paige pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Paige manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Paige tries a body shot but Sabre blocks it.
Sabre scores with a hook to the body.

Paige escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sabre dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sabre scores with a leg kick.
Sabre throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sabre throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sabre moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sabre just misses with a punch to the body.
An inside leg kick from Sabre misses.
Sabre tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Paige is able to avoid easily.
Chris Paige has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabre chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sabre scores with a hook.
Sabre moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sabre comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sabre fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Paige.
Sabre throws a half hearted mid kick.
That kick from Sabre tenderised Paige's leg. Paige is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sabre lands the left hand.
Sabre fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sabre swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Paige takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sabre jabs at Paige's body.
Sabre throws a quick inside leg kick.

Sabre gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sabre effectively controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sabre just misses with a elbow thrown towards Paige's brow.
Sabre tries to score a body lock takedown but Paige shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sabre holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Paige goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sabre has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Paige takes an elbow to the temple.
Sabre lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Paige digs a right hand into Sabre's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sabre's gas tank.
Sabre lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Paige throws a head punch that misses.
Paige goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sabre is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Paige escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matt Sabre is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sabre fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Paige manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabre fails to land with a series of punches.
Sabre scores with a body shot.
Sabre thuds a left hand into Paige's body.
Paige throws a hook but Sabre avoids it easily.
Paige looks to score with a jab to the body but Sabre is just out of range.
Sabre jabs at Paige's body.
Sabre tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sabre chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sabre scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Paige thows a leg kick but Sabre checks it
and Sabre counters with a right hand to the body.
Paige throws a leg kick but Sabre moved away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sabre wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sabre wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sabre lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Sabre comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sabre 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 45:50
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 45:50
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Sabre!
Matt Sabre is the new middleweight champion!