PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holden James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Aerials. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mason
vs
James

178 cm
36
181 lbs
25 - 16 - 0

178 cm
31
184 lbs
20 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 25 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Craig Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Holden James!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mason throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.

Mason clinches up against the cage.
James wants to stall.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Mason misses.
James tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mason manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheers as James lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mason doesn't seem phased though.

It looks like Craig Mason has been cut.

Mason rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
James blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mason tries a body shot but James blocks it.
Mason scores with a hook to the body.
Mason takes an elbow to the temple.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice body punch from James.
James is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Mason misses with a punch on the inside.
James is trying to break free.
James's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short uppercut from Mason.
A short right from James on the inside.
James blocks a body shot from Mason.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mason is looking to control James's arms but James gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mason has his back to the cage.
James lands a damaging elbow.
Mason on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
James lands a nice uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Mason.
Mason swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mason keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
Mason throws a head punch that misses.
James working hard to break the clinch.
Mason tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
James prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mason misses with the head strike.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mason fails with the takedown.

Mason fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mason blocks an uppercut.
Mason is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Mason lands with a light punch inside.
Mason can't find room to land a body shot as James controls the action.
James looks to throw an elbow but misses.
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mason has him pressed against the cage.
Mason tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mason lands a left hand.
Mason lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
James working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
James is trying to push Mason away but Mason has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mason throws a head punch that misses.
Mason is trying to drag James to the mat but James just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mason lands a left hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
Mason misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mason working aggressively here.

James breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Mason.
Mason swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and James counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Craig Mason's cut is getting worse.
James tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Holden James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
James slips under a jab from Mason.
James cracks Mason with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mason with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling James to score with a decent uppercut.
James avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mason throws a right hand that misses
and James counters with a crisp right that sends Mason to the canvas! James follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Holden James!
After the fight, Holden James was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.