PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nickolas Duke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AJ Masters (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.

Duke
vs
Masters

178 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 Sydney, Nickolas Duke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, AJ Masters!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Steve Erwin and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Masters rushes Duke and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Masters jumps guard but Duke stands there with Masters around his waist. Masters gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Masters keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Duke's efforts to push away.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Masters tries to land a knee to the head but Duke blocks with his arms.
Masters lands a nice elbow.

Masters breaks from the clinch.
AJ Masters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Duke avoids a kick to the body.

Masters rushes Duke and presses him up against the cage.
Masters with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masters working Duke over with knees to the body.
Duke slowing the pace effectively.
Masters landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Duke is breathing heavily.
Duke is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Masters with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Nickolas Duke has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Masters manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Masters is controlling Duke's posture.

Masters pushes Duke off and scrambles back to his feet.

Masters moves into the clinch.

Masters pulls guard successfully.

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

Masters pushes Duke off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Masters lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Duke or not.
Duke tries to break the clinch but Masters is controlling the position.
Duke takes an elbow to the forehead.
Duke tries to break free but Masters pushes him back against the cage.
Masters tries for a takedown but Duke manages to get underhooks.
Nickolas Duke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Masters.
Masters is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Duke gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A bit of stalling here from Masters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masters fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Masters tries to pull guard but Duke won't allow it.
Duke prevents a takedown attempt there.

Masters breaks from the clinch.

Masters moves into range and clinches up with Duke.
Duke trying to control the position but instead, Masters has worked for underhooks and has pushed Duke into the cage.
Masters jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Duke walks away with a smile on his face. Masters gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Masters tries to score a power double leg takedown but Duke sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Masters somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Masters has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Duke is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Masters stops a takedown attempt from Duke.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Masters manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Masters dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nickolas Duke's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Masters tries to clinch up.
Masters's corner calls for a 1-2. Masters obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Masters shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Duke was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Duke rushes Masters and presses him up against the cage.
Masters lands a right hand that snaps the head of Duke backwards.

Masters's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Masters tries to clinch but Duke is having none of it.
Duke seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Duke tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Masters manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masters tries to clinch but Duke moves away
and Duke counters with a big head kick but Masters shrugs it off.
Masters has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Duke tries to clinch but Masters is having none of it.
Masters shoots in looking for a takedown but Duke manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Masters's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Duke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters fails with a takedown attempt.
Nickolas Duke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Masters.
Masters is breathing heavily.
Duke circles away from the clinch attempt
and Duke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Duke defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Masters.
Duke throwing a counter right hand but Masters manages to avoid it.

Masters closes the distance and clinches.
Duke looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Duke is trying to break free.
AJ Masters seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Duke is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duke wants to stall.
With the fighters up against the cage, Masters throws an elbow but misses.

Masters breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Masters clinches.
Masters has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Duke is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Masters throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Duke jumps guard but Masters stands there with Duke around his waist. Duke gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Duke prevents a takedown attempt there.
Duke tries to circle away but Masters has him pinned against the cage.
Masters letting Duke take a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masters looking to throw knees to the head but Duke is blocking nicely.
Duke is looking to take this one to the mat.
Masters is trying to pull guard but Duke turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Duke tries to break the clinch but Masters is controlling the position.
Masters is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Duke pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Duke has picked Masters up - he's going for a ride! Duke dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Masters wants to get back to full guard but Duke has mounted him!

Duke jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Masters manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Masters takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Duke is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Masters knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Duke landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nickolas Duke dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nickolas Duke's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Duke circles away from the clinch attempt.
Duke was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Masters has his takedown stuffed
and Duke counters with a nice uppercut.
Masters tries to clinch but Duke moves out of range.
And Duke counters with a quick kick to the body but Masters blocks it.
Masters closes the distance and clinches up with Duke, looking for a takedown. Masters pushes Duke against the cage but Duke circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Masters moves to clinch but Duke breaks away
and Duke counters with a stiff right hand.

Duke darts in and clinches Masters up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duke letting Masters take a breather here.
Duke managing to block the knees to the body from Masters.
Duke blocks an elbow strike from Masters.
Masters throws an elbow but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duke has had enough of the clinch but Masters keeps him there for the moment.
Duke wants to stall.
Duke is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Masters is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Duke is defending well for now.
Masters putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Duke in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Masters has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Duke after a bit of a struggle.
Nickolas Duke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Masters.
Masters takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Masters is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Duke pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Duke has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Masters is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Masters lands a nice shot to the body.
Masters lands a left hand.
Masters is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Duke has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Masters is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masters trying to land knees to the body.
Duke has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Duke is looking to take this one to the mat.
Duke is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Duke drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A left hand lands to the body for Masters.
Duke takes a knee to the side of the body.
Masters stalling.
Masters with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Masters breaks from the clinch.

Masters has managed to clinch.
Masters lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Duke takes an elbow to the temple.
Masters is trying to pull guard but Duke turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Duke is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Masters misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Masters keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Duke's efforts to push away.
Duke is stalling here.
Duke is pressed up against the cage. Masters has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Duke down to the mat. Duke avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Duke rushes Masters and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Duke.
Masters with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Masters missing with knees to the body.

Masters breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Duke misses with a takedown attempt - Masters sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Duke has Masters up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Masters unloads a knee to the mid-section.

And that's the end of the fight!
AJ Masters comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Masters 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... AJ Masters!