PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gordon Masten (ranked 5103 p4p, 4853 weight class) and Januaria Azevedo (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.

Masten
vs
Azevedo

171 cm
18
187
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
188
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gordon Masten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Januaria Azevedo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masten lands with a shot to the body.
A big right from Masten misses.
Masten is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Azevedo.
Azevedo misses with a takedown attempt - Masten sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A little feinted left hand from Masten on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Azevedo or perhaps it was just good defense by Masten, which made it look bad.
Azevedo fails to land with a series of punches.
Azevedo throws a right hand that Masten ducks under and follows up with a left that Masten also avoids with ease.
Gordon Masten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masten lands with a hook. Azevedo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Azevedo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Masten lands a jab.
Masten tries to close the distance and clinch up but Azevedo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Masten fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Azevedo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Masten listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Masten throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
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!
Azevedo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gordon Masten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Januaria Azevedo.
Decent striking displayed by Masten there.
Masten dips to his left and cracks Azevedo with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masten misses with an uppercut. Azevedo saw that one coming.

Azevedo drives through with a takedown into Masten's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Masten manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Azevedo manages to get himself to full guard.

Hammerfist, elbow! yells Masten's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Masten showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Masten throws a big elbow that misses.
Masten passes Azevedo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Masten frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Masten is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Azevedo to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Azevedo shrugs it off.
Masten trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Masten controlling from the full mount.
Masten has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Masten controlling the position easily from mount.

Masten goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Azevedo is on top in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azevedo stopping the sweep attempt from Masten.
Azevedo tries to stand but Masten is controlling from the bottom.
Azevedo won't allow Masten to sweep him here.
Masten is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Still in half guard, Masten seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masten wants to free his trapped foot but Azevedo is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Masten could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Azevedo is refusing to be controlled, as Masten sits in half guard.
Masten winds up and cracks Azevedo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Masten is looking to take a break and control but Azevedo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Masten not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Masten sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Azevedo defending well though.
Azevedo is concentrating on defense, preventing Masten from advancing position.
Masten is just content to waste time from the top position. Azevedo takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Masten throws an elbow that misses. Azevedo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Masten's guard. Nice move by Azevedo!

Masten keeping moving, preventing Azevedo from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masten looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Masten has a closed guard, preventing Azevedo from standing up.
Masten looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Azevedo stopping the sweep attempt from Masten.
Masten is trying to control the position but Azevedo postures up.

Masten is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Azevedo defends well.
Masten tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Azevedo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Azevedo tries to move into full mount but can't pass Masten's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Azevedo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Azevedo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Masten sprawls well. Masten wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Azevedo gets slowly back to his feet.
Masten lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Masten loads up on a big right hand but Azevedo slips the punch.
Masten misses with a looping right.
Azevedo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gordon Masten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Januaria Azevedo.
Masten lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Masten instigates a clinch.
Azevedo can't get the takedown.
Masten doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Azevedo prevents a body shot from Masten.

Azevedo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Masten thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azevedo blocks a jab.
Azevedo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Masten pinned against the cage. Masten gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Azevedo shoots in for a takedown but Masten shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Januaria Azevedo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Azevedo is breathing heavily.
Azevedo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Masten avoids a punch combination nicely.
Masten throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Masten is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Azevedo can do to turn this around?
Masten tests Azevedo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Masten uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Masten misses with an uppercut.
Masten misses with an uppercut.
Azevedo slips a jab from Masten.

