PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Callaghan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richard Callaghan has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Craig Mason's chin.

Mason
vs
Callaghan

178 cm
41
181 lbs
36 - 19 - 0

185 cm
38
185 lbs
35 - 17 - 3

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Steel Penn\'s Laundry 80% LAUNDRY IS AVAILABLE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 19 - 0, fighting out of London, Craig Mason!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 17 - 3, fighting out of Montreal, Richard Callaghan!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Callaghan.
Callaghan on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Mason closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Callaghan's guard.
Mason looking to pass the guard.

Mason postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Callaghan is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mason, into his guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Callaghan controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mason looking for subs off his back but Callaghan has passed one foot through into half guard.
Callaghan is looking to pass Mason's guard but actually Mason recovers to full guard.
I've been told that Callaghan has been drilling his wrestling of late, which has already helped him take this fight to the mat. Let's see how much of an impact it has on the outcome of the ground game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mason looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mason had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Callaghan defends it easily.

Mason looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mason being controlled here, momentarily.
Callaghan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mason is keeping the position for now.

Mason is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Callaghan is aware though and is defending well.
Mason wants to sweep but no luck.
Callaghan stays in close to Mason's body and controls the position.
Mason wants to sweep but no luck.
Mason wants to get back to his feet but Callaghan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callaghan sitting in guard here, content to control.
Callaghan trying to control the position from guard on top but Mason is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Callaghan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mason being controlled here, momentarily.
Mason has Callaghan pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Richard Callaghan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A combination from Mason does no damage.
Mason throws a big shot that misses.
Callaghan throws a combination. Mason tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Craig Mason has been cut.
We've been told by Mason's head coaches at Laoch Den that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Mason slips a jab and a cross from Callaghan.
Callaghan avoids the body shot from Mason.
Callaghan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mason manages to avoid it.
Callaghan doesn't manage to clinch there - Mason circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mason throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Callaghan throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mason.

Mason closes the distance and pushes Callaghan back into the cage.
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 Craig Mason will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Craig Mason's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mason throws a jab when Callaghan was well out of range.
Callaghan delivers a nice body kick.
Callaghan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mason.
Mason looks to land a right hand but Callaghan moved out of range.
Mason with a nice cross.

Mason clinches up against the cage.

Callaghan breaks from the clinch.
Richard Callaghan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mason has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Callaghan.
Callaghan scores with a head kick. Mason tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Callaghan with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mason falls off balance throwing a combination
and Callaghan counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Callaghan misses with a double jab.

Mason instigates a clinch.
Callaghan pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Mason avoids the elbow strike from Callaghan, against the cage.
Mason digs a right hand underneath Callaghan's ribcage. Callaghan let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Mason tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Callaghan lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Mason.
Callaghan blocking some punches.
Callaghan working Mason over with knees to the body.
Mason avoiding damage as Callaghan throws knees to the body.
Mason misses with a hook from the clinch.
Callaghan tries to land a knee to the head but Mason blocks with his arms.
A short left from Callaghan.
Mason working aggressively here.
Mason lands a right hand that snaps the head of Callaghan backwards.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Callaghan just misses with a elbow thrown towards Mason's brow.
Callaghan blocks a body shot from Mason.
Callaghan pushes Mason back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Callaghan lands a nice uppercut.
Richard Callaghan seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mason misses with a body punch.
Mason stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mason creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mason doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Callaghan comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Callaghan scores a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Callaghan tries to land knees in the clinch but Mason avoids the damage to the body.
Mason lands a left hand that snaps the head of Callaghan backwards.
Callaghan lands a nice elbow.
Mason fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Callaghan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knees to the body from Callaghan.
Mason throws a head punch that misses.
Mason wants a takedown.
Nice elbow from Callaghan.

Craig Mason's cut is getting worse.
Mason can't find room to land a body shot as Callaghan controls the action.
Mason prevents a body shot from Callaghan.

Callaghan breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Callaghan.

Mason darts in and clinches Callaghan up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Callaghan.
Callaghan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mason lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Callaghan.
Callaghan crunches a lovely knee into Mason's ribcage.
Callaghan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nice body punch from Mason - that landed with a thud.
Callaghan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mason backwards.
Mason tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Callaghan looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Mason misses with a hook to the ribs.
Callaghan lands with a right to the head.
Callaghan working the clinch nicely. Mason is working for position but Callaghan cracks him with a big knee to the head! Mason crumples up against the cage and Callaghan lands two more shots before the ref can save Mason! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee & Punches). Richard Callaghan! Richard Callaghan retains his welterweight title!
Richard Callaghan seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.