PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gene Sarazen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zane Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sarazen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Montana of 300 - Chiraq (remix). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sarazen
vs
Mason

180 cm
33
169 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

180 cm
28
174 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KAISER
Sun-Tzu

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250
Sun-Tzu

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 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gene Sarazen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zane Mason!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sarazen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mason throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sarazen avoids the head kick by Mason.

Mason takes the fight into the clinch.
Sarazen is trying to drag Mason to the mat but Mason just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mason misses with a punch on the inside.
Sarazen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Mason's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sarazen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mason.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sarazen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mason sprawls well initially but Sarazen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sarazen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sarazen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sarazen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mason defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sarazen content to control rather than advance.
Sarazen is pressing down on Mason's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mason is holding on for now.
Sarazen content to control rather than advance.
Mason is not content to let Sarazen control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Sarazen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mason tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Sarazen has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Sarazen is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Mason has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Mason!
Sarazen pulls Mason in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarazen continues to stall.
Sarazen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sarazen controls Mason momentarily but Mason frees himself.
Sarazen pulls Mason in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mason is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mason stopping the sweep attempt from Sarazen.
Sarazen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sarazen trying to control the position from guard on top but Mason is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mason trying to control the position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mason looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gene Sarazen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sarazen moves out of range of the strikes.
Mason swings for the body but Sarazen moves out of range.
Mason throws a head kick but Sarazen moves out of range.
Mason tries to clinch but Sarazen is having none of it.
Sarazen's corner calls for a 1-2. Sarazen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Mason throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sarazen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Mason has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mason there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mason moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sarazen closes the distance and clinches up with Mason, looking for a takedown. Sarazen pushes Mason against the cage but Mason circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sarazen keeps the fight on the outside.
Mason uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sarazen.
Mason moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason misses with an uppercut
and Sarazen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sarazen cracks the inside of Mason's front leg.
The fighters circling - Sarazen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sarazen looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Mason gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sarazen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sarazen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sarazen throws a strike but Mason rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sarazen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mason seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sarazen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mason can do to turn this around?
Let's hope that Mason has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sarazen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mason in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sarazen wants to sweep but no luck.
Sarazen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Sarazen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mason postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarazen pulls Mason in to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mason wants to control from the top but Sarazen keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mason slips a jab from Sarazen.
A telegraphed right hand from Sarazen misses the target.
Mason moves out of range of the body kick.
Sarazen connects with a single shot there.
Sarazen scores with a decent looking hook.
Mason tests Sarazen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sarazen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Mason jabs Sarazen right on the nose. Sarazen blinks but takes it well.
Mason with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sarazen throws a looping overhand right but Mason ducks down to avoid it.
Sarazen wants to slow Mason down by chopping away at his legs.
Sarazen takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Sarazen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sarazen throws a jab but it's blocked by Mason.
Mason lands with a nice body kick.
Sarazen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sarazen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sloppy strikes from Mason. Those never looked like landing.
Mason moves forwards but Sarazen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sarazen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mason.
Sarazen misses with an uppercut.
A big right from Sarazen misses.
Mason is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Sarazen with a body shot.
A combination from Mason does no damage.
Sarazen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mason but Mason pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mason just misses with a punch to the body.
Sarazen misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gene Sarazen dominated that second round.
That's time! Sarazen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sarazen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A low kick from Mason is predictable there
and Sarazen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sarazen is defended easily by Mason.

Sarazen tries to keep at a distance but Mason has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sarazen prevents a body shot from Mason.
Sarazen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mason.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sarazen.
Sarazen has Mason pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mason manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mason trying to control the position but instead, Sarazen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mason into the cage.
Mason misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason slows down the pace here.
Mason scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sarazen prevents a body shot from Mason.
Mason gets underhooks to prevent Sarazen's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gene Sarazen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sarazen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sarazen can't get the takedown.

Mason breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mason takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sarazen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sarazen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mason.
Mason looks for the body kick but Sarazen saw that one coming.
Sarazen thinks about countering with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sarazen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sarazen takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Gene Sarazen has been cut.
Sarazen throws an off balance right hand
and Mason counters with a nice body kick.
Mason throws out a leg kick but Sarazen moves out of range and Mason only half commits.
Mason avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sarazen takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sarazen throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Mason counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sarazen lands with an overhand left.

