PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bruno Masterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nino Balducci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masterson comes to the cage accompanied by Stinkfist. Bruno Masterson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Masterson
vs
Balducci

185 cm
22
238 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

196 cm
19
275 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

CAGED GEAR
Berserker Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bruno Masterson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nino Balducci!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Franklyn Lucas and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balducci shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Masterson but Masterson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Balducci tries to clinch up but Masterson circles away and keeps his distance.
Masterson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Balducci looks for a takedown but Masterson sprawls well.

Masterson feints and as Balducci raises his hands in defense, Masterson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masterson throws a strike but Balducci rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Balducci wants to stand but Masterson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Balducci won't allow Masterson to sweep him here.
Balducci is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Balducci really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Masterson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Masterson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Masterson looking for a sweep. Not yet Masterson, not yet.
Masterson is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masterson keeping moving, preventing Balducci from controlling successfully.
Masterson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Masterson is on top in guard.
Balducci wants to control the position but Masterson says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Balducci looks gassed!
Nice strikes from Masterson there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Masterson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Balducci keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Masterson is nestled in close to Balducci, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Masterson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balducci tries to kick Masterson off but Masterson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Masterson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Masterson slips a nice elbow through Balducci's hands, connecting with Balducci's forehead.
Balducci has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Masterson is working away from the top position though.
Balducci is not content to let Masterson control the position.
Masterson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Balducci is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Balducci trying to control here.
Balducci misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balducci moves into full guard.
Balducci bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Masterson's guard.
Masterson keeping full guard, as Balducci tries to pass.
Masterson keeping moving, preventing Balducci from controlling successfully.
Balducci wants to stand but Masterson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Balducci looking to sit in guard and control but Masterson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Balducci controls Masterson momentarily but Masterson frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Masterson trying to control the position from guard on top but Balducci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masterson tries to free his leg and advance position but Balducci is retaining full guard.
Balducci avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Masterson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Masterson lands in his opponent's guard.
Masterson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Masterson thows a big elbow that misses.

Balducci is looking for a triangle but Masterson pushes his legs off easily.
Balducci looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Masterson scores a takedown into full mount!
Balducci tries to lock up and control but Masterson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Balducci is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Masterson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Masterson unloading with bombs!
Balducci really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Masterson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Balducci?
Masterson tries to control but Balducci wriggling away.
Masterson landing shots from mount.
Masterson with good strikes from the mount here!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balducci tries to hold on but Masterson pushes him away.
Balducci really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Balducci wants to control but Masterson is having none of it.
Balducci keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Balducci tries to lock up and control but Masterson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Balducci regains half guard.
Masterson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Balducci can do anything to dispel that myth.
Balducci is looking to escape.
Masterson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Masterson prevents Balducci from standing back up.
Bruno Masterson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Balducci is not content to let Masterson control the position.
Balducci won't allow Masterson to pass to mount.
Masterson is nestled in close to Balducci, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ground and pound from Masterson.

Balducci is rocked!
Balducci is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Masterson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Balducci is still in real trouble! Can Masterson finish him?
Masterson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Masterson uses his free foot to push down on Balducci's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Balducci.
Balducci tries to lock up and control but Masterson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Balducci is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Masterson lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masterson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Masterson breaks from Balducci's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Masterson scoring with strikes but Balducci is staying in there.
Masterson scoring with strikes but Balducci is staying in there.
Masterson with the ground and pound from mount.
Masterson lands a big elbow.
BOOM! Masterson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Masterson lands with some strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Masterson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Masterson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Balducci?
Masterson is in the full mount, landing strikes.

It looks like Nino Balducci has been cut.
The referee warns Balducci that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Balducci taking shots to the head.
Masterson landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masterson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Masterson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Masterson here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Masterson looking to finish Balducci with some ground and pound. This is bad for Balducci!
The referee warns Balducci that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Masterson cracks Balducci with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Masterson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Masterson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Masterson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Masterson avoids the attempt from Balducci to control.
BOOM! Masterson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balducci is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Balducci is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Masterson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nino Balducci's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Balducci stuffs the takedown attempt from Masterson. Masterson gets slowly back to his feet.
Masterson shoots in for a takedown but Balducci shows good takedown defense.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Masterson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruno Masterson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Masterson.
Masterson shoots in for a double leg but Balducci sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Masterson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Balducci pinned against the cage. Balducci gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Masterson has a takedown stuffed.
Masterson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Masterson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Balducci keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Masterson shoots in for a takedown but Balducci shows good takedown defense.
Masterson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Balducci circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Masterson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Balducci circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masterson shoots in but no luck this time.
Masterson misses with a takedown attempt - Balducci sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Masterson shoots in for a double leg but Balducci sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Masterson tries for a takedown but Balducci sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Masterson shoots in for a takedown but Balducci shows good takedown defense.
Masterson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Masterson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Balducci but Balducci pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Masterson fails with the takedown.
Masterson fails with the takedown.
Masterson fails with the takedown.
Masterson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Balducci tries to avoid it but Masterson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Balducci to the ground. Balducci escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Masterson.
Masterson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Balducci's waist but Balducci gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Masterson off to one side.
Masterson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Balducci as he jumps to the side.
Masterson fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balducci stuffs the takedown.
Masterson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Balducci as he avoids it easily.
Masterson fails with the takedown.
Masterson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Balducci swivels and escapes.
Masterson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Balducci is fending him off so far but Masterson persists. Nope, Balducci circles away and we're back to standing.
Masterson misses with a takedown attempt - Balducci sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Balducci stuffs the takedown attempt from Masterson. Masterson gets slowly back to his feet.
Masterson tries for a takedown but Balducci sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Masterson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Masterson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Masterson shoots in and drives through. Balducci sprawls well.
Nice takedown defense from Balducci. No joy for Masterson on that attempt.
Masterson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Balducci as he jumps to the side.
Masterson shoots in and drives through. Balducci sprawls well.
Masterson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Masterson fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masterson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Balducci as he jumps to the side.
Masterson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Balducci circles away.
Balducci seems to have recovered his senses.
Balducci lands with a cross.
Masterson lands an overhand right.
Masterson lands a big right hand and follows it up with an uppercut. Oh and another big punch and a knee - Balducci can't take much more of this! Another big shot to the jaw from Masterson and Balducci drops to the floor. Beaten and bloodied - he had enough there. A vicious beatdown by Masterson.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bruno Masterson!
Bruno Masterson is the new heavyweight champion!