PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vinny Mashdein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kami Iakopa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Iakopa's choice of entrance music: Ziggy Marley - Beach in Hawaii. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mashdein
vs
Iakopa

165 cm
25
160 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

185 cm
24
177 lbs
4 - 4 - 1

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vinny Mashdein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Kami Iakopa!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, John Kavanagh and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mashdein swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mashdein closes the distance and clinches up with Iakopa, looking for a takedown. Mashdein pushes Iakopa against the cage but Iakopa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
No joy there for Iakopa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mashdein shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Iakopa as he jumps to the side.

Mashdein fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Iakopa sprawls well initially but Mashdein persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Iakopa gets full guard.
Mashdein loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mashdein with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mashdein content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mashdein sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Iakopa's guard.
Mashdein working over Iakopa with some ground and pound. Iakopa looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Iakopa is looking for a sweep. Mashdein is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Mashdein there.
Iakopa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mashdein's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mashdein's back!
Iakopa slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Mashdein breaks Iakopa's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Mashdein is breathing heavily.
Iakopa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mashdein's guard.
Iakopa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mashdein is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mashdein missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Iakopa gets full guard.
Iakopa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mashdein throws a strike but Iakopa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Iakopa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mashdein keeping moving, preventing Iakopa from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mashdein tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Iakopa slips nicely into half guard.
Iakopa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Iakopa prevents Mashdein from improving his position.
Mashdein gets full guard.
Mashdein trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Iakopa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Iakopa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Iakopa controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mashdein is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Iakopa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kami Iakopa just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Iakopa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mashdein avoids a punch combination nicely.
Iakopa throws a series of punches but Mashdein avoids them all with ease.
Mashdein looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vinny Mashdein. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Iakopa swinging wildly here.
Kami Iakopa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Iakopa lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Iakopa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Iakopa throws a series of punches but Mashdein avoids them all with ease.
Mashdein fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Iakopa avoids it really well and circles away.
Mashdein closes this distance looking for a takedown but Iakopa circles away.
Iakopa's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Iakopa duly obliges.
Iakopa stuffs the takedown.
Iakopa misses with a series of wild punches.
Mashdein falls off balance throwing a combination
and Iakopa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mashdein fails with a takedown attempt.
Danga de danga de dang - Iakopa scores with a four punch combination!
Iakopa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Iakopa lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mashdein backs up against the cage.
Mashdein misses with a wild combination.
Mashdein walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kami Iakopa will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Iakopa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Iakopa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mashdein is trying hard to land a takedown here. Iakopa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Iakopa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Iakopa scores with a three punch combo!
Mashdein closes this distance looking for a takedown but Iakopa circles away.
A punch lands to the side of Mashdein 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Iakopa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mashdein slips a jab and a cross from Iakopa.
A jab lands there for Iakopa.
No joy there for Iakopa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Iakopa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Iakopa stuffs the takedown attempt from Mashdein. Mashdein gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vinny Mashdein. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Danga de danga de dang - Iakopa scores with a four punch combination!
Iakopa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Vinny Mashdein is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Iakopa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Iakopa throws a nice looking combination but Mashdein bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mashdein clinches but Iakopa breaks the clinch
and Iakopa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mashdein has his takedown stuffed
letting Iakopa counter with a right hand.
Mashdein tries to score a power double leg takedown but Iakopa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mashdein somewhat.
Iakopa swinging wildly here.
Mashdein misses with a combination
and Iakopa counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Mashdein gets the takedown into side control.
Iakopa taking a bit of punishment here - Mashdein scoring with strikes.
Iakopa regains half guard.
Mashdein is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Iakopa tries to roll over but Mashdein keeps him under control.
Iakopa has hold of Mashdein's hands but Mashdein slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mashdein working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Iakopa works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mashdein landing with the ground and pound.
Iakopa looking for a sweep. Not yet Iakopa, not yet.
Mashdein connects with a couple of short punches.
Mashdein throws a big right hand that misses.
Mashdein trying to move into half guard but instead Iakopa has managed to sweep!
Mashdein trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Iakopa stopping the sweep attempt from Mashdein.
Iakopa slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mashdein keeping full guard, as Iakopa tries to pass.
Iakopa trying to control but Mashdein is working from the bottom.
Mashdein wants to sweep but no luck.
Mashdein on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mashdein tries to get out of the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Iakopa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mashdein looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Iakopa is fending him off so far but Mashdein persists. Nope, Iakopa circles away and we're back to standing.
Mashdein looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Mashdein doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Iakopa counters with a nice body shot.
Mashdein fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mashdein shoots in and drives through. Iakopa sprawls well.
Iakopa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vinny Mashdein seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mashdein fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Iakopa avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Iakopa throws a right hand that Mashdein ducks under and follows up with a left that Mashdein also avoids with ease.
Mashdein with a poor takedown
letting Iakopa counter with a right hand.
Mashdein moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Iakopa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Iakopa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mashdein circles away quickly and effectively.
Mashdein shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Iakopa as he avoids it easily.
Mashdein slips a jab and a cross from Iakopa.
Iakopa lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Iakopa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Iakopa works over Mashdein's head and body with a nice combination.
Mashdein misses with a series of wild punches.
Mashdein fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Iakopa throws a nice looking combination but Mashdein bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mashdein shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Iakopa counters with a nice uppercut.

Mashdein decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kami Iakopa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mashdein shoots for a double leg takedown but Iakopa sprawls well. He's pushed Mashdein's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mashdein with a poor takedown
and Iakopa counters with a nice uppercut.
Iakopa lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mashdein backs up against the cage.
Iakopa might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Mashdein showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Iakopa.
Iakopa misses with a two punch combination.
Iakopa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Iakopa connects with the punch.
Iakopa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mashdein.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vinny Mashdein. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mashdein showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Iakopa.

Iakopa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mashdein to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mashdein might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mashdein wants to pass the guard but Iakopa is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mashdein accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iakopa keeping full guard, as Mashdein tries to pass.
Mashdein works over Iakopa with some ground and pound from guard.
Iakopa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Iakopa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mashdein is looking to work some ground and pound but Iakopa has wrist control.
Iakopa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mashdein's guard.
Mashdein is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Iakopa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mashdein is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Iakopa regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mashdein preventing the sweep.
Mashdein pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Iakopa is keeping the position for now.
Mashdein working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mashdein stops Iakopa from standing up.
Mashdein is looking to work some ground and pound but Iakopa has wrist control.
Mashdein has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mashdein lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Iakopa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mashdein!
Mashdein is in all sorts of trouble here.
Iakopa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mashdein is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iakopa landing strikes from the mount.
Iakopa prevents Mashdein from getting the reversal.
Mashdein throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Mashdein is working to get back to half guard.
Mashdein swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Iakopa content just to control the position here.
Iakopa's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Iakopa trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mashdein tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mashdein throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Mashdein tries to reverse the position but Iakopa maintains control.
Kami Iakopa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Iakopa looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mashdein is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Iakopa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Vinny Mashdein has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vinny Mashdein overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Iakopa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kami Iakopa.
I've got Iakopa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kami Iakopa!