PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mario Maci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mario Maci looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Maci
vs
Mason

195 cm
26
145 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

150 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Dragon

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mario Maci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fred Mason!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maci stuffs the takedown.
Mason is trying hard to land a takedown here. Maci sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Mason dives in and scores a takedown into Maci's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Maci is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mason is controlling him.
Maci controlling Mason's posture.
Maci manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mason sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Maci really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Maci throwing shots but Mason is blocking nicely.
Mason is looking to control Maci's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mason avoid being mounted?
Mason keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mason.
Mason 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.
Mason preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maci working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mason throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mason holds on and takes a little breather.
Maci passes Mason's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mason is looking to control Maci's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mason avoid being mounted?
Maci is looking to take a break and control but Mason is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maci trying to control from Mason's half guard. Mason has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maci is looking to stand up but Mason won't let him.
Maci is looking to work some ground and pound but Mason has wrist control.
Mason wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Maci trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mason's guard.

Mason is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maci postures up in Mason's guard and throws a big left but Mason blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mason working for a triangle but Maci defends it easily.
Maci stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mason swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mason is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mason utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mason utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Maci missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Mason working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maci doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maci manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mason looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mason looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason wants to stand up but Maci is controlling him.
Maci with a nice head shot there.
Mason working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maci.
Maci throws a big elbow that misses.
Maci forces his way into half guard.

Maci postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Mason to stand up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mason chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maci can pounce on him.
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 chopping leg kick lands by Maci.
Maci fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mario Maci will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maci tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Mason throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Maci tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mason is in Maci's guard.
Mason trying to control the position from guard on top but Maci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mason stands up over Maci, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mason slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Fred Mason has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maci is trying to buck Mason off.
Maci struggling a bit here.

Mason is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Maci knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Maci tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason tries to control but Maci wriggling away.
Maci is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason is landing with some decent strikes but Maci is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Maci is trying to stand.

Mason looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Maci's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Maci is squirming around, avoiding Mason's attempts to control the action.
Mason looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mason working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason content just to control the position here.
Maci wants to control but Mason is having none of it.
Mason won't let Maci get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Mason trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maci is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Maci tries to buck Mason off but Mason takes his back!
Maci is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maci looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Will Mason go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Mason is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Maci has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maci has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mason avoiding Maci 's attempts to control his hands.
Mason punishes Maci with strikes from the back mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Mason showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mason checks a low kick from Maci.
Mason stuffs the takedown attempt from Maci. Maci gets slowly back to his feet.
Mason moves out of range of the leg kick from Maci.
Maci lands with a good body shot.
Maci tries a low kick but Mason avoids it.
Mason shoots in for a takedown but Maci shows good takedown defense.
Mason slips a jab and a cross from Maci.

Mason gets caught flat footed, as Maci shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mason is trying to keep Maci in close.
Maci throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Mason working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maci doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maci manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mason wants to control the position but Maci says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason is positioning himself well to prevent Maci advancing to mount.
Mason manages to get to full guard.
Maci has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Mason is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mason trying to control the position.
Maci tries to stand but Mason is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maci postures up in Mason's guard and throws a big left but Mason blocks it.
Mason looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maci is one step ahead there.
Maci stands and throws Mason's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Maci is chipping away with strikes.
Maci landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Maci tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Mason is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maci wants to control but Mason is keeping him busy.
Maci working away.
Maci is working Mason over with some ground and pound from side control.
Maci tries to move into full mount but can't pass Mason's legs.
Maci is putting a hurting on Mason here, landing some big shots from side control.
Maci lands a few punches from side control.

Maci stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Mason throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Maci tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mason is in Maci's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maci not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Maci has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Mason wants to pass the guard but Maci is keeping the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mason won't allow Maci to get back to his feet.
Mason lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maci wants to sweep but no luck.
Mason looking to pass the guard.
Maci wants to get back to his feet but Mason is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Maci showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Maci has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Maci!