PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuu Saga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yuu Saga is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Payne
vs
Saga

177 cm
21
149 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

174 cm
23
158 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Firebird Designs

Team S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Payne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yuu Saga!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saga shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Payne as he avoids it easily.

Payne closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saga drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Payne gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Saga is working for takedown but Payne is calmly controlling the position for now.
Thomas Payne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuu Saga.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saga.

Payne breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Saga with that takedown attempt.
Payne gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Saga counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Saga.
Saga wants to control from the top but Payne keeps moving.
Saga passes Payne's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Saga passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne gets back to half guard.
Payne wants to get back to full guard.
Saga trying to control the action but Payne is working from the bottom.
Saga is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Payne wants to get back to his feet.
Saga trying to control the action but Payne is working from the bottom.
Saga tries to pass to full mount but Payne defends it.

Saga looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Saga looks gassed!

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.
Payne wants to improve his position but Saga is controlling well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Payne fails in his attempt to clinch.
Payne tries to clinch up

and Saga counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Payne!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne is squirming around, avoiding Saga's attempts to control the action.
Saga thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Payne is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Payne is working hard here to advance position.
Saga wants to control the pace but Payne is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Saga throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Saga can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Payne is looking to escape.
Payne holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Saga tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Saga is looking to take Payne's back but instead Payne gets back to half guard. Nice work.
Saga is thwarting Payne's attempts to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Saga drives through with a takedown into guard.
Saga wants to control from the top but Payne keeps moving.
Saga is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuu Saga dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Payne misses with a takedown attempt

and Saga counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Saga throws a strike but Payne rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Saga trying to control the position.
Saga looking to hit a scissor sweep but Payne is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saga is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne slips nicely into half guard.
Saga slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Payne has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Saga is proving hard to escape from.

Saga is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Saga is breathing heavily.

Saga throws his legs up looking for a submission but Payne uses it to pass to side control.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne doesn't manage to clinch there - Saga circles away.
Saga doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Payne counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Saga!
Saga is looking to improve his position but Payne isn't that keen on the idea.
Saga wants to control but Payne is having none of it.
Saga regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga wants to get back to full guard.
Payne slips a nice elbow through Saga's hands, connecting with Saga's forehead.

Payne stands up from half guard.
Payne tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Saga counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Payne wants to clinch but Saga slips to the side

and Saga counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Payne!
Saga can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Payne is looking to escape.
Saga controlling from the full mount.

Saga moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Payne has worked his arm free - good work by Payne!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne is not content to let Saga control the position.

Saga looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Saga is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Payne has escaped the position, nice work there.
Saga works to advance to full mount. Payne defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yuu Saga will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Payne tries to clinch

and Saga decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Payne's guard.
Saga pushing down on Payne's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Saga is just content to waste time from the top position. Payne takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Saga stays in close to Payne's body and controls the position.
Saga thows a big elbow that misses.
Saga trying to control but Payne is working from the bottom.
Payne avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saga wants to pass the guard but Payne is keeping the position.
Saga is pushing down on Payne's leg trying to pass to half guard. Payne is fighting to maintain full guard but Saga has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saga seems to be working for a kimura but Payne defends the submission attempt.
Saga thows a huge punch but Payne dodges it nicely.
Payne is looking to escape.

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

and Saga counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Payne's guard now.
Payne is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Saga trying to control but Payne postures up.
Saga wants to improve his position but Payne is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saga wants to control but Payne is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Saga slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Payne stopping the sweep attempt from Saga.

Saga looking for a guillotine here but Payne defends easily.
Saga looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Payne's guard.
Saga looking to pass the guard.
Payne can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Saga controls the pace.
Saga pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Payne is keeping the position for now.
Saga passes Payne's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Payne wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Payne won't allow Saga to pass to mount.
Saga moves into full mount! Payne won't be happy about that!
Payne really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Payne slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Saga prevents Payne from standing back up.
Saga is looking to stall here but Payne recovers full guard.
Saga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Payne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thomas Payne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Payne lands a decent shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuu Saga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Saga 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuu Saga!