PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Ligander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Masato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ligander
vs
Masato

190 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Ligander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manny Masato!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ligander slips a jab and a cross from Masato.
Ligander pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ligander doesn't manage to clinch there - Masato circles away.
A head kick misses from Ligander.
Ligander avoids the head kick by Masato.

Masato has closed the distance and engaged Ligander in a clinch.
Masato tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Masato breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ligander scores with a crisp jab that stopped Masato in his tracks.
Ligander closes the distance but Masato moves to the side
and Masato counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Masato forces Ligander back against the cage and clinches.
Ligander throws an elbow that misses.
Ligander throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Masato breaks from the clinch.
Ligander avoids the head kick by Masato.

Masato closes the distance and clinches.
Ligander wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Masato blocks an elbow strike.
Ligander throws an elbow that misses.
Ligander looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ligander pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ligander is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Masato is keeping busy.

Masato breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masato tries to clinch up.

Ligander tries to keep at a distance but Masato has taken the fight into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Masato creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ligander's defenses.

It looks like Frank Ligander has been cut.
Ligander is trying to break free.
Ligander misses with an elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ligander.
Ligander throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Masato breaks the clinch.

Masato moves into the clinch.
Ligander pushes off an throws an elbow but Masato leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Masato avoids a wild elbow strike from Ligander.
Ligander looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ligander avoids a wild elbow strike from Masato.
Masato takes an elbow to the forehead.
Masato blocks an elbow strike from Ligander.
Ligander takes an elbow to the temple.
Ligander takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ligander misses with an elbow strike.
Ligander lands an elbow inside that Masato shrugs off.

Masato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ligander throws a head kick that misses

and Masato holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Masato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Masato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ligander closes the distance and clinches.
Masato blocks an elbow strike from Ligander.
Ligander has had enough of the clinch but Masato keeps him there for the moment.
Masato gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Masato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Masato is looking to clinch but Ligander is avoiding it.
Ligander feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Masato's calf.
Ligander throws a sloppy head kick

and Masato holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ligander pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Masato blocks the elbow strike.
Masato avoids a wild elbow strike from Ligander.
Ligander stalling in the clinch but Masato improves position.

Masato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ligander throws a head kick but Masato moves out of range.
Ligander is breathing heavily.
Ligander tries to clinch

and Masato moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Ligander's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Masato avoids a wild elbow strike from Ligander.

Masato breaks the clinch.
Masato pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ligander is out of range and Masato settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ligander tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Masato uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ligander.
Ligander throws a sloppy head kick
and Masato counters with a straight right hand.
Masato fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ligander manages to avoid it.
Ligander throws a head kick that misses

and Masato moves into the clinch.
Masato dodges an elbow strike from Ligander.
Ligander wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Masato lands an elbow inside that Ligander shrugs off.

Frank Ligander's cut is getting worse.
Masato avoids a wild elbow strike from Ligander.

Masato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Masato tries a head kick but it misses.
Ligander is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ligander throws a head kick but Masato moves out of range.
Masato throws a series of punches but Ligander avoids them all with ease.
Masato just misses with a punch to the body.
Ligander throws a lazy head kick

and Masato counters by moving into the clinch.
Ligander wants to break free but Masato has control.
Masato tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masato tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ligander avoids it.

Masato breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Masato has managed to clinch.
Ligander is trying to force a seperation but Masato has the dominant position.
Ligander pushes off an throws an elbow but Masato leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Masato takes an elbow to the temple.

Masato breaks from the clinch.
Masato circles away from the clinch attempt
and Masato counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ligander tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ligander pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Masato moves into the clinch.
Masato blocks an elbow strike from Ligander.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ligander misses with an elbow strike.

Masato breaks from the clinch.
A head kick by Ligander misses
and Masato counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Masato looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Masato clinches but Ligander breaks the clinch
and Ligander counters with a good low kick that Masato was not able to check.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Masato dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frank Ligander's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ligander pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ligander misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Frank Ligander seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ligander swats away the attempt to clinch by Masato.
Ligander scores with a head kick.
Ligander throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ligander pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ligander tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Masato misses with a head kick.
Masato doesn't manage to clinch there - Ligander circles away.
Ligander tries a head kick but it misses.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Masato in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

Masato pushes Ligander up against the cage in a clinch.
Masato with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nice elbow from Masato.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Masato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Masato has managed to clinch.
Ligander misses with an elbow strike.
Masato unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ligander is trying to break the clinch but Masato is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ligander managing to block the knees to the body from Masato.
Ligander wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masato has him pressed against the cage.

Masato manages to break the clinch.
Ligander tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Masato cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Masato misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ligander lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Masato looks to land a combination but Ligander avoids it well.
Ligander misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ligander throws a sloppy head kick and Masato moves out of range easily.
Masato moves in looking to clinch but Ligander pushes him off.
Ligander tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ligander blocks a head kick by Masato.
Ligander cracks the inside of Masato's front leg.
Ligander throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch but Ligander swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Masato takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ligander swats away the attempt to clinch by Masato.
Ligander throws a leg kick which misses Masato's front leg but catches the back leg as Masato tries to avoid it.
Masato doesn't manage to clinch there - Ligander circles away.
Ligander slips a jab from Masato.
Ligander misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ligander misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ligander throws a nice head kick!
Ligander pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manny Masato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Masato fails with an attempt to clinch.

