PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jukkis Karvakorva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karvakorva has chosen DIABLO - Icaros as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mason
vs
Karvakorva

178 cm
30
181 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

174 cm
27
177 lbs
16 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

O'Brannigan's Fightwear
Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

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 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Craig Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Jukkis Karvakorva!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mason tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Karvakorva counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mason's guard now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Mason keeping moving, preventing Karvakorva from controlling successfully.
Mason working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Karvakorva.
Mason avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Karvakorva wants to control from the top but Mason keeps moving.
Karvakorva with a flurry of punches that miss.
Karvakorva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mason utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mason preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Karvakorva throws a big elbow that misses.
Mason avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason keeping moving, preventing Karvakorva from controlling successfully.
Karvakorva passes Mason's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mason is looking to control Karvakorva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mason avoid being mounted?
Karvakorva is trying to control the action in half guard but Mason is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Karvakorva has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Karvakorva content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Karvakorva connects with a nice short shot to Mason's temple.

Karvakorva is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mason has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karvakorva sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mason defending well though.
Karvakorva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mason's head.

Karvakorva is looking for a kimura but Mason is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Karvakorva to get the leverage.
Karvakorva is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Mason!
Karvakorva throwing strikes here but Mason is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Karvakorva tries to control but Mason wriggling away.
Mason tries to hold on but Karvakorva pushes him away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karvakorva throws some wild stikes that Mason manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karvakorva tries to control but Mason wriggling away.
Karvakorva misses with a head shot.
Karvakorva with a couple of short strikes.
Karvakorva sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Karvakorva unloads with some shots from mount but Mason bucks and avoids them well.

Karvakorva goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Mason turns into him and now he's in Karvakorva's guard.
Mason tries to free his leg and advance position but Karvakorva is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karvakorva manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Karvakorva can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mason is looking to escape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karvakorva working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Mason slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.

Mason manages to escape and get back to his feet!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mason gets a clinch.
Mason misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight stays on the outside here - Karvakorva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Karvakorva tries to keep at a distance but Mason has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mason lands a nice uppercut.
Karvakorva managing to block the knees to the body from Mason.
Mason stops a takedown attempt from Karvakorva.
Karvakorva trying to control the position but instead, Mason has worked for underhooks and has pushed Karvakorva into the cage.
Karvakorva tries for a takedown. No joy.
Karvakorva tries for a takedown. No joy.
Craig Mason has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jukkis Karvakorva.
Karvakorva trying to stall but Mason improves his position.
Mason lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Karvakorva backwards.
Karvakorva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mason smiles and moves away.
Mason fails in his attempt to clinch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Mason crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Karvakorva - the referee stops the clock and Mason gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Karvakorva. Mason manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mason looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A good leg kick by Karvakorva.
Karvakorva throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Karvakorva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mason is looking to clinch but Karvakorva is avoiding it.
Craig Mason is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Karvakorva with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mason misses with a hook to the body

and Karvakorva counters with a nice double leg into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Karvakorva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Karvakorva passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karvakorva working the ground and pound from side control.
Karvakorva working the ground and pound but Mason is defending the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karvakorva is looking to take a break and control but Mason is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Karvakorva stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Karvakorva thows a body shot but no joy.

Karvakorva has managed to clinch.
Mason wants to break free but Karvakorva has control.
Mason tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Karvakorva avoids it.

Karvakorva jumps into guard, dragging Mason to the mat.
Karvakorva managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karvakorva wants to sweep but no luck.
Karvakorva manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mason really wants to buck Karvakorva off and get back to his feet.

Karvakorva looking for a guillotine from mount but Mason is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karvakorva 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karvakorva is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Mason can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Mason is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Mason wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Mason is squirming around, avoiding Karvakorva's attempts to control the action.
Mason taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karvakorva throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karvakorva dominating with strikes here.
Karvakorva tries to control but Mason wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jukkis Karvakorva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mason scores with a jab to the head.
Mason defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Karvakorva.
A head kick misses from Karvakorva.
The fighters circling - Karvakorva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Karvakorva misses with a low kick.
Karvakorva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mason closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Karvakorva pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mason jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sloppy strikes from Mason. Those never looked like landing.
Karvakorva has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Karvakorva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Craig Mason has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jukkis Karvakorva.
Mason throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mason tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karvakorva keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mason looks to score with a jab to the body but Karvakorva is just out of range.
Craig Mason is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mason moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Karvakorva throws a nice inside leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karvakorva ducks under a wild hook from Mason.
Mason displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karvakorva.
Karvakorva moves forwards but Mason connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Karvakorva scores with a nice strike.
Mason smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Mason tries to clinch up but Karvakorva circles away and keeps his distance.
Mason avoids the head kick by Karvakorva.
Karvakorva explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A lazy left from Karvakorva finds it's target.
Sloppy strikes from Mason. Those never looked like landing.
Mason keeps the fight on the outside.
Mason swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A jab from Karvakorva misses.
Karvakorva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Karvakorva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mason misses with a two punch combination.
Mason doesn't manage to clinch there - Karvakorva circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mason looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A clash of legs there as Mason blocks the low kick.
Mason tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Karvakorva manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mason misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karvakorva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Karvakorva finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Karvakorva dives in and grabs Mason's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mason pushes down on Karvakorva's head and hops out.

Mason gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Karvakorva trying to land knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Mason lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Karvakorva backwards.
Mason is trying to maintain a safe position but Karvakorva gets an underhook and turns Mason into the cage.
Karvakorva blocks a body shot from Mason.
Jukkis Karvakorva is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A knee to the head by Karvakorva.
Karvakorva wants a takedown but no success here.
Karvakorva blocks a body shot from Mason.
Mason misses with a punch to the body.
Craig Mason has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mason misses with a hook to the ribs.
Karvakorva is trying to pull guard but Mason has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mason misses with some punches.
Mason throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mason struggles to land a body shot inside as Karvakorva controls his hands.
Karvakorva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mason.
Mason swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Karvakorva.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mason lands with a short punch from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karvakorva letting Mason take a breather here.
Mason struggles to land a body shot inside as Karvakorva controls his hands.
Mason lands a nice shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Craig Mason.
I think Karvakorva 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jukkis Karvakorva!
After winning the bout, Jukkis Karvakorva thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.