PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Nabokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mason comes to the cage accompanied by Final Countdown. Nabokov has chosen Sparks - The Who 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
Nabokov

180 cm
24
185 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

182 cm
23
185 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Igor Nabokov!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mason closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nabokov to the mat! Nabokov manages to get full guard.

Nabokov working for a triangle but Mason defends it easily.
Nabokov keeping full guard, as Mason tries to pass.

Nabokov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mason gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nabokov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nabokov keeping moving, preventing Mason from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nabokov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mason stands and throws Nabokov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nabokov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nabokov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Nabokov sneaks back into half guard.
Nabokov tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Mason has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Mason landing punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

It looks like Igor Nabokov has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mason with the ground and pound from mount.
Mason punishing his opponent with strikes.
Mason wants to control the pace but Nabokov is squirming around nicely.
Mason is trying to control here but Nabokov has managed to regain half guard.
Nabokov is not content to let Mason control the position.
Nabokov is trying to get back to full guard.
Mason frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason landing strikes, looking to finish!
Mason 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.
BOOM! Mason connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nabokov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mason landing strikes from the mount.
Nabokov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mason scoring with strikes but Nabokov is staying in there.
Nabokov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mason looking to finish Nabokov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nabokov!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mason trying to control but Nabokov is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nabokov?
Mason scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That has opened up Igor Nabokov's cut even more.
Mason lands a nice shot to the head.

The cut above Igor Nabokov's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Mason in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Nabokov is rocked!

Igor Nabokov's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Igor Nabokov's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Michael Mason!
During a confident post fight interview, Michael Mason thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.