Masato closes the distance and clinches.
Ligander pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Masato avoids a wild elbow strike from Ligander.
Masato looking to throw knees to the head but Ligander is blocking nicely.
Ligander throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Ligander throws an elbow but it misses.
Ligander misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masato blocks the elbow strike.
Ligander is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Masato lands an elbow inside.
Ligander has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Masato avoids the elbow strike from Ligander, against the cage.
Ligander managing to block the knees to the body from Masato.
Ligander wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masato has him pressed against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ligander.
Ligander looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Masato takes an elbow to the temple.
Ligander misses with an elbow over the top.
Masato using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ligander has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ligander wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Masato lands a knee to the body.
Masato lands an elbow inside.

Masato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Masato looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Masato closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ligander comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Masato keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ligander's efforts to push away.
Masato throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ligander blocks it with crossed arms.
Masato comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ligander wants to get back to striking at distance but Masato won't allow it.
Ligander throws an elbow that misses.
Ligander misses with an elbow strike.
Masato keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ligander's efforts to push away.
Masato avoids the elbow strike from Ligander, against the cage.
Masato dodges an elbow strike from Ligander.
Ligander takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ligander pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Masato takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ligander wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Masato tries to land a knee to the head but Ligander blocks with his arms.
Ligander can't break the clinch.
Ligander is trying to stall.
Masato keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ligander's efforts to push away.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ligander just misses with a elbow thrown towards Masato's brow.
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 Frank Ligander will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Frank Ligander's cut.
That's time! Ligander's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ligander misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick by Ligander misses

and Masato counters by clinching up.
Masato avoids a wild elbow strike from Ligander.
Ligander throws an elbow but it misses.
Ligander is looking to control Masato's arms but Masato gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ligander has his back to the cage.
Ligander creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Masato.

Masato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Masato avoids the head kick by Ligander.

Masato gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Masato connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ligander's face.
Ligander is trying to stall.
Masato lands a nice knee to the body.
Masato misses with a knee strike.
Ligander pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Masato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Masato rushes Ligander and presses him up against the cage.
Masato lands a good knee to the midsection. Ligander won't want to take too many of those.
Masato connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ligander's face.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ligander is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ligander throws an elbow that misses.
Masato lands an elbow just above Ligander 's eye.
Ligander working hard to break the clinch.
Masato with a knee to the head.
Masato lands a nice knee to the body.
Masato scores a nice knee to the body.
Masato scores with a knee to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ligander throws an elbow but misses.
Ligander looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Masato blocks an elbow strike from Ligander.
Manny Masato seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Masato gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Masato lands an elbow inside that Ligander shrugs off.

Masato escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ligander throws a sloppy head kick
and Masato counters with a head kick. That will keep Ligander thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ligander avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick by Ligander misses

and Masato counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Masato.
Ligander wants to break free but Masato has control.

Masato manages to break the clinch.
Ligander closes the distance but Masato moves to the side

and Masato counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ligander wants to break free but Masato has control.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ligander just misses with a elbow thrown towards Masato's brow.
Masato lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ligander creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ligander is looking to break free of the clinch but Masato has double underhooks.
Ligander pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ligander.
Ligander can't break the clinch.

Masato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ligander throws a sloppy head kick and Masato moves out of range easily.

Masato moves into the clinch.

Masato escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Masato tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ligander pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Masato moves in looking to clinch but Ligander pushes him off.
Ligander throws a sloppy head kick and Masato moves out of range easily.
Masato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ligander lands a head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ligander keeps the fight on the outside.
Ligander fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Masato rushes Ligander and presses him up against the cage.
Ligander lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Ligander misses with an elbow strike.
Ligander misses with an elbow over the top.
Ligander pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Masato misses with a knee to the head.
Ligander lands an elbow that stopped Masato in his tracks for a moment.
Ligander is looking to break free of the clinch but Masato has double underhooks.
Ligander pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ligander wants to get back to striking at distance but Masato won't allow it.
Ligander is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ligander managing to block the knees to the body from Masato.
With the fighters up against the cage, Masato throws an elbow but misses.
Ligander pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Masato trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ligander.
Ligander has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Masato escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ligander throws a head kick but Masato moves out of range.

Masato instigates a clinch.

Masato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Masato misses with a head kick.
Ligander throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Masato misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ligander throws a sloppy head kick

and Masato holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Masato avoids a wild elbow strike from Ligander.
Ligander takes a knee to the side of the body.
Ligander pushes off an throws an elbow but Masato leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Masato using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ligander throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Masato breaks from the clinch.
Ligander lets loose with a powerful body kick. Masato will feel that in the morning.
Masato throws a head kick that misses
and Ligander counters with a flying knee. Nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Masato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Masato has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Masato!