PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barney Judge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joseph Mason had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 136.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Joseph Mason has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mason
vs
Judge

150 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

169 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

Nfinite

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joseph Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Barney Judge!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Judge pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mason checks a low kick from Judge.

Judge clinches with his opponent.
Mason jumps guard but Judge turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Judge breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Judge throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mason.
Mason really is a fat lump.
Judge fails to land with a series of punches.

Judge clinches.

Judge's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mason shoots in looking for a takedown. Judge tries to sprawl out of it but Mason keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Judge manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Judge displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mason.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mason misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Judge lands a jab.
Judge throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Judge throws out a leg kick but Mason moves out of range and Judge only half commits.
Judge throws a nice outside leg kick.

Judge has Mason up against the cage in a clinch.

Judge breaks from the clinch.
Judge looks to land a combination. Mason sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Judge clinches up against the cage.

Judge breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A nice combination there by Judge.
Mason looks for a takedown but Judge sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Judge throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mason.
Judge throws a head kick but Mason moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Judge.
No luck for Judge with that takedown attempt.
Judge closes the distance and clinches up with Mason, looking for a takedown. Judge pushes Mason against the cage but Mason circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
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!
Judge shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mason as he avoids it easily.
Mason shoots in but no luck this time.
Barney Judge seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Judge moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Judge shoots in but Mason avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Judge looks winded!
Judge throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Judge swivels and escapes.
Judge throws a low kick but Mason avoids it.
Mason throws a body punch but Judge moves out of range.
No luck for Mason with that takedown attempt.

Judge clinches.

Judge breaks the clinch.
Judge stuffs the takedown.
Judge misses with a double jab.
Judge rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mason moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Judge misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Judge avoids a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Judge.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Mason wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Judge working away.
Judge really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mason. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Judge working the ground and pound but Mason is defending the strikes.
Judge lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mason down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Judge working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Judge sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Mason is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Judge working the head with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Judge working the ground and pound from side control.
Mason takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Judge in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barney Judge dominated that round.
That's time! Mason's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Judge avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Judge goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nice takedown defense from Judge. No joy for Mason on that attempt.
Judge falls off balance throwing a combination

and Mason counters by clinching up.
Judge lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mason jumps guard but Judge stands there with Mason around his waist. Mason gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Judge breaks from the clinch.
Judge pivots, looking for a leg kick but Mason is out of range and Judge settles back down.
Judge misses with a double jab.

Judge closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Judge breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mason shoots for a double leg takedown but Judge sprawls well. He's pushed Mason's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mason changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Judge tries to avoid it but Mason manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Judge to the ground. Judge escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mason tries to clinch but Judge moves out of range.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Mason showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Judge.

Judge moves into range and clinches up with Mason.

Judge manages to break the clinch.
Mason has a takedown stuffed.
Mason swings for the body but Judge moves out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Judge.
Judge scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Judge shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mason eats them both and turns towards Judge to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Judge scores with a hook to the body. Mason takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Judge drives through and clinches with Mason against the cage.
Mason tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Judge breaks the clinch.

Judge moves into the clinch.
Mason has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Judge displaying some good clinch control by pressing Mason up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Judge's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Judge has taken the fight to the clinch.
Judge prevents a takedown attempt there.
Judge gets underhooks to prevent Mason's takedown attempt.
Judge is working Mason over against the cage.
Mason is trying to push Judge away but Judge has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Judge escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Mason. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Judge shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mason sprawls well. Mason wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Judge gets slowly back to his feet.

Judge closes the distance and pushes Mason back into the cage.
Judge is leaning against Mason and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mason tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Judge just stands there and leans against the cage.
Judge pushes Mason back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Judge pressing his opponent against the cage.
Judge lands a body shot in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barney Judge 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 fails with a takedown attempt.
Judge shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mason but Mason pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Judge misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Judge throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mason shoots in for a double leg but Judge sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Judge throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Mason slips a jab and a cross from Judge.

Judge moves into the clinch.
Judge stops a takedown attempt from Mason.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A left hand lands to the body for Judge.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mason tries to pull guard but Judge holds him up against the cage and eventually Mason drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Judge escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Judge will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Judge moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Judge shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mason eats them both and turns towards Judge to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Mason on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Judge.

Judge gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mason tries for a takedown. No joy.
Still in the clinch, Judge scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mason is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Judge breaks from the clinch.
Judge with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Barney Judge seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mason takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Danga de danga de dang - Judge scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Judge has Mason up against the cage in a clinch.
Mason wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Judge has him pressed against the cage.
Mason is trying to pull guard but Judge turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Barney Judge seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Judge breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mason pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Judge scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Judge throws a head kick that misses.
Judge stalks Mason and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mason's face. Mason staggers backwards, shaken.
Judge misses with a series of wild punches.
Judge shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
An inside leg kick from Judge misses.
Judge stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Judge wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Judge tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Judge lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Judge closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Come on Judge - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Judge's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Judge misses with a low kick as Mason jumps back.
Judge has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Judge throws a nice looking combination but Mason bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mason fails in his attempt to clinch.
Joseph Mason is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Judge shoots in looking for a takedown but Mason manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Judge's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Joseph Mason has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mason misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barney Judge comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Judge has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barney Judge!