PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between the payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bendigo Ketchal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ketchal has chosen Happy Birthday as his entrance music. the payne has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

payne
vs
Ketchal

200 cm
23
130 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, the payne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bendigo Ketchal!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
payne will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
payne lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
payne throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ketchal.
Ketchal drops his hands momentarily and payne takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
payne digs a good hook to Ketchal's body.
payne throws a series of punches but Ketchal avoids them all with ease.

Ketchal decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ketchal not doing much here.

payne actively working from the bottom here.
payne is trying to stand.
Ketchal seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
payne looks like he's trying to stand up.

Ketchal is working for a kimura but payne is defending it quite comfortably.
payne is trying to get back to full guard.
Ketchal controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
I looks like Ketchal might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bendigo Ketchal just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ketchal has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from payne finds it's way round the side to connect with Ketchal's head.
payne misses with a wild combination.
A slow jab from payne misses its intended target.
A jab lands there for payne.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
payne misses with a series of wild punches.
payne lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ketchal backs up against the cage.
the payne is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
payne lands a jab.

Ketchal closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Still in half guard, Ketchal seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bendigo Ketchal just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
payne misses with a two punch combination.
Ketchal on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
payne is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Ketchal takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
payne scores with a punch to the head.
Ketchal slips under a jab.
payne moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ketchal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but payne moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
payne fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ketchal walks into a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

the payne dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ketchal has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ketchal there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ketchal uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from payne.
Ketchal fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from payne does no damage.

Ketchal has closed the distance and engaged payne in a clinch.
payne really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
payne wants to break the clinch but can't.
payne is looking to break free of the clinch but Ketchal has double underhooks.

Ketchal works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Ketchal is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
payne will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
payne wants to stand but Ketchal is controlling the position.
Ketchal is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

payne had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ketchal is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. payne Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ketchal's back instead.
Ketchal trying to control the action but payne just sinks the hooks in.
payne is trying to stick to Ketchal's back but Ketchal is turning into payne. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in payne's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ketchal.
payne keeping moving, preventing Ketchal from controlling successfully.
Ketchal is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ketchal trying to control but payne is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bendigo Ketchal just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ketchal tries to clinch but payne moves out of range.
payne falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ketchal counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
payne being controlled here, momentarily.
Ketchal trying to control but payne is working from the bottom.
payne tries to land a sweep but no joy.
payne keeping moving, preventing Ketchal from controlling successfully.
payne wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Ketchal manages to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ketchal takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
payne is trying to get back to full guard.
payne taking some punishment here, with Ketchal in his half guard.
Ketchal is taking a breather. payne says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ketchal landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four 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 is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ketchal performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
payne is trying to stand.
Ketchal is taking a breather. payne says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
payne wants to get back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ketchal in particular looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bendigo Ketchal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

payne scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
payne throws a series of punches but Ketchal avoids them all with ease.
payne tries to bum rush Ketchal with a series of wild strikes but Ketchal uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ketchal ducks under a wild hook from payne.
payne connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ketchal. Ketchal circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ketchal takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
payne misses with the combination.
Ketchal uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from payne.
payne misses with a combination

and Ketchal moves into the clinch.
Ketchal prevents payne from breaking the clinch.

Ketchal decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

payne stands up and waves to Ketchal to follow him.
Ketchal ducks under a wild hook from payne.

That's one minute gone in the round.
payne misses with a few strikes there.
the payne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ketchal tries to clinch but payne moves out of range.
Ketchal avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
payne loads up on a big right hand but Ketchal slips the punch.
Ketchal moves out of range as payne strikes.
payne throws a right and a left that Ketchal avoids nicely.
payne throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ketchal counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ketchal scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ketchal controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ketchal postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ketchal content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ketchal wants to control from the top but payne keeps moving.
Ketchal in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
payne can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ketchal controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ketchal stopping the sweep attempt from payne.
payne can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ketchal controls the pace.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bendigo Ketchal just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ketchal lands a two punch combo.
Ketchal tries to clinch up but payne circles away and keeps his distance.

Ketchal rushes payne and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ketchal can't get the takedown.
payne blocks the elbow strike.
payne wants to get back to striking at distance but Ketchal won't allow it.
payne can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

payne pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Decent striking displayed by payne there.
Jab, jab by payne - just one landing.
payne is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ketchal.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by payne.
payne throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ketchal.
Ketchal on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
payne scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
payne lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ketchal circles away quickly and effectively.
Ketchal moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ketchal avoids the body shot from payne.
Ketchal slips a jab and a cross from payne.
payne throws a right and a left that both miss.
payne falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ketchal counters by clinching up.
Ketchal lands with a light punch inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bendigo Ketchal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ketchal has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bendigo Ketchal!