PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Payton Wright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cory Deegan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Deegan has chosen Land of Confusion as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Cory Deegan enters the cage!

Wright
vs
Deegan

172 cm
40
164 lbs
34 - 19 - 2

177 cm
31
167 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 19 - 2, fighting out of London, Payton Wright!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cory Deegan!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Deegan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wright.
Deegan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Deegan moves forwards but Wright connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Deegan scores with a leg kick.
Deegan blocks a head kick by Wright.
Deegan sizes up Wright with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

It looks like Payton Wright has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Deegan. Those never looked like landing.
Deegan scores with a nice strike.
Wright looks to throw the jab but Deegan is out of range.

Deegan has closed the distance and engaged Wright in a clinch.
Wright misses with the head strike.

Deegan turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Deegan manages to end up in side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The ground and pound from Deegan seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Wright is looking to reverse the position.
Wright takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Wright is trying to buck Deegan off.
Wright tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Deegan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Wright is trying to control Deegan's posture but Deegan avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deegan lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Wright is looking for a sweep.
Deegan lands a nice forearm strike.
Deegan prevents Wright from escaping the position.
Wright is looking to reverse the position.
Deegan working away.
Wright is not content to let Deegan control the position.
Deegan landing a few strikes.
Wright takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Deegan wants to take a breather but Wright manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Deegan.
Wright is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Deegan controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Deegan looking for submissions off his back.
Deegan is trying to stand up here but Wright is controlling him well.
We've been hearing good reports from Wright's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Deegan is pressing down on Wright's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Deegan keeping moving, preventing Wright from controlling successfully.

Deegan scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Wright looks to land a left hand but Deegan moved out of range nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wright misses with a double jab.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Wright's jab looks to have found its range, popping Deegan under the eye.
Deegan misses with an attempted mid kick.
Payton Wright is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deegan scores with a crisp jab that stopped Wright in his tracks.
Deegan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wright.
Deegan on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Wright works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Wright lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Deegan circles away quickly and effectively.
Deegan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wright.
Wright moves out of range as Deegan throws a body kick.
Wright misses with a head kick.
Deegan swinging wildly here.
Wright steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Deegan.
Wright throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Deegan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Deegan staying out of range there.
Cory Deegan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab lands there for Wright.
Wright connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Deegan momentarily.
Deegan cracks Wright with an open hand slap.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Deegan, as that shot connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Payton Wright's cut is getting worse.
Good shot there by Wright.
Wright throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Deegan tries to counter with a clinch but Wright shakes him off and moves away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Wright, right into the meat.
Deegan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Deegan tries for a takedown but Wright sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wright throws out a loose jab but Deegan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Deegan moves out of range of the strikes.
Wright throws a head kick but Deegan moves out of range.
Wright throws out a powerful jab.
Wright misses with a straight right.
Wright checks a leg kick nicely.
Wright on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wright tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Deegan is able to avoid easily.
Wright throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Deegan on the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wright throws a looping overhand right but Deegan ducks down to avoid it.
Deegan misses with the combination.
Deegan misses with a head kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Wright misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cory Deegan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Payton Wright's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wright fails to land with a series of punches.
Wright misses the jab.
Wright throws a sloppy head kick and Deegan moves out of range easily.
Wright throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Deegan has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Deegan throws a body shot but no joy.
Wright lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wright throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Deegan.
Deegan appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

Deegan closes the distance and clinches.
Deegan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wright throws a head punch that misses.
Wright misses with a punch to the body.
Deegan blocks an uppercut.
Wright tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Deegan's elbow.
Wright lands a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Deegan putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Wright in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Deegan looking to throw knees to the head but Wright is blocking nicely.
Wright tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Wright swings wildly with an uppercut but Deegan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Deegan lands an elbow inside.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Wright is pressed up against the cage. Deegan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Wright down to the mat. Wright avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A jab from Wright does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deegan lands with a kick to the ribs.
Wright takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nice cross by Wright.
Wright lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Deegan tries to clinch but Wright is having none of it.
Deegan scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Payton Wright is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters circle momentarily. Deegan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Deegan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wright was well out of range. Poor timing from Deegan.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Wright.
Wright throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Wright takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sloppy strikes from Wright. Those never looked like landing.
Wright throws a shot from downtown. Deegan moves away and avoids it.
Nice defenses there by Deegan.
Jab, jab by Deegan - just one landing.

Wright is rocked!

Payton Wright's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Deegan with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Deegan cracks Wright with a hook to the temple - Wright is on wobbly legs here! Deegan swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Wright falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Deegan wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Cory Deegan!
Cory Deegan is the new lightweight champion!
A relieved looking Cory Deegan thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Payton Wright was interviewed post fight and said 'Thinking of retiring, ill let the fans know how i feel after my recovery from this '.