PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keith Masters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Babies Die Antwoord (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masters comes to the cage accompanied by hall of fame. Babies Die Antwoord struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 172.5lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Babies Die Antwoord will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Masters
vs
Die Antwoord

173 cm
20
176 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
16
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Keith Masters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Babies Die Antwoord!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Die Antwoord keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Masters will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Die Antwoord changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Masters moves into the clinch.
Good body shot from Masters.
Masters stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Masters has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Die Antwoord after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keith Masters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masters working hard to break the clinch.
Masters works on Die Antwoord's body with a couple of short punches.
Masters is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Masters has Die Antwoord pushed against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Masters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Die Antwoord is pressed up against the cage. Masters has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Die Antwoord down to the mat. Die Antwoord avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Masters shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Die Antwoord as he avoids it easily.
Masters tries to clinch up but Die Antwoord circles away and keeps his distance.
Masters attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Masters moves into the clinch.

Die Antwoord breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Masters fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masters throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Die Antwoord's waist but Die Antwoord gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Masters off to one side.
And Die Antwoord tries to counter it with a takedown but Masters pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Masters closes this distance looking for a takedown but Die Antwoord circles away.
Die Antwoord tries to counter with a clinch but Masters shakes him off and moves away.
Masters shoots in but Die Antwoord avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Masters shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Die Antwoord defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masters shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Die Antwoord pinned against the cage. Die Antwoord gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Die Antwoord is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Masters looks for a takedown but Die Antwoord sprawls well.

Masters moves into the clinch.
Masters can't break the clinch.

That's four 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.
Die Antwoord is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Masters gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Die Antwoord misses with a knee to the head.

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

Masters rushes Die Antwoord and presses him up against the cage.
Masters lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Die Antwoord or not.
Masters lands a body punch in the clinch.
Die Antwoord throws a knee to the head but misses.
Die Antwoord using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Masters has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Masters has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Die Antwoord uses from the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Masters lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Die Antwoord can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Masters controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Masters dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Masters has his takedown stuffed

and Die Antwoord counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Die Antwoord.
Masters tries to pull guard but Die Antwoord forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Masters trying to land knees to the body.
Die Antwoord wants to take the fight to the mat but Masters manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Masters throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Die Antwoord blocks it with crossed arms.
Die Antwoord avoiding damage as Masters throws knees to the body.
Die Antwoord tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masters trying to land knees to the body.
Masters just leaning against Die Antwoord, taking a breather.

Die Antwoord breaks from the clinch.
Masters is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Die Antwoord can do to turn this around?
Masters dives in for a single leg takedown but Die Antwoord sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keith Masters. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters fails to land the takedown.
Die Antwoord drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Masters defends it well.
Die Antwoord stuffs the takedown.
Masters has his takedown stuffed

and Die Antwoord counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Masters kicks Die Antwoord off and gets to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Masters gets a clinch.
Die Antwoord has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Masters avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Masters pulls Die Antwoord into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Die Antwoord accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Die Antwoord accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Masters might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Masters tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Die Antwoord postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Die Antwoord keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Masters's head.
Die Antwoord missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Die Antwoord with a flurry of punches that miss.
Keith Masters overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Die Antwoord throws a big right hand that misses.
Die Antwoord throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Masters works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Die Antwoord is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Masters has momentary wrist control but Die Antwoord slips an elbow through the middle.
Die Antwoord throwing strikes from guard but Masters blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Die Antwoord cracks Masters with a solid left hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Masters controls Die Antwoord momentarily but Die Antwoord frees himself.
Die Antwoord preventing the sweep.
Die Antwoord throwing strikes but missing.
Masters is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Masters stalling.
Die Antwoord misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masters is controlling the pace.
Masters sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Die Antwoord defending well though.
Masters seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Die Antwoord does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Masters sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Die Antwoord defending well though.
Die Antwoord has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Die Antwoord tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Die Antwoord missing with punches from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Keith Masters will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Masters has closed the distance and engaged Die Antwoord in a clinch.
Die Antwoord tries for a takedown. No joy.
Masters's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Masters is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Die Antwoord is defending well for now.
Masters is trying to drag Die Antwoord to the mat but Die Antwoord just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Die Antwoord keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Masters's efforts to push away.
Masters looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters gets underhooks to prevent Die Antwoord's takedown attempt.
Die Antwoord takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Die Antwoord avoiding damage as Masters throws knees to the body.
Masters lands a nice shot to the body.
Die Antwoord gets underhooks to prevent Masters's takedown attempt.
Die Antwoord blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Die Antwoord is pressed up against the cage. Masters has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Die Antwoord down to the mat. Die Antwoord avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keith Masters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masters fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Masters clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Die Antwoord escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Die Antwoord. No joy for Masters on that attempt.
Masters is trying hard to land a takedown here. Die Antwoord sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Masters closes the distance and clinches up with Die Antwoord, looking for a takedown. Masters pushes Die Antwoord against the cage but Die Antwoord circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Babies Die Antwoord is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Masters tries to clinch but Die Antwoord moves away

and Die Antwoord counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Die Antwoord working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Die Antwoord lands a nice short elbow.
Masters pushes Die Antwoord off looking to stand but Die Antwoord dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Die Antwoord lands strikes from half guard.
Die Antwoord looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Die Antwoord lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nice strikes from Die Antwoord there.
Masters trying to control here.
Masters is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Die Antwoord scores with a couple of nice shots.
Die Antwoord looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Masters with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Die Antwoord lands a nice short elbow.
Die Antwoord drops an elbow to the side of Masters's head.
Die Antwoord lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Die Antwoord there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Die Antwoord slips a nice elbow through Masters's hands, connecting with Masters's forehead.
Die Antwoord lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Die Antwoord missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Masters has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Die Antwoord is working away from the top position though.

Masters pushes Die Antwoord off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Masters looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Babies Die Antwoord comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Masters 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 Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keith Masters!
A victorious Keith Masters thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.