Masten clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masten misses with a punch to the body.
Azevedo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Masten has a couple of punches blocked by Azevedo.
Azevedo has had enough of the clinch but Masten keeps him there for the moment.
Masten prevents the takedown attempt.
Masten has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Masten throws a head punch that misses.
Masten throws a punch but it's blocked by Azevedo.
Masten lands a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azevedo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Masten lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short left from Masten.
Azevedo is trying to pull guard but Masten turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Masten lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Masten throws a punch but it's blocked by Azevedo.
Masten lands with a short shot to the head.
Masten jumps guard but Azevedo stands there with Masten around his waist. Masten gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Masten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo is trying to break the clinch but Masten has him pressed against the cage.
Masten tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Azevedo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Masten lands with a left to the head.
Masten lands a left hand.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Masten presses Azevedo against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Masten pushes Azevedo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Masten tries a body shot but Azevedo blocks it.
Masten tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Azevedo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Azevedo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Masten lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Azevedo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Masten digs a good hook to Azevedo's body.
A swing and a miss from Masten.
Azevedo throws a counter combo.
Masten clobbers Azevedo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Azevedo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masten throws a looping overhand right but Azevedo ducks down to avoid it.
Nice shot lands for Masten.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Masten lands a jab.
Azevedo just misses with a punch to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Masten as he connects with a hook.
Azevedo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Masten thuds his right hand into Azevedo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Masten throws the left hand but Azevedo avoids the punch easily.
Masten is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Masten throws a hook to the side of Azevedo's head but Azevedo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Masten scores with a jab to the jaw.
Masten misses with a shot to the body
and Azevedo counters with a left and a right that stings Masten.
Masten swings for the body but Azevedo moves out of range.

Azevedo instigates a clinch.
Masten lands with a short shot to the head.
Azevedo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Masten walks away with a smile on his face. Azevedo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Masten instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gordon Masten dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Donk. Masten catches Azevedo right on the button with a cross.
Masten with a hook.
Masten scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Masten swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Azevedo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Masten defends well and Azevedo ends up having to push Masten into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Masten comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Azevedo slips a straight right by Masten.
Masten throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Masten keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice cross by Masten.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masten fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Azevedo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Masten connects with the punch.
A jab lands there for Masten.
Masten throws a body punch but Azevedo moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azevedo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masten misses with a body shot.
Despite the aggression on Azevedo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Azevedo shoots in but no luck this time.
Gordon Masten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Januaria Azevedo.
Azevedo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Masten with a nice cross.
Azevedo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Masten slips a jab and a cross from Azevedo.
Azevedo on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Masten throws a looping overhand right but Azevedo ducks down to avoid it.
Masten throws a big shot that misses.
Masten swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A jab from Masten finds it's way through Azevedo's defenses.

Masten rushes Azevedo and presses him up against the cage.
Masten gets through Azevedo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Masten misses with a punch on the inside.
Masten swings wildly with an uppercut but Azevedo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Masten throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo prevents a body shot from Masten.
Azevedo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Masten smiles and moves away.
Masten slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
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!
Masten jabs Azevedo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Masten ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Azevedo moves away.
Decent striking displayed by Masten there.
Masten stuns Azevedo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Azevedo walks into a straight right hand from Masten.
Nice uppercut lands for Masten. That snapped Azevedo's head back.
The crowd cheers as Masten lands an impressive looking overhand right. Azevedo doesn't seem phased though.
Azevedo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Masten throws out the jab.
Masten loads up on a big right hand but Azevedo slips the punch.
Masten fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Azevedo manages to avoid it.
Masten connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Masten - just one landing.
Azevedo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Masten takes a swing at Azevedo's ribcage but misses.
Masten lands the left hand.
Azevedo fails with a takedown attempt.
Azevedo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Masten moves into range and connects with a jab.
Azevedo slips a jab from Masten.
Masten loads up on a big right hand but Azevedo slips the punch.
Masten's jab looks to have found its range, popping Azevedo under the eye.
Masten connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gordon Masten is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Masten.
Masten cracks a nice hook into Azevedo's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masten paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Masten fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azevedo dives in and grabs Masten's left leg, looking for a takedown. Masten pushes down on Azevedo's head and hops out.
Azevedo looks to land a body kick but Masten moved away.

Masten clinches up against the cage.
Masten lands a nice uppercut.
Masten tries a body shot but Azevedo blocks it.
Masten fails to pull guard.
Masten tries to throw a body punch but Azevedo avoids it by throwing Masten back against the cage.
Masten misses with some punches.
Masten lands a hook that snaps the head of Azevedo backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Masten fails to land.
Masten lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Masten lands with a light punch inside.
Januaria Azevedo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Azevedo manages to break the clinch.
Azevedo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Masten.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gordon Masten showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Masten 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:26
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:26
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gordon Masten!
Gordon Masten spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.