PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Don Masato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julian McKinney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Masato
vs
McKinney

225 cm
26
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
154 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Don Masato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julian McKinney!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McKinney decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
McKinney not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McKinney is keen to just control but Masato is a slippery customer.
McKinney throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

McKinney is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
McKinney controlling the action here.
McKinney seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Masato does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Masato wants to get back to his feet.
Still in half guard, McKinney seems content to control.
McKinney has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McKinney has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
McKinney wants to take Masato's back here but Masato is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKinney controlling from the full mount.
Masato is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
McKinney moves to the back.
McKinney tries to keep control of the position but Masato is staying busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

McKinney tightening his grip on Masato, looking for the choke.
Masato trying to control the hands but McKinney breaks the grip.
McKinney is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Masato really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

McKinney is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Masato is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKinney is hanging on to Masato's back as he tries to escape.

McKinney is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Will McKinney go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
McKinney is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Masato trying to get back to his feet but McKinney is in full control for now.

McKinney working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - McKinney's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

McKinney is persistently looking for the submission but Masato is defending it well.
McKinney looks gassed!
McKinney wants to control but Masato is keeping busy.

Masato fending off the submission attempt from McKinney.
Will McKinney go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian McKinney dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A head kick misses from Masato.
McKinney looks to land a combination but Masato avoids it well.
McKinney misses with a jab, cross combination.
Masato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Masato jabs at McKinney's body.
Masato fails in his attempt to clinch.
Masato clobbers McKinney with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Masato wants to clinch up but McKinney keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKinney shoots in looking for a takedown. Masato tries to sprawl out of it but McKinney keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Masato manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McKinney throws a series of punches but Masato moves out of range.
Masato stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKinney keeps the fight on the outside.
McKinney keeps the fight on the outside.
Masato is looking to clinch.
McKinney shoots in for a takedown but Masato shows good takedown defense.
Don Masato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julian McKinney.
McKinney keeps the fight on the outside.
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch up but McKinney swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Masato fails with an attempt to clinch.
McKinney throws a series of punches but Masato moves out of range.
Nice shot by Masato.
Masato wants to clinch.
Masato wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Masato closes the distance and clinches.
Masato lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A bit of stalling here from Masato.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Masato.
McKinney tries for a takedown. No joy.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by McKinney as Masato tries to tie him up.
McKinney avoids the elbow strike from Masato, against the cage.
Masato can't find room to land a body shot as McKinney controls the action.
Masato lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of McKinney backwards.
Masato lands with a right to the head.
McKinney goes for a takedown attempt but Masato pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch up but McKinney swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Masato throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck McKinney on the side of the head.
Masato is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Masato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McKinney throws the left hand but Masato avoids the punch easily.
McKinney misses with a straight right.
Masato wants to clinch up but McKinney keeps it at a distance.

McKinney closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Masato to the mat! Masato manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McKinney is looking to work some ground and pound but Masato has wrist control.
McKinney wants to pass the guard but Masato is keeping the position.
McKinney passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masato wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
McKinney trying to control the position but Masato is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McKinney is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Masato is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
McKinney is breathing heavily.
Masato tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McKinney wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Masato is not content to let McKinney control the position.
Masato is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Masato dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

McKinney swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Masato closes the distance and pushes McKinney back into the cage.
Masato working aggressively here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Masato.
McKinney 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.
McKinney drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Masato manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masato looking to throw knees to the head but McKinney is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKinney has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Masato avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Don Masato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julian McKinney.
Masato is struggling to control the position.
Masato scores with a shot to the side of McKinney's head.
Masato tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Masato is pushing McKinney up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
McKinney avoids the elbow strike from Masato, against the cage.
Masato lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Masato effectively controlling the action here.
McKinney 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Masato wants to stall.
The referee calls for Masato to work.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Don Masato.
McKinney fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Don Masato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Masato fails with an attempt to clinch.
McKinney looks to land a combination but Masato avoids it well.
Masato fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt McKinney.
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch but McKinney swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKinney avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Masato doesn't manage to clinch there - McKinney circles away.
McKinney fails with the takedown.

McKinney looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Masato!
McKinney misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Masato on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Masato tries to get out of the position.
McKinney looking to control but Masato is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

McKinney is working for a guillotine from mount but Masato frees his head quite easily.
McKinney takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McKinney fails to take his opponent's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masato tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McKinney looking to control but Masato is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
McKinney looking to control and managing it successfully.
Julian McKinney has got the better of the ground game so far.
Masato wants to hold on but McKinney pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McKinney moves to the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Julian McKinney.
I think McKinney has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Julian McKinney!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Julian McKinney!
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Julian McKinney!

Julian McKinney wins by unanimous decision!