PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hassan Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dire Rhea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hassan Mason has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mason
vs
Rhea

180 cm
25
162 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

150 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hassan Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dire Rhea!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rhea throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Hassan Mason has been cut.

Mason rushes Rhea and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mason can't get the takedown.
Rhea looking to throw knees to the head but Mason is blocking nicely.
Rhea is trying to force a seperation but Mason has the dominant position.
Rhea lands an elbow just above Mason 's eye.
Rhea is trying to break free.
Mason dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Mason manages to break the clinch.
Rhea misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mason blocks a head kick by Rhea.

Mason scores with a takedown into Rhea's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason stays in close to Rhea's body and controls the position.

Mason decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Mason shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rhea manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mason sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mason gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Rhea moves into the clinch successfully.
Rhea is trying to break the clinch but Mason has him pressed against the cage.

Rhea's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rhea misses with a head kick.
Rhea stuffs the takedown attempt from Mason. Mason gets slowly back to his feet.
Mason tries for a takedown but Rhea sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hassan Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rhea has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhea stops a takedown attempt from Mason.
Rhea has had enough of the clinch but Mason keeps him there for the moment.
Rhea fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Mason escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rhea clinches up with Mason and pushes him back against the cage.

Mason breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rhea connects with a solid leg kick.

Rhea pushes Mason up against the cage in a clinch.
Rhea wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rhea prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rhea is pressed up against the cage. Mason has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rhea down to the mat. Rhea avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rhea throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Rhea forces Mason back against the cage and clinches.
Rhea using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mason has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Rhea breaks the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mason avoids the head kick by Rhea.
Mason blocks the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dire Rhea will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hassan Mason's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mason changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rhea tries to avoid it but Mason manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rhea to the ground. Rhea escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Rhea rushes Mason and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mason drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rhea gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mason holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rhea looking to stall.
Rhea working hard to break the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mason as Rhea tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhea throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rhea is trying to push Mason away but Mason has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mason wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hassan Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rhea wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mason tries to pull guard but Rhea won't allow it.

Mason breaks from the clinch.
Rhea keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rhea throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhea pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Rhea fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mason, pushing him back against the cage.
Mason is trying to pull guard but Rhea turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mason wants to take the fight to the mat but Rhea manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mason keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rhea's efforts to push away.
Mason drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rhea gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mason fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Mason.
Rhea tries to circle away but Mason has him pinned against the cage.

Mason escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rhea misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mason fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rhea avoids it really well and circles away.
Dire Rhea seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rhea closes the distance and clinches.
Rhea wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rhea throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Mason to work.
Mason seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Mason misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Mason pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rhea scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rhea tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rhea lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Rhea throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dire Rhea showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hassan Mason's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rhea connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rhea misses with a head kick.
Rhea throws a sloppy head kick and Mason moves out of range easily.
Mason blocks a head kick by Rhea.
Rhea tests Mason's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Rhea gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mason stops Rhea from standing up.
Mason's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhea wants to stand up but Mason is controlling him.
Mason controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Hassan Mason just wasn't active enough.
Rhea slaps away a takedown attempt from Mason, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Mason feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Dire Rhea is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhea is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Mason dives into side control.
Mason controls the position.
Rhea wants to control but Mason postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mason decides to stand back up. Mason steps back and let's Rhea get back to his feet.
Rhea tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rhea tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mason just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mason has clasped his hands together around Rhea's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rhea looking for a sweep but Mason has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Mason controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rhea for as long as he can get away with.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hassan Mason showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rhea has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dire Rhea!