PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Popeye Orion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Max Payne struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 172.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Orion
vs
Payne

175 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Popeye Orion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Max Payne!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Orion doesn't manage to clinch there - Payne circles away.
Orion is looking to clinch.
Orion throws a leg kick but Payne checks it.
Payne fails with the takedown.
Payne tries to clinch
letting Orion counter with a right hand.
Orion swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Max Payne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Payne tries to clinch but Orion moves away

and Orion counters with a takedown into side control.
Orion trying to control the action but Payne is working from the bottom.
Payne is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Orion is looking to take a break and control but Payne is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Payne gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Orion moves to take his opponent's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good control from Orion.
Orion has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Payne has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Payne looks gassed!
Orion is looking to control Payne but Payne is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Payne defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Payne is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Orion is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Popeye Orion just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Orion tries to clinch up but Payne circles away and keeps his distance.
Payne lands with an uppercut that bounces Orion off the cage and back into rage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orion shoots in looking for a takedown. Payne tries to sprawl out of it but Orion keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Payne manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Orion throws a series of punches but Payne moves out of range.
Orion moves out of range of the leg kick from Payne.
Orion tries to clinch up.
Payne misses with a takedown attempt
and Orion counters with a two punch combo.
Orion clinches but Payne breaks the clinch
and Payne counters with a right hand to the body.
Payne wants to slow Orion down by chopping away at his legs.
Payne tries to close the distance and clinch but Orion swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Orion tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Orion throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Payne.
Payne lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Orion lands a jab to Payne's midsection.

Orion closes the distance and clinches.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Orion is trying to stall.

Orion breaks the clinch.
Payne blocks the body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Orion looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Horrible takedown by Payne or perhaps it was just good defense by Orion which made him look bad.
Popeye Orion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Payne.

Orion takes the fight into the clinch.
Payne tries for a takedown. No joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Popeye Orion dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Orion.

Payne forces Orion back against the cage and clinches.
Orion has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Payne avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Orion pulls guard effortlessly.
Orion keeping moving, preventing Payne from controlling successfully.
Orion wants to get back to his feet but Payne is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Payne trying to control but Orion is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orion avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Orion looking to control.
Orion preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Orion looking for a sweep. Not yet Orion, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

and Orion counters with a takedown into side control.
Orion is looking to take a break and control but Payne is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Payne wants to get back to his feet.
Payne is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Orion is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Orion unloading with bombs!
Orion trying to control but Payne is having none of it.
Orion looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orion moves to back control.
Orion is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Will Orion go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orion is not going to allow Payne to sit and survive in this position.
You can see the frustration on Payne's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Orion trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Payne fending off the submission attempt from Orion.
I really don't envy Payne right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Orion trying to control.
Payne trying to control the action but Orion just sinks the hooks in.
Will Orion go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Payne turns into Orion and is now in his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Payne postures up in Orion's guard and throws a big left but Orion blocks it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Payne shoots for a double leg takedown but Orion sprawls well. He's pushed Payne's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Orion fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Popeye Orion dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Payne shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Orion as he avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Orion as Payne shoots in.
Payne misses with a takedown
and Orion counters with a series of strikes. Payne will be more careful next time no doubt.
Popeye Orion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Payne.
Orion lands with an uppercut that bounces Payne off the cage and back into rage.
Payne looks to clinch
and Orion counters with a two punch combo.
Payne circles away from the clinch attempt.

Orion moves into range and clinches up with Payne.
A short right from Payne.
Orion lands a nice uppercut.
Orion misses with a punch to the body.
Orion lands a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Payne tries to score a body lock takedown but Orion shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Orion goes for a takedown in the clinch but Payne prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne with a knee to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Payne.
A short left from Orion.

Payne breaks the clinch.
Payne looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Payne misses with a takedown

and Orion moves into the clinch.
Orion wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Orion prevents the takedown attempt.
Payne tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Orion just stands there and leans against the cage.
Orion doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Payne leaning against his opponent.
Orion takes an elbow to the temple.
Orion tries to pull guard but Payne holds him up against the cage and eventually Orion drops back down to his feet.
Orion has a couple of punches blocked by Payne.
Orion changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Payne fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Orion misses with a takedown attempt - Payne sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Payne drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Orion is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Payne off and has taken his back!
Payne is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Payne is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Payne is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Orion's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Orion keeps control of the position easily here as Payne tries to buck him off.
Orion missing with punches from the back.

Payne defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Orion is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Payne is defending well though. Orion let's go of the attempt for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Orion tries to get the hooks in deep but Payne pushed the leg off.
Orion is really struggling to control Payne but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Orion looking to break Payne's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Payne remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Orion will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Payne is trying to break free.
Payne is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Orion.
Orion trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Popeye Orion showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Orion has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight for Popeye Orion!
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight for Popeye Orion!
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight for Popeye Orion!

Popeye Orion wins by unanimous decision!