PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Earl Raymond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Raymond
vs
Mason

173 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

205 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Earl Raymond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kyle Mason!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mason closes the distance and clinches.
Raymond fails to pull guard.

Mason works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Mason engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Raymond knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mason on the ground.
Mason trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Mason has gone for a leg lock! Raymond slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mason's guard.

Raymond in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raymond scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Raymond postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Raymond throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mason works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Mason has his foot on Raymond's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Raymond works his way back into a safe position though.

Mason throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Raymond's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Raymond working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mason's head.
Raymond throwing strikes from guard but Mason blocks nicely.
Raymond might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Raymond is looking to work some ground and pound but Mason has wrist control.
Raymond throwing strikes from guard but Mason blocks nicely.
Raymond throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
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.
Raymond is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Raymond tries to stand but Mason is controlling from the bottom.
Raymond really is a fat lump.

Raymond stands up and waves to Mason to follow him.

Mason moves into the clinch.
Mason scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Earl Raymond has been cut.
Raymond is trying to pull guard but Mason turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mason's coach down at Tsar's Iron Addicts Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Mason's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Mason connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mason has Raymond pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Mason pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Raymond tumbling to the mat - Mason dives into Raymond's guard.
Mason throwing strikes from guard but Raymond blocks nicely.
Mason wants to stand and escape but instead Raymond has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Raymond stands up over Mason, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Raymond is in close to Mason's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Raymond throws an elbow that misses. Mason uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Raymond's guard. Nice move by Mason!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mason wants to control from the top but Raymond keeps moving.
Mason distracts Raymond with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mason wants to get up but he can't break Raymond's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mason trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Raymond manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Raymond is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mason has a closed guard, preventing Raymond from standing up.
Raymond postures up in Mason's guard and throws a big left but Mason blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Mason dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Earl Raymond's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Raymond clinches up against the cage.

Mason has clasped his hands together around Raymond's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Mason looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Raymond tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Mason goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Raymond has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mason but great work by Raymond.
Raymond tries to get to his feet but Mason is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Raymond in his guard.
Raymond wants to stand but Mason has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mason looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Raymond is defending well. Mason quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Raymond has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Mason celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kyle Mason!