PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lance Uppercut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mason
vs
Uppercut

178 cm
23
181 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

177 cm
26
178 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

O'Brannigan's Fightwear
Firebird Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Craig Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lance Uppercut!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Uppercut shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Uppercut missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Uppercut looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mason wants to get back to his feet.
Mason taking some punishment here, with Uppercut in his half guard.
Uppercut works his way into side control.
I wouldn't like to be where Mason is right now.

Uppercut tries for a kimura but Mason is defending well.
Mason tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Uppercut wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason struggling a bit here.
Uppercut wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mason keeps working.

Uppercut goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Mason has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Uppercut but great work by Mason.
Uppercut is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Mason is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Mason jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Uppercut is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Uppercut and Mason has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Mason throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

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.
Uppercut is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mason off and has taken his back!
Uppercut misses with a punch to the head.
Uppercut misses with a punch to the head.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Uppercut is working the ground and pound. Can Mason escape?
Uppercut trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Mason tries to break free.

Uppercut is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Mason defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Uppercut misses with punches from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uppercut misses with punches from the back.

Uppercut looking for the choke from the back.
Mason staying busy and making it hard for Uppercut to control.
Mason trying to control the hands but Uppercut won't let him.
Mason covering up well and avoiding damage.

Uppercut has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Mason has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Mason covering up well under a series of strikes from Uppercut.

That's four 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.
Mason manages to reverse the position and now he's in Uppercut's guard. Nice work there by Mason.
Uppercut keeping moving, preventing Mason from controlling successfully.
Uppercut keeping full guard, as Mason tries to pass.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Uppercut shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mason is trying to defend but Uppercut finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Uppercut thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Uppercut dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mason scores with a three punch combo!
Mason throws a big shot that misses.
Craig Mason seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Uppercut swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mason counters with a slapping leg kick.
A jab from Mason misses.
Mason checks the leg kick.
Mason looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Uppercut has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Uppercut fails with a takedown attempt.
Uppercut throws a looping overhand right but Mason ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uppercut takes a swing at Mason's ribcage but misses.
A combination from Mason does no damage.
Craig Mason is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Uppercut thows a left - swing and a miss!
Craig Mason is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mason throws a right hand that Uppercut ducks under and follows up with a left that Uppercut also avoids with ease.
Mason throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Uppercut counters with a nice leg kick.
Uppercut misses with a low kick.
Mason misses with a jab to the body
and Uppercut counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

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.
Mason misses with a leg kick
and Uppercut counters with a straight right hand.
A combination from Mason does no damage.
Uppercut misses with a kick to the body.
Mason misses with a wild combination.
Mason falls off balance throwing a combination

and Uppercut counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Uppercut.
Uppercut misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mason.

Uppercut escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mason misses with a low kick.
A punch lands to the side of Mason 's head but he takes it in his stride.

It looks like Craig Mason has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Mason ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Uppercut moves away.
Uppercut pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Uppercut thuds a left hand into Mason's body.
Some bone on bone action there as Uppercut checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Uppercut scores with a punch to the head.
Mason slips under a jab from Uppercut.
Uppercut misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason throws and low kick but Uppercut moves out of range easily.
Craig Mason is winning the standup battle so far.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mason. That's going to slow Uppercut down.
Mason throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mason throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mason misses with a series of wild punches.
Uppercut scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mason just misses with a punch to the body.
Mason throws a predictable looking body shot
and Uppercut counters with a leg kick.
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 Craig Mason will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Craig Mason's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Uppercut slips a jab and a cross from Mason.
Mason on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Uppercut smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Uppercut throws out a powerful jab.
Good exchange - Mason coming out on top.
Mason feints and then cracks Uppercut's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Uppercut down.
Uppercut steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mason.
Uppercut ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mason moves away.
Mason takes a swing at Uppercut's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason throws a leg kick but Uppercut moved away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mason.
Uppercut throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Uppercut walks into a straight right hand from Mason.
Mason throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Uppercut.
Uppercut feints and then cracks Mason's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mason down.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mason swings for the body but Uppercut moves out of range.
Uppercut throws an overhand right that lands on Mason's shoulder, as Mason tries to avoid the shot.
Mason just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Mason misses.
Uppercut darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Mason throws a combination that misses
and Uppercut counters with a series of strikes. Mason will be more careful next time no doubt.
Uppercut displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mason throws out the jab.
Mason throws a left and a right that both miss
and Uppercut counters with a series of strikes. Mason will be more careful next time no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Uppercut works the jab nicely.
Uppercut has his takedown stuffed
and Mason counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uppercut slips a straight right by Mason.
Uppercut checks the leg kick.
Uppercut avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mason throws a sloppy body shot
and Uppercut makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Uppercut takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Uppercut takes one on the button.
The fight stays on the outside here - Uppercut looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Uppercut moves out of range as Mason strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uppercut is looking to clinch.
Mason throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Uppercut sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mason throws a combination that misses

and Uppercut counters with a single leg into guard. Mason didn't expect that.
Uppercut postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Uppercut trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Uppercut chips away with some ground and pound.
Uppercut throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Uppercut has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Uppercut postures up in Mason's guard and throws a big left but Mason blocks it.
Uppercut passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Uppercut in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lance Uppercut comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Uppercut 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Lance Uppercut!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Lance Uppercut!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Lance Uppercut!

Lance Uppercut wins by unanimous decision!