PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manny Masato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phenom Lam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phenom Lam has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Masato
vs
Lam

190 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

194 cm
21
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manny Masato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Phenom Lam!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Masato forces Lam back against the cage and clinches.
Masato connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lam's face.

It looks like Phenom Lam has been cut.
Masato landing knees to the head.
Masato lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Masato throws a knee to the head but misses.
Masato lands a nice knee to the body.
Masato comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Masato tries a knee to the head but Lam blocks it.
Masato using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lam has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Masato lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Masato connects with a knee to the head.
Masato is pressed up against the cage. Lam has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Masato down to the mat. Masato avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lam.

Masato darts in and clinches Lam up against the cage.

Masato breaks the clinch.
Masato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lam keeps the fight on the outside.
Lam changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Masato tries to avoid it but Lam manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Masato to the ground. Masato escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Manny Masato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phenom Lam.

Masato gets a clinch.
Masato tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lam is looking to break free of the clinch but Masato has double underhooks.
Masato utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Lam looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masato landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Masato breaks from the clinch.
Masato thuds a left hand into Lam's body.
Masato wants to clinch.
Lam tries to clinch up.
Lam takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Masato moves in looking to clinch but Lam pushes him off.

Masato clinches up with Lam and pushes him back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Masato.
Masato lands a good knee to the midsection. Lam won't want to take too many of those.
Masato lands a knee to the head.
Masato crunches a lovely knee into Lam's ribcage.
Masato working Lam over with knees to the body.
Masato landing knees to the head.
Masato creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lam's defenses.
Masato connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lam's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masato with a knee to the head.
Masato with a knee to the head.
Masato lands an elbow inside.
Masato is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Masato lands a good knee to the midsection. Lam won't want to take too many of those.
Lam is working for takedown but Masato is calmly controlling the position for now.
A knee to the head by Masato.
Lam tries to break free but Masato pushes him back against the cage.
Masato prevents Lam from breaking the clinch.

Masato breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Masato. No joy for Lam on that attempt.
Masato throws a big shot that misses.
Lam avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lam is trying hard to land a takedown here. Masato sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Manny Masato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Masato takes the fight into the clinch.
Lam tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masato prevents Lam from breaking the clinch.
Masato is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Lam wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lam tries to circle away but Masato has him pinned against the cage.
Masato connects with a knee to the head.
Masato throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lam blocks it with crossed arms.
Masato is pressed up against the cage. Lam has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Masato down to the mat. Masato avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Masato pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lam throws a head kick but Masato moves out of range.
A left and a right from Lam both land. Nice combination.
Masato is looking to clinch but Lam is avoiding it.
Masato goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Masato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Lam bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Lam is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Masato is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masato prevents Lam from improving position.
Lam moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
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 Phenom Lam's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Masato keeps the fight on the outside.
Masato 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.
Lam swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Masato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch but Lam swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Masato displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lam.
Masato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lam looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lam.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lam wants to clinch up but Masato keeps it at a distance.
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lam swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Masato wants to clinch up but Lam keeps it at a distance.
Lam is breathing heavily.
Lam looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Masato is fending him off so far but Lam persists. Nope, Masato circles away and we're back to standing.
Manny Masato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phenom Lam.

Masato has Lam up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lam is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Masato is keeping busy.
Masato tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Masato obliges.
Knees to the body from Masato.
Masato landing knees to the head.
Masato tries a knee to the head but Lam blocks it.
Masato creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lam's defenses.
Lam tries to pull guard but Masato holds him up against the cage and eventually Lam drops back down to his feet.

Masato manages to break the clinch.
Masato wants to clinch.
Masato looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lam closes the distance and clinches up with Masato, looking for a takedown. Lam pushes Masato against the cage but Masato circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lam shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Masato sprawls well. Masato wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lam gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Masato forces Lam back against the cage and clinches.

Masato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Masato lands with a slapping head kick.
Lam wants to clinch.
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lam swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Masato closes the distance and pushes Lam back into the cage.
Lam tries to break the clinch but Masato is controlling the position.
Masato lands an elbow inside that Lam shrugs off.
Masato using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lam has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Masato has Lam pressed against the cage, preventing Lam from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lam is trying to drag Masato to the mat but Masato just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Masato utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masato with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lam is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Masato tries to land a knee to the head but Lam blocks with his arms.
Lam wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lam is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Masato is defending well for now.
Lam can't break the clinch.

Masato breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Masato throws a combination that misses
and Masato takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Manny Masato is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lam shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Masato defends it nicely.
Lam shoots in for a double leg but Masato sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lam takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lam moves out of range as Masato strikes.

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.
Masato throws a wild body kick that Lam sees coming a mile off.
Lam fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lam avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Manny Masato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Masato has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lam is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Masato is keeping busy.
Manny Masato has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Masato misses with a knee strike.
Masato landing knees to the head.
Lam fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lam with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lam takes a knee right on the jaw!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Masato lands a knee to the head.
Masato tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lam is trying to drag Masato to the mat but Masato just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Masato dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Phenom Lam's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Masato pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lam will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lam misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Masato clinches.
Masato lands a knee to the head.
Masato lands a knee to the head.
Lam trying to control the position but instead, Masato has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lam into the cage.
Lam takes an elbow to the temple.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lam takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Masato obliges.
Masato is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Lam managing to block the knees to the body from Masato.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Masato keeps control of Lam as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lam fails to pull guard.
Manny Masato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phenom Lam.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masato throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lam blocks it with crossed arms.
Lam is trying to break the clinch but Masato is controlling him.
Lam wants to stall.
Masato landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Masato connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lam's face.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lam just misses with a elbow thrown towards Masato's brow.
Lam wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lam working hard to break the clinch.
Masato with a knee to the head.
Masato looking to throw knees to the head but Lam is blocking nicely.
Lam wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lam looking to slow down the pace here.
Masato lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Masato comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Masato displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lam.
Masato explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Masato takes the fight into the clinch.

Masato breaks the clinch.
Good shot there by Lam.
Lam fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Masato is looking to clinch but Lam is avoiding it.
Nice uppercut lands for Lam. That snapped Masato's head back.
Lam tries to clinch up but Masato circles away and keeps his distance.
Masato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lam with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lam shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Masato pinned against the cage. Masato gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Masato rushes Lam and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lam tries to pull guard but Masato won't allow it.
Masato with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Masato lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Masato tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lam avoids it.
Lam dodges an elbow strike from Masato.
Lam is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Masato is keeping busy.
Lam is looking to break free of the clinch but Masato has double underhooks.
Manny Masato is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lam tries to pull guard but Masato holds him up against the cage and eventually Lam drops back down to his feet.
Masato scores with a knee to the head.
Lam wants to break free but Masato has control.
Masato throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lam blocks it with crossed arms.
Lam tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Masato smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lam shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Masato defends it nicely.

Masato instigates a clinch.
Lam trying to stall but Masato improves his position.
Masato with a knee to the head.
Masato is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lam can do to turn this around?
Masato tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lam avoids it.
Lam avoiding damage as Masato throws knees to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lam. Masato does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lam throws the kick towards the body but Masato avoids it.
Masato doesn't manage to clinch there - Lam circles away.
Lam fails with a takedown attempt.
Phenom Lam has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lam has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Masato finds it's way round the side to connect with Lam's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Masato showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Masato, 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

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