PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kogaratsu Masamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Walpole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Masamoto
vs
Walpole

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kogaratsu Masamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Scott Walpole!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Walpole is defended easily by Masamoto.
Walpole shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Masamoto defends it nicely.
Masamoto takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Walpole tries to close the distance and clinch but Masamoto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Walpole takes the fight into the clinch.
Walpole is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Masamoto to keep the fight standing.
Kogaratsu Masamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Walpole.
Walpole has Masamoto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Masamoto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Walpole is looking to take this one to the mat.

Masamoto manages to break the clinch.
Walpole shoots in for a takedown but Masamoto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Walpole as Masamoto shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walpole shoots in looking for a takedown but Masamoto manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Walpole's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Walpole bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Walpole tries to clinch up
and Masamoto counters with a slapping leg kick.

Masamoto rushes Walpole and presses him up against the cage.
Walpole wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Masamoto gets control of Walpole's arms and successfully pulls guard. Masamoto will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Masamoto wants to control the position but Walpole says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Masamoto preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Masamoto looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Walpole pushes past his half guard into mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masamoto throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Walpole is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Masamoto has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Masamoto!
Masamoto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Masamoto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Masamoto is looking to stand up but Walpole won't let him.
Masamoto stopping the sweep attempt from Walpole.
Walpole throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Walpole utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masamoto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Walpole holds on and takes a little breather.
Masamoto stopping the sweep attempt from Walpole.
Walpole wants to improve his position but instead Masamoto has moved into half guard.
Masamoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Masamoto is trying to control. Walpole wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Walpole wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masamoto controlling the action here.
Masamoto thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Walpole wants to get back to full guard.
Masamoto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Masamoto wants to work for an arm triangle but Walpole is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Masamoto is trying to control. Walpole wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Masamoto is thwarting Walpole's attempts to control the position.
Masamoto tries to pass to full mount but Walpole defends it.
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 Kogaratsu Masamoto will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Horrible takedown attempt by Walpole or perhaps it was just good defense by Masamoto, which made it look bad.
The fighters circling - Walpole throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Masamoto closes this distance looking for a takedown but Walpole circles away.

Walpole moves into the clinch successfully.
Masamoto tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Walpole smiles and moves away.
Masamoto tries to clinch but Walpole is having none of it.
Nice sprawl there from Masamoto as Walpole shoots in.
Walpole misses with a double jab
and Masamoto counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masamoto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Walpole manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Walpole fails to land the takedown.
Kogaratsu Masamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Walpole.
Masamoto tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Walpole defends well and Masamoto ends up having to push Walpole into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Walpole misses with a knee to the head.
Walpole is trying to pull guard but Masamoto turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Masamoto tries to pull guard but Walpole won't allow it.
Walpole tries for a takedown but Masamoto manages to get underhooks.
Walpole is breathing heavily.
Masamoto tries a knee to the head but Walpole blocks it.
Masamoto using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Walpole jumps guard but Masamoto turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Walpole ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Walpole no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Walpole is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walpole keeping full guard, as Masamoto tries to pass.
Masamoto wants to stand but Walpole is controlling his posture from full guard.
Walpole looking to control.
Masamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Walpole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masamoto won't allow Walpole to get back to his feet.
Masamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Walpole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kogaratsu Masamoto.

Masamoto gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Come on Masamoto - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Walpole tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Masamoto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Masamoto jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Walpole walks away with a smile on his face. Masamoto gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Masamoto tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Walpole defends well and Masamoto ends up having to push Walpole into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Masamoto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Walpole prevents it.
Walpole is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Masamoto pulls guard effortlessly.
Walpole showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walpole wants to control from the top but Masamoto keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Walpole is pushing down on Masamoto's leg trying to pass to half guard. Masamoto is fighting to maintain full guard but Walpole has managed to sneak the leg through.
Walpole seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Scott Walpole will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Walpole closes this distance looking for a takedown but Masamoto circles away.
Masamoto misses with a kick to the body.
Masamoto shoots for a double leg takedown but Walpole sprawls well. He's pushed Masamoto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Walpole circles away from the clinch attempt.
Walpole shoots for a double leg takedown but Masamoto sprawls well. He's pushed Walpole's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Masamoto moves into the clinch.
Walpole has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Masamoto after a bit of a struggle.
Kogaratsu Masamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Walpole.

Walpole jumps into guard, dragging Masamoto to the mat.
Masamoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Walpole is retaining full guard.
Walpole is trying to keep Masamoto in close.
Masamoto slips nicely into half guard.
Walpole takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masamoto slows the pace down in half guard.
Walpole is not content to let Masamoto control the position.
Masamoto thows a huge punch but Walpole dodges it nicely.
Masamoto trying to control from Walpole's half guard. Walpole has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Masamoto wants to control from the top but Walpole keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walpole looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Masamoto puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Masamoto content to control rather than advance.
Walpole wants to improve his position but Masamoto is controlling well.
Masamoto stalling away here and it's allowed Walpole to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masamoto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Masamoto is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Masamoto drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Walpole dives on top into guard.
Walpole stands and throws Masamoto's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Walpole is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Masamoto knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walpole looking to control but instead Masamoto has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

Walpole stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Walpole shoots in for a double leg but Masamoto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Masamoto shoots in but no luck this time.
Masamoto tries for a takedown but Walpole sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kogaratsu Masamoto.
I think Masamoto 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Scott Walpole!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Kogaratsu Masamoto!
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Kogaratsu Masamoto!

Kogaratsu Masamoto wins by split decision!