PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mihkel Voronkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brendon Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Voronkov
vs
Payne

170 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mihkel Voronkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brendon Payne!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payne takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Voronkov shoots for a double leg takedown but Payne sprawls well. He's pushed Voronkov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Payne feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Payne content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Voronkov is pulling down on Payne's head to control his posture.
Voronkov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Payne working some strikes from top position.
Payne throws a big right hand that misses.
Payne loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Payne postures up in Voronkov's guard and throws a big left but Voronkov blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voronkov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Payne throws a big elbow that misses.
Payne has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Voronkov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Payne defends well.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Payne accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Payne accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Payne postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Payne in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Voronkov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Payne can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Voronkov is breathing heavily.
Payne scoring with punches to the head and body.
Payne is looking to work some ground and pound but Voronkov has wrist control.
Payne trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Payne lands a couple of digs.
Payne scoring with some ground and pound.
Payne scoring with some ground and pound.
Payne working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Voronkov's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Payne cracks Voronkov with a solid left hand.
Payne cracks Voronkov with a solid left hand.
Voronkov trying to control the position.
Payne scoring with punches to the head and body.
Payne with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Payne in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Payne is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Payne distracts Voronkov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Payne with a nice head shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Payne postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Payne landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne postures up.
Payne won't allow Voronkov to sweep him here.
Payne works over Voronkov with some ground and pound from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Payne postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Payne's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Payne scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Payne postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Payne scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Voronkov has momentary wrist control but Payne slips an elbow through the middle.
Payne keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Voronkov's head.
Payne lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Payne working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Voronkov has momentary wrist control but Payne slips an elbow through the middle.
Payne stands up over Voronkov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Payne postures up and lands a big shot to Voronkov's brow.
Payne lands a couple of digs.
Payne scoring with punches to the head and body.
Payne postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Payne postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Payne with a nice head shot there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Payne lands a couple of elbows.
Payne chips away with some ground and pound.
Payne working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Voronkov's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brendon Payne dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Payne gets a double leg takedown into Voronkov's guard.
Payne landing with the ground and pound.
Voronkov wants to get back to his feet but Payne is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Payne working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Voronkov's head.

Voronkov is rocked!
Payne is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Voronkov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Payne.
Payne landing some decent shots from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payne postures up and lands a big shot to Voronkov's brow.
Oh Voronkov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Payne won't allow Voronkov to get back to his feet.
Voronkov seems to have got his legs back now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Payne cracks Voronkov with a solid left hand.
Payne scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Payne throws a big elbow that misses.
Payne landing some decent shots from guard.
Payne is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Payne with a flurry of punches that miss.
Voronkov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Payne postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Payne works over Voronkov with some ground and pound from guard.
Payne throws a big elbow that misses.
Voronkov wants to sweep here but Payne controlling him for the moment.
Payne postures up and lands a big shot to Voronkov's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Payne is working Voronkov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Payne works over Voronkov with some ground and pound from guard.
Payne is in close to Voronkov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Brendon Payne has got the better of the ground game so far.
Payne makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Payne is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Payne lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Payne's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Payne stands up over Voronkov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Payne stands up over Voronkov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Payne lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne is working Voronkov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Voronkov looking for a sweep. Not yet Voronkov, not yet.
Payne postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Payne lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Payne is working Voronkov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Payne scoring with some ground and pound.
Payne is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Payne has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Voronkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Payne gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Payne is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Payne is in close to Voronkov's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne is working Voronkov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Payne connects with a couple of short punches.
Voronkov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Payne lands a couple of digs.
Payne is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Payne working some strikes from top position.
Payne works over Voronkov with some ground and pound from guard.
Payne distracts Voronkov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Payne is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Voronkov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Payne lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brendon Payne showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Voronkov gets caught flat footed, as Payne shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Voronkov is trying to control the position but Payne postures up.

Voronkov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Payne is working Voronkov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Payne working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Voronkov's head.
Payne postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Voronkov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Payne postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payne landing with the ground and pound.

Voronkov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Payne defends it easily.
Payne content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne works over Voronkov with some ground and pound from guard.
Payne scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Voronkov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Payne working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Voronkov's head.
Payne is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Payne postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Payne keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Voronkov's head.
Payne scoring with some ground and pound.
Payne landing some decent shots from guard.
Payne lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne working some strikes from top position.
Voronkov has momentary wrist control but Payne slips an elbow through the middle.
Payne working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Voronkov's head.
Payne lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Voronkov has momentary wrist control but Payne slips an elbow through the middle.
Payne scoring with some ground and pound.
Voronkov looking to control.
Payne is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Payne working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Payne works over Voronkov with some ground and pound from guard.
Payne with a nice head shot there.
Payne is working Voronkov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voronkov is trying to keep Payne in close.
Payne content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Payne is in close to Voronkov's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Voronkov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Payne's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Voronkov wants to sweep here but Payne controlling him for the moment.
Payne postures up and lands a big shot to Voronkov's brow.
Payne landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Voronkov's head.
Payne is working Voronkov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Payne scoring with some ground and pound.
Payne scoring with punches to the head and body.
Payne lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Payne scoring with some ground and pound.
Payne pushing down on Voronkov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Payne seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Payne connects with a nice short shot to Voronkov's temple.
Voronkov wants to control but Payne is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mihkel Voronkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Payne winds up and cracks Voronkov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brendon Payne comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Payne 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Brendon Payne!
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Brendon Payne!
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Brendon Payne!

Brendon Payne wins by unanimous decision!