PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Haiki Masatupo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rawjon Rondough (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Masatupo
vs
Rondough

180 cm
34
158 lbs
20 - 22 - 0

186 cm
24
171 lbs
5 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 20 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Haiki Masatupo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rawjon Rondough!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Rondough as Masatupo shoots in.
A jab from Masatupo finds it's way through Rondough's defenses.
Nice takedown defense from Rondough. No joy for Masatupo on that attempt.
Masatupo misses with the combination.
Rondough blocks a head kick by Masatupo.
Rondough shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Masatupo but Masatupo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rondough takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Haiki Masatupo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masatupo scores with a head kick. Rondough tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Masatupo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masatupo throws a head kick that misses.
Masatupo throws a sloppy head kick and Rondough moves out of range easily.
Rondough has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Masatupo finds it's way round the side to connect with Rondough's head.
Masatupo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Masatupo wants it to stay on the feet.
Masatupo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Masatupo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Masatupo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rondough.
Masatupo lands a slapping body shot.
Masatupo swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Masatupo gets a double leg takedown into Rondough's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Masatupo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rondough swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Masatupo trying to control the position from guard on top but Rondough is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rondough controlling Masatupo's posture.
Masatupo wants to pass the guard but Rondough is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masatupo advances position into side control!

Masatupo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Masatupo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rondough, who protects the arm well.
Rondough wants to control but Masatupo postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Masatupo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rondough, who protects the arm well.
Masatupo working the head with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Masatupo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Masatupo throws an elbow but Rondough slips to the side and avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Masatupo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Masatupo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Masatupo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rondough was well out of range. Poor timing from Masatupo.
Masatupo connects with a high kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Masatupo scores with a four punch combination!
Masatupo misses with a head kick.
A jab from Masatupo does it's job there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Masatupo. Rondough does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rondough takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Masatupo moves into range and clinches up with Rondough.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rondough wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Masatupo goes for a takedown attempt but Rondough pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Masatupo thows a body shot but no joy.
Masatupo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rondough's waist but Rondough gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Masatupo off to one side.
Masatupo is looking to wear down Rondough with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rondough avoids the head kick by Masatupo.
Haiki Masatupo is winning the standup battle so far.
Masatupo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Haiki Masatupo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masatupo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masatupo tries to bum rush Rondough with a series of wild strikes but Rondough uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Masatupo misses with a head kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Masatupo.

Masatupo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Masatupo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Masatupo throws a head kick but Rondough moves out of range.
Masatupo misses with a straight left.
Masatupo throws a sloppy head kick and Rondough moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masatupo tries a head kick but it misses.
Rondough takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Masatupo scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Rondough feints and as Masatupo raises his hands in defense, Rondough changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Masatupo here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Masatupo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rondough has picked Masatupo up and slammed him! Masatupo can't keep hold of the triangle and Rondough manages to pass to side control!
Masatupo is pushing Rondough's head away, looking to escape. Rondough manages to hold on to the position though.
Masatupo is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Masatupo throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Masatupo forces Rondough back against the cage and clinches.
Masatupo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rondough just stands there and leans against the cage.

Masatupo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Masatupo throws a sloppy head kick and Rondough moves out of range easily.
Rondough throws a shot from downtown. Masatupo moves away and avoids it.
Masatupo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haiki Masatupo 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rondough shoots in looking for a takedown. Masatupo tries to sprawl out of it but Rondough keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Masatupo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Masatupo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Masatupo slips nicely into half guard.
Masatupo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rondough can do to turn this around?
Masatupo is looking to stall here but Rondough recovers full guard.
Rondough is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masatupo stands and throws Rondough's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Masatupo misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Masatupo wants to control but Rondough is keeping him busy.

Masatupo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rondough knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Haiki Masatupo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masatupo is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Rondough's shoulder. That is not cool.
Rondough tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Masatupo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Rondough's face as Masatupo controls the position.
Masatupo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rondough is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Masatupo asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Haiki Masatupo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Masatupo throws a quick inside leg kick.
A punch combination from Masatupo misses.
Masatupo throws a sloppy head kick and Rondough moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masatupo fails to land with a series of punches.
Rondough shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Masatupo but Masatupo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Masatupo stuffs the takedown.
Haiki Masatupo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rawjon Rondough.
Masatupo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Rondough gets caught napping as Masatupo dives in and scores a takedown. Rondough manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Masatupo 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Haiki Masatupo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Masatupo 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haiki Masatupo!
A less than humble Haiki Masatupo misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.