PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Long Wang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuki Masakazu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masakazu has chosen Sepultura - Attitude as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Wang
vs
Masakazu

168 cm
26
139 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

225 cm
26
141 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Sun-Tzu
Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Long Wang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuki Masakazu!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wang clinches.
Masakazu is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Wang.
Masakazu tries for a takedown but Wang manages to get underhooks.

Wang's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Masakazu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Wang swivels and escapes.
Masakazu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Long Wang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuki Masakazu.
Wang will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Wang tries to sprawl but Masakazu drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Masakazu is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Wang has managed to free his arm - good work.

Masakazu wants to work for an arm triangle but Wang is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Masakazu tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wang knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Wang moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Masakazu thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Masakazu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wang swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wang controls Masakazu momentarily but Masakazu frees himself.
Masakazu slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Wang stops Masakazu from passing to mount.

Masakazu tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Wang gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Masakazu is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Wang has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang wants to get back to full guard.
Wang manages to get to full guard.
Wang keeping full guard, as Masakazu tries to pass.
Masakazu slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Masakazu swings around for an armbar but Wang sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Masakazu's guard.

Wang got a little sloppy there for a moment and Masakazu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Wang has managed to get both his arms back between Masakazu's legs - danger averted.

Masakazu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang passes Masakazu's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Masakazu looking for submissions off his back.
Wang trying to control from half guard but Masakazu is working away.

Masakazu looking for submissions off his back.
Wang trying to control from half guard but Masakazu is working away.
Nice strikes from Wang there.
Wang trying to control from half guard but Masakazu is working away.
Wang scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Masakazu looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Masakazu looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wang is trying to control. Masakazu wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Still in half guard, Wang seems content to control.

Masakazu actively working from the bottom here.
Wang wants to get back to his feet.

Masakazu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Wang pulls his head out easily.
Masakazu wants to improve his position but Wang is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wang perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Masakazu won't allow Wang to pass to mount.
Wang has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Long Wang dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Wang forces Masakazu back against the cage and clinches.
Masakazu goes for a takedown attempt but Wang pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Masakazu doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Wang counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Masakazu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wang as he avoids it easily.
Long Wang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuki Masakazu.
Masakazu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Masakazu misses with a takedown

and Wang counters by moving into the clinch.
Wang lands a body shot in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Wang is trying to trip Masakazu. He has hold of a leg but Masakazu is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Wang persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Masakazu has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Wang is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Masakazu.
Wang is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Masakazu can do to turn this around?
Masakazu is looking for a sweep.

Wang has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wang will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Masakazu shoots in and drives through. Wang sprawls well.
Masakazu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wang defends it nicely.
Wang tries to counter with a takedown but Masakazu is quick to defend against it.
Masakazu fails to land the takedown.

Masakazu shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Wang's guard.
Masakazu wants to pass the guard but Wang is keeping the position.
Masakazu is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Masakazu drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Wang dives on top into guard.

Wang has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Masakazu is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Masakazu has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Wang is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Masakazu.
Masakazu taking punishment in the form of punches.
Wang remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Wang looks up at the clock and then as Masakazu takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Wang smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Wang has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Wang tries to control but Masakazu wriggling away.
Masakazu working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang wants to control the pace but Masakazu is squirming around nicely.
Wang raining down shots from the mount!
Masakazu is wriggling around trying to escape.
Wang works his way to his opponent's back.
I really don't envy Masakazu right now.
Wang trying to control momentarily.
Masakazu turns into Wang and is now in his guard.

Masakazu drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Wang dives on top into guard.

Wang looking to pass the guard.

Masakazu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Masakazu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wang trying to control the position from guard on top but Masakazu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wang controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Long Wang overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wang would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Wang with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wang trying to control the position from guard on top but Masakazu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Masakazu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wang gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Wang throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Long Wang dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Wang pushes Masakazu up against the cage in a clinch.
Masakazu being controlled against the cage.
Wang lands a body shot.
Wang prevents the takedown attempt.
Wang lands a damaging elbow.
Wang prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Wang gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Masakazu regains guard.

Masakazu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wang defends well.
Wang trying to control but Masakazu is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wang showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Masakazu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wang is aware though and is defending well.

Masakazu looking for a guillotine here but Wang defends easily.

Masakazu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Masakazu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wang advances position into side control!
Wang is looking to take a break and control but Masakazu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Masakazu is looking for a sweep.
Long Wang is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Wang politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Wang prefers to stall for the moment though.
Masakazu is looking for a sweep.
Masakazu is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Wang off and has taken his back!
Masakazu avoiding Wang 's attempts to control his hands.
Masakazu keeps control of the position as Wang tries to break free.
Wang wants to control his opponent's hands but Masakazu gets his hands free.

Masakazu is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Wang defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Wang defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Masakazu's arms.
Wang is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Masakazu patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Wang trying to control the position but Masakazu manages to sink in the hooks.
Wang tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Wang is trying to escape the mount.
Wang has given up his back. Will we see Masakazu going for some submissions?

Wang is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Masakazu gets his way!

Masakazu is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Wang is defending well though. Masakazu let's go of the attempt for now.
Wang trying to control the position but Masakazu manages to sink in the hooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Masakazu looking for the choke but no joy.
Masakazu is trying to stick to Wang's back but Wang is turning into Masakazu. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Masakazu's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Wang.
Wang trying to control the position from guard on top but Masakazu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Masakazu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wang trying to control the position from guard on top but Masakazu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yuki Masakazu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yuki Masakazu.
Well Wang has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Long Wang!
Yuki Masakazu spoke after the fight, saying 'He got lucky! I'll be back!'.