PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marcelo Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jed Masilungan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masilungan comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Return to Strength kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Garcia
vs
Masilungan

177 cm
26
165 lbs
9 - 7 - 1

178 cm
37
164 lbs
32 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jed Masilungan!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Luis Engracia and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masilungan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Garcia takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Masilungan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Masilungan on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Good exchange - Masilungan coming out on top.
Garcia throws a leg kick
and Masilungan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Masilungan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Garcia takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Masilungan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A combination from Garcia does no damage.
Garcia has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Masilungan needs to keep his hands up - Garcia had a free shot at his head there.
Masilungan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Garcia's calf.
Masilungan blocks a jab.
Masilungan throws a looping overhand right but Garcia ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia throws a hook to the side of Masilungan's head but Masilungan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A slow jab from Garcia misses its intended target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Garcia. Masilungan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jed Masilungan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masilungan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Garcia swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Masilungan.
Garcia displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Garcia moves out of range of the body kick.
Masilungan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Garcia but Garcia pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Garcia misses with a right hand
and Masilungan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Masilungan has his takedown stuffed
and Garcia counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garcia avoids the body shot from Masilungan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan lands with a nice combination. Garcia backs away looking to recover.
Garcia misses with a wild body shot.
Masilungan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Masilungan walks into a jab.
Garcia blocks a head kick by Masilungan.
Garcia missing with a left hand there. Masilungan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A big left from Garcia misses.
Masilungan takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Garcia is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Masilungan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Garcia moves away.
Masilungan lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Garcia moves into range and clinches up with Masilungan.
Garcia is trying to drag Masilungan to the mat but Masilungan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia tries to score a body lock takedown but Masilungan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Garcia tries for a takedown but Masilungan manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcelo Garcia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masilungan is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Garcia is defending well.
Garcia gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Masilungan.
Garcia is looking for a takedown.
Garcia drops down looking for an ankle pick but Masilungan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Garcia chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Masilungan can pounce on him.
Jab by Masilungan.

Garcia gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan wants a takedown but no success here.
Garcia blocks an uppercut.
Masilungan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Garcia walks away with a smile on his face. Masilungan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Garcia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Garcia misses with a hook.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Masilungan. Garcia shrugs it off though.
Masilungan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Garcia ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
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!
Garcia tries to clinch up but Masilungan circles away and keeps his distance.
Garcia misses with a few strikes there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garcia dives in and grabs Masilungan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Masilungan pushes down on Garcia's head and hops out.
Garcia takes one to the chin there.
Garcia dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
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 Marcelo Garcia will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Masilungan lands a jab-cross combination.
Masilungan throws a nice looking combination but Garcia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Masilungan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marcelo Garcia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Garcia is looking to clinch.
Masilungan misses with a body kick.
Masilungan misses with a wild body shot.
Masilungan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Garcia. That did some damage!
Garcia rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Masilungan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Masilungan throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Garcia slips under a jab.
Garcia slips a straight right by Masilungan.
Garcia getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masilungan throws a head kick that misses.
Garcia moves in looking to clinch but Masilungan pushes him off.
Masilungan throws a head kick but Garcia moves out of range.
Garcia misses with a low kick.
Masilungan misses with an uppercut.
Masilungan misses with a low kick as Garcia jumps back.
Masilungan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Garcia throws a looping overhand right but Masilungan ducks down to avoid it.
Garcia lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Masilungan circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice cross by Garcia.
Masilungan throws a one two combo.
A nice leg kick lands there from Masilungan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan misses with a hook. Garcia ducked under it nicely.
Garcia throws out a loose jab but Masilungan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Masilungan misses with a looping left.
Garcia takes one to the chin there.
Garcia throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Masilungan thumps Garcia with a low kick.
Jed Masilungan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Garcia motions for Masilungan to come forward. Garcia throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Garcia looks to throw the jab but Masilungan is out of range.
Masilungan misses with the combination.
A jab from Masilungan misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garcia gets caught napping as Masilungan dives in and scores a takedown. Garcia manages to retain guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Garcia is on top in guard.
Masilungan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Garcia sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
My spies in The Warehouse inform me that Masilungan has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Masilungan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Garcia does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Masilungan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Garcia is looking to control Masilungan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Garcia avoid being mounted?
Garcia wants to improve his position but Masilungan is controlling well.
Garcia trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan controlling the action here.
Masilungan wants to control but Garcia is keeping him busy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Masilungan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jed Masilungan hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Masilungan 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.
Masilungan defending well as Garcia loads up on a big left hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A swing and a miss from Garcia.
Masilungan throws a head kick that misses.
Masilungan connects with a right hand. Garcia shakes it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jed Masilungan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Masilungan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Garcia tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Masilungan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Masilungan shoots in but no luck this time.
Masilungan throws a solid leg kick but Garcia takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Masilungan.
Masilungan scores with a jab. Garcia acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Garcia lands a jab.
Masilungan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Masilungan checks a low kick from Garcia.
Garcia avoids a kick to the body.
Masilungan blocks the body kick.
Masilungan scores with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Garcia misses the target.
Masilungan moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Garcia drops his hands momentarily and Masilungan takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Garcia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Masilungan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Garcia throws a jab but it's blocked by Masilungan.
Masilungan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Masilungan blocks a jab.
Garcia moves in looking to clinch but Masilungan pushes him off.
Masilungan lands a slapping body shot.
Garcia looks to score with a jab to the body but Masilungan is just out of range.
Masilungan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Garcia finds it's way round the side to connect with Masilungan's head.
Masilungan throws an off balance right hand
and Garcia counters with a right hand to the body.
Garcia lands a jab-cross combination.
Garcia stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garcia throws a chopping leg kick but Masilungan manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Garcia throws a leg kick
and Masilungan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Masilungan walks into a stiff left hand from Garcia.
Masilungan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Garcia pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Garcia moves away from the strike by Masilungan.
Masilungan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Masilungan bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Masilungan works over Garcia's head and body with a nice combination.
Garcia throws a chopping leg kick but Masilungan manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Garcia throws a looping overhand right but Masilungan ducks down to avoid it.
Masilungan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Garcia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Garcia throws a body punch but Masilungan moves out of range.
Garcia doesn't manage to clinch there - Masilungan circles away.
Masilungan walks into a jab.
Garcia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Masilungan is fending him off so far but Garcia persists. Nope, Masilungan circles away and we're back to standing.
Garcia looks to land a left hand but Masilungan moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia shoots in looking for a takedown. Masilungan tries to sprawl out of it but Garcia keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Masilungan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Garcia stuffs the takedown attempt from Masilungan. Masilungan gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice defenses there by Masilungan.
Masilungan's corner calls for a 1-2. Masilungan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Garcia ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garcia misses with a wild body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Masilungan as Garcia shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcelo Garcia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice uppercut there from Masilungan.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcelo Garcia showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Garcia 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcelo Garcia!