PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Masterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and British Guy (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.

Masterson
vs
Guy

170 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Masterson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, British Guy!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Eddie Farnsworth and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masterson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Masterson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Guy did well to prevent Masterson getting side control.

Masterson wants to work for an arm triangle but Guy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Guy manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Masterson looking to pass the guard.
Masterson stopping the sweep attempt from Guy.
Masterson wants to pass the guard but Guy is keeping the position.

Guy working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Masterson has passed into half guard!
Guy wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guy regains full guard. Nicely done.
Masterson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Guy is keeping the position for now.
Guy wants to sweep but no luck.
Masterson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Guy has his foot on Masterson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Masterson works his way back into a safe position though.
Masterson wants to stand but Guy is controlling his posture from full guard.
Guy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Masterson.

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.

Guy looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Masterson passes into side control.
Guy looks gassed!
Guy is not content to let Masterson control the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Masterson.
Masterson taking a breather here.
Guy is not content to let Masterson control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Masterson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Masterson tries to stand but Guy is controlling his head.
Guy tries to improve position but can't.
Masterson has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Guy!
Masterson looking to control but Guy is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Guy should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Masterson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Masterson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Masterson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Masterson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Masterson seems to be working for a kimura but Guy defends the submission attempt.
Masterson is trying to control the action in half guard but Guy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Mike Masterson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Guy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Masterson.
Mike Masterson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Masterson stuffs the takedown attempt from Guy. Guy gets slowly back to his feet.
Guy is breathing heavily.
Masterson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Masterson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Guy's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guy looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Masterson wants to get up but he can't break Guy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Masterson throwing strikes but missing.

Masterson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Masterson dives in and grabs Guy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Guy pushes down on Masterson's head and hops out.

Masterson gets a takedown into half guard.
Masterson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masterson is looking to advance position but Guy won't allow it.

Masterson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Guy defends it well.
Guy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Masterson.
Guy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Masterson.
Guy wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masterson throwing shots but Guy is blocking nicely.
Masterson not doing much here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Masterson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Guy counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Masterson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masterson pushes Guy off looking to stand but Guy dives back in and keeps control.
Masterson tries to roll over but Guy keeps him under control.
Masterson moves into full guard.
Masterson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Masterson trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Masterson holds on and takes a little breather.
Masterson wants to get back to his feet but Guy is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Masterson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Masterson controls Guy momentarily but Guy frees himself.
Masterson looking for a sweep. Not yet Masterson, not yet.

Masterson wriggles free and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Masterson 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Masterson moves into range and clinches up with Guy.
Masterson stalls.
Guy wants to stall.
Masterson goes for a takedown attempt but Guy pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A nice combination there by Masterson.
Masterson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Guy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Masterson somewhat.
Guy misses with a takedown

and Masterson counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Masterson wants to control but Guy is keeping him busy.
Guy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masterson tries to advance to mount but Guy denies him.
Guy parries the strikes from Masterson easily there. Masterson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Guy to escape.
Masterson trying to control the action but Guy is working from the bottom.
Masterson postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Masterson decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Masterson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Guy counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Masterson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guy has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Masterson is proving hard to escape from.

Masterson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Guy defends well.
Mike Masterson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Guy won't allow Masterson to sweep him here.
Guy prevents Masterson from getting back to his feet.
Guy postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guy wants to stand and escape but instead Masterson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Guy looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Guy tries to keep at a distance but Masterson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Guy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Masterson is working for takedown but Guy is calmly controlling the position for now.
Guy jumps guard but Masterson stands there with Guy around his waist. Guy gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Masterson gets control of Guy's arms and successfully pulls guard. Masterson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Masterson has a closed guard, preventing Guy from standing up.
Masterson wants to stand up but Guy is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masterson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Masterson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Masterson keeping moving, preventing Guy from controlling successfully.
Masterson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Masterson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Masterson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Masterson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Masterson 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Masterson!