PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brendon Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edison Ethier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edison Ethier will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Payne
vs
Ethier

170 cm
19
153 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brendon Payne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Edison Ethier !
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payne shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ethier sprawls well. Ethier wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Payne gets slowly back to his feet.
Ethier throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ethier leaves Payne with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Payne looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Payne missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Payne missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Payne working over Ethier with some ground and pound. Ethier looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Payne not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Payne throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ethier on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Payne thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ethier 's head.
Payne sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ethier defending well though.
Payne prevents Ethier from improving his position.
Ethier is still trying to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne not landing any meaningful shots this time.
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 Ethier 's temple.
Ethier trying to control but Payne postures up.
Ethier is looking to escape.
Payne sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ethier defending well though.
Ethier on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ethier trying to hold on to Payne's head to control him but Payne postures up.
Ethier moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Payne loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne throws an elbow that misses. Ethier uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Payne's guard. Nice move by Ethier !

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Payne tries to strike from the bottom.
Ethier won't allow Payne to sweep him here.
Payne is working hard here to advance position.
Ethier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Payne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Payne trying to strike off his back.
Payne doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ethier wanted to stand there but Payne had control of the position.
Ethier must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ethier wants to control from the top but Payne keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ethier looks to land a combination but Payne avoids it well.
Payne seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Payne changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ethier tries to avoid it but Payne manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ethier to the ground. Ethier escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brendon Payne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ethier misses with a wild combination.
Payne shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ethier but Ethier pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ethier slaps away a takedown attempt from Payne, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ethier tests Payne's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Payne tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ethier sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Payne somewhat.
Payne is breathing heavily.
Ethier cracks Payne with a right hand to the side of the head.

Payne looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ethier moves into full guard.
Payne cracks Ethier with a solid left hand.

Ethier had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Payne defends it easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ethier is on top in guard.

Payne on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Payne tries to get out of the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Payne trying to strike off his back.
Payne scores with a nice shot.
Payne will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Ethier looking to pass the guard.
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 Brendon Payne will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ethier throws a right and a left that both miss.
Payne looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ethier throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No joy there for Ethier , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ethier will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ethier connects with a right hand. Payne shakes it off.
Payne keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Payne shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice takedown defense from Ethier . No joy for Payne on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brendon Payne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ethier lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Payne circles away quickly and effectively.
Payne shoots in for a takedown but Ethier shows good takedown defense.
Ethier drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Payne defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ethier throws a right and a left that Payne avoids nicely.
Ethier stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ethier wants it to stay on the feet.
Ethier swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ethier scores with a nice head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ethier misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Payne shoots in for a takedown but Ethier shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Payne takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ethier lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ethier .
Edison Ethier seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Payne changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ethier looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Payne tries to advance to mount but Ethier denies him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ethier tries to improve position but can't.
Payne cracks Ethier with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ethier tries to buck Payne off but Payne is having none of it.
Payne scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ethier to see if he's OK.
Payne scores with punches from side control.
Ethier taking punishment in the form of punches.
Ethier is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne scores with punches from side control.
Ethier taking a bit of punishment here - Payne scoring with strikes.
Payne cracks Ethier with a big elbow.
Payne looks up at the clock and then as Ethier takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Payne smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Payne working the head and body with strikes.
Payne creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Ethier throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Ethier wants to control but Payne postures up.
Payne working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Payne working the head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ethier tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Payne working the ground and pound from side control.
Payne working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Payne is putting a hurting on Ethier here, landing some big shots from side control.
Brendon Payne overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Payne cracks Ethier with a big right hand but Ethier just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Ethier takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Ethier is looking to reverse the position.
Ethier takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Payne lands a decent elbow from side control.
Ethier tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Payne lands a decent elbow from side control.
Payne in side control lands a decent elbow.
Ethier is working to avoid the ground and pound but Payne connects with a decent elbow.
Ethier is looking for a sweep.
Ethier is trying to control Payne's posture but Payne avoids it.
Ethier takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ethier takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Brendon Payne will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Payne misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ethier swings for the body but Payne moves out of range.
Ethier scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ethier lands an overhand right.
Payne dodges the punch combination from Ethier .
Ethier misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Payne avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ethier misses with the combination.
Ethier throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Payne shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ethier but Ethier pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ethier tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ethier takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ethier looks to score with a jab to the body but Payne is just out of range.
Payne fires out a quick counter leg kick but Ethier just manages to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Payne throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ethier 's waist but Ethier gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Payne off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brendon Payne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ethier is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Payne.
Payne is looking for a counter combo.

Payne shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Payne was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ethier is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Payne's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Payne grinds an elbow into Ethier 's temple.
Payne cracks Ethier with a big elbow.
Payne landing a few strikes.
Check out the look on Payne's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Payne working the head with strikes.
Payne connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ethier some visible discomfort.
Payne working the ground and pound from side control.
Ethier takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Ethier taking a bit of punishment here - Payne scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne lands a nice forearm strike.
Ethier takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Payne scores with punches from side control.
Ethier can't do much from the bottom here.
Ethier is trying to buck Payne off.
Payne in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Payne lands a few punches from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ethier takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Payne working the body and head with strikes.
Payne looks up at the clock and then as Ethier takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Payne smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne is putting a hurting on Ethier here, landing some big shots from side control.
Payne working the ground and pound from side control.
Ethier is working to avoid the ground and pound but Payne connects with a decent elbow.
Ethier takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Payne scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ethier to see if he's OK.
Payne scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ethier to see if he's OK.
Payne is putting a hurting on Ethier here, landing some big shots from side control.
Ethier is trying to improve his position.
Payne scoring with punches from side control.
Ethier is looking to reverse the position.
Payne landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Ethier takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Payne cracks Ethier with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ethier tries to improve position but can't.
Ethier takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Payne is chipping away with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Payne is working Ethier over with some ground and pound from side control.
Ethier takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Ethier on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brendon Payne showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Payne, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight for Brendon Payne!
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Brendon Payne!
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight for Brendon Payne!

Brendon Payne wins by unanimous decision!