PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between D J Rich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey McMasters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). D J Rich has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

J Rich
vs
McMasters

173 cm
21
145 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

179 cm
23
151 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, D J Rich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mickey McMasters!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rich shoots in for a double leg but McMasters sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McMasters pushes Rich away with a front kick.

Rich shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rich was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rich sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
McMasters is trying to stand up.

Rich working for a submission but McMasters is keeping him at bay.

Rich working for a guillotine from mount but McMasters is in no mood to give up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rich working for a submission but McMasters is keeping him at bay.

Rich swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and McMasters is now in Rich's guard. A big mistake from Rich there, giving up the dominant position!
Rich is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMasters wants to get up but he can't break Rich's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Rich working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because McMasters has passed into half guard!

McMasters stands up from half guard.
Rich fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McMasters pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McMasters looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McMasters scores with the left hand. Rich knows he should have avoided that one.
McMasters wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
McMasters tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McMasters drives through and clinches with Rich against the cage.

McMasters breaks the clinch.
McMasters throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McMasters lands a high kick!
Rich tries to work over McMasters's front leg with a kick but McMasters checks it.
No luck for Rich with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for D J Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from McMasters.
McMasters tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rich clinches but McMasters breaks the clinch
and McMasters counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
McMasters scores with a hook to the body. Rich takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
McMasters lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McMasters lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rich backs up against the cage.
McMasters pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rich fails with the takedown
enabling McMasters to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMasters tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rich wants to clinch up but McMasters keeps it at a distance.
McMasters throws the kick towards the body but Rich avoids it.
McMasters lands a high kick!
McMasters tries to clinch up but Rich circles away and keeps his distance.

Rich gets the takedown into side control.

Rich is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McMasters has escaped the position, nice work there.

Rich is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McMasters is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rich goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, McMasters rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rich's guard! Nice work there by McMasters!
McMasters must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rich is looking for a triangle here but McMasters uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

McMasters has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Rich closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rich prevents McMasters from escaping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rich is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McMasters has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey McMasters dominated that round.
That's time! Rich's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rich looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McMasters is fending him off so far but Rich persists. Nope, McMasters circles away and we're back to standing.

Rich darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Rich is trying to work for a kimura but McMasters is defending well.

McMasters manages to escape and get back to his feet!
A left and a right from McMasters both land. Nice combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rich shoots and misses
and McMasters finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
McMasters misses with the combination.
McMasters lands a head kick. Rich smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMasters throws a sloppy head kick and Rich moves out of range easily.
Rich shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McMasters pinned against the cage. McMasters gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for D J Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McMasters scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rich misses with a takedown attempt
and McMasters counters with a stiff right hand.
McMasters lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McMasters throws a head kick that half lands.
Rich tries for a takedown but McMasters circles away easily
and McMasters counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The fight stays on the outside here - Rich looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McMasters misses with a head kick.
Rich tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McMasters swivels and escapes.
Rich throws a sloppy head kick

and McMasters counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McMasters breaks the clinch.
Rich with a poor takedown
and McMasters counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rich shoots in but McMasters avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rich doesn't succeed with the takedown
and McMasters connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rich gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling McMasters to counter with a crisp jab.
A jab from McMasters finds it's way through Rich's defenses.
McMasters throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mickey McMasters is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rich tries for a takedown but McMasters circles away easily
and McMasters counters with a stiff right hand.

Rich closes the distance and clinches.
Rich is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

McMasters manages to break the clinch.
McMasters throws a combination. Rich tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rich shoots and misses
letting McMasters counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMasters misses with a head kick.

Rich closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

McMasters makes his way to full guard, as Rich worked for a kimura.
Rich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McMasters swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rich passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rich tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Rich tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rich has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rich thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Rich wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McMasters, who protects the arm well.

McMasters throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey McMasters showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rich doesn't succeed with the takedown
and McMasters counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rich is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rich tries to clinch up.
McMasters pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rich ducks under a wild hook from McMasters.
Rich avoids the head kick by McMasters.
Rich doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rich takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McMasters throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rich's head.
Rich changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McMasters tries to avoid it but Rich manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McMasters to the ground. McMasters escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for D J Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by McMasters!
McMasters plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McMasters as he jumps to the side.
Rich blocks a head kick by McMasters.
Rich shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McMasters but McMasters pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMasters misses with a head kick.
Rich avoids the head kick by McMasters.
Rich fails with the takedown
and McMasters counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A big left from McMasters misses.
Rich tries to clinch up.
Rich clobbers McMasters with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rich changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McMasters tries to avoid it but Rich manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McMasters to the ground. McMasters escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McMasters fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice sprawl there from McMasters as Rich shoots in.
McMasters throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rich's head.
McMasters tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rich swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rich scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Rich is looking for a kimura but McMasters is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rich to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rich is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McMasters is just riding it out for now. Rich eventually gives up the hold.

Rich is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McMasters defends it well.

Rich is working for a submission of some sort.

McMasters pushes Rich off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMasters missing with a left hand there. Rich was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mickey McMasters seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rich with a lazy takedown attempt
and McMasters counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McMasters tries a head kick but it misses.
Rich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McMasters as he jumps to the side.
Rich closes the distance and clinches up with McMasters, looking for a takedown. Rich pushes McMasters against the cage but McMasters circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rich takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McMasters throws a head kick that half lands.
McMasters keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
McMasters misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rich looks for a takedown but McMasters sprawls well.
McMasters throws a series of punches but Rich avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rich has his takedown stuffed
and McMasters counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McMasters lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rich takes a step back to recover.
Nice sprawl there from McMasters as Rich shoots in.
Rich throws a lazy right hand but McMasters sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McMasters misses with a two punch combination.
Rich displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McMasters throws out the jab.
Good leg kick by McMasters there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
McMasters misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rich tries for a takedown but McMasters circles away easily
and McMasters counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McMasters throws a sloppy head kick and Rich moves out of range easily.
McMasters pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey McMasters comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McMasters winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Mickey McMasters!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Mickey McMasters!
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Mickey McMasters!

Mickey McMasters wins by unanimous decision!