Sarazen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mason is trying to defend but Sarazen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gene Sarazen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sarazen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Mason trying to control from the bottom.
Mason is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarazen thows a huge punch but Mason dodges it nicely.
Mason is staying active underneath Sarazen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sarazen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mason defending well though.
Sarazen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mason with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mason is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sarazen wants to control but Mason is keeping him busy.
Sarazen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mason's head.
Mason is staying active underneath Sarazen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sarazen scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sarazen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mason is just riding it out for now. Sarazen eventually gives up the hold.
Nice strikes from Sarazen there.
Sarazen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sarazen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mason keeps working.
Sarazen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mason with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sarazen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mason does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Zane Mason just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Gene Sarazen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mason shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Mason swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sarazen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sarazen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sarazen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mason throws a solid leg kick but Sarazen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Mason.
A nice combination there by Sarazen.
A good leg kick by Mason.
Mason just misses with a punch to the body.
Mason takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sarazen cracks a nice hook into Mason's ribs.
That kick from Sarazen tenderised Mason's leg. Mason is trying to keep his angry face on.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mason!
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!
Mason swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mason closes the distance but Sarazen moves to the side
and Sarazen counters with a stiff right hand.
Gene Sarazen is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason blocks a jab.
Mason misses with a body kick.
Mason ducks under a wild hook from Sarazen.
Sarazen tries to score with a low kick but Mason moves his leg out of the way.
Sarazen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sarazen moves out of range as Mason strikes.
Sarazen dives in for a single leg takedown but Mason sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Good leg kick by Sarazen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nice straight punches there by Mason. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Mason.
Mason throws a shot from downtown. Sarazen moves away and avoids it.
Sarazen just misses with a punch to the body.
Mason misses with a body shot.
Zane Mason is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mason throws out a leg kick but Sarazen moves out of range and Mason only half commits.
Mason lands with an overhand left.
Sarazen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mason.
Mason showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sarazen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sarazen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mason's sensitive parts.
That kick from Mason tenderised Sarazen's leg. Sarazen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Mason blocks a head kick by Sarazen.
Mason throws a fast counter high kick but Sarazen manages to duck under it in time.
Mason defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sarazen.
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!
Mason jabs Sarazen to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sarazen swings for the body but Mason moves out of range.
Sarazen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mason can pounce on him.
Sarazen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Mason throws a jab when Sarazen was well out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Sarazen misses the target.
Mason misses with an uppercut.
Mason connects with a crisp jab.
Mason blocks a head kick by Sarazen.
Sarazen fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gene Sarazen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Sarazen blocks the low kick.
Mason lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Mason lands with a straight right. Sarazen didn't see that one coming.
Mason connects with a looping right hand.
A shot to the body from Mason misses
and Sarazen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sarazen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mason's calf.
An inside leg kick from Mason misses.
Sarazen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mason throws a wild body kick that Sarazen sees coming a mile off.
Mason avoids the body shot from Sarazen.
Sarazen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sarazen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Mason uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sarazen.
Mason throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mason throws out a leg kick but Sarazen moves out of range and Mason only half commits.
Mason throws a push kick but Sarazen slaps the foot to one side.
Sarazen swats away the attempt to clinch by Mason.
Mason is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sarazen.
Mason is looking to clinch but Sarazen is avoiding it.
Nice uppercut there from Sarazen.
Mason scores with a jab. Sarazen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sarazen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sarazen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mason avoids it really well and circles away.
Mason misses with a straight right.
Sarazen checks a low kick from Mason.
Sarazen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Zane Mason will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Gene Sarazen's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sarazen misses the shot to the body.
Sarazen slips under a jab from Mason.
Sarazen slips a jab from Mason.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sarazen, right into the meat.
Mason looks to score with a jab to the body but Sarazen is just out of range.
Sarazen has a takedown stuffed.
Mason with a jab.
Mason lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Mason is looking to score with low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sarazen.
Sarazen missing with a left hand there. Mason was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mason throws a leg kick that misses.
Sarazen feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Nice cross by Sarazen.
Mason avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mason now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Sarazen.
Mason misses with a head kick.
Mason throws a leg kick but Sarazen moved away.
Sarazen wants to land a leg kick but Mason is out of range.
A little jabbing left from Mason on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Nice defenses there by Mason.
Sarazen blocks a low kick nicely.
Sarazen looks to throw a body kick
and Mason counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mason moves out of range of the body kick from Sarazen.
Sarazen looks to land a left hand but Mason moved out of range nicely.
Sarazen looks for the body kick but Mason saw that one coming.
Sarazen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mason.
Mason's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Mason stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sarazen.
Mason bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sarazen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mason throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sarazen's head.
Mason ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sarazen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
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!
Sarazen looks to score with a jab to the body but Mason is just out of range.
An inside leg kick from Sarazen misses.
Sarazen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Mason scores with a push kick.
Mason has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sarazen.
Sarazen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mason.
Mason blocks a jab.
Mason lands a nice shot that snaps Sarazen's head back.
Sarazen looks to score with a jab to the body but Mason is just out of range.
Mason misses with a two punch combination.
Sarazen seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Sarazen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mason swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mason throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mason throws a hook but Sarazen avoids it easily.
Sarazen misses with an uppercut. Mason saw that one coming.
Sarazen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sarazen fails to land the takedown.
Mason works the jab nicely.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Sarazen crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Mason - the referee stops the clock and Sarazen gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Mason. Sarazen manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Mason throws a body shot but no joy.
Mason throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mason lands a jab to the head.
Mason tries to clinch but Sarazen moves out of range.
Mason stuns Sarazen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mason lands with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Sarazen.
Sarazen blocks the body kick.
Sarazen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sarazen misses with a leg kick
and Mason counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sarazen with a nice cross.
Mason throws a hook to the side of Sarazen's head but Sarazen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mason has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Mason wants to clinch.
Sarazen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mason's sensitive parts.
Sarazen throws a shot from downtown. Mason moves away and avoids it.
Sarazen throws a hook to the side of Mason's head but Mason sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zane Mason comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mason 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 47:48
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 47:48
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zane Mason!
Zane Mason is the new welterweight champion!
A relieved looking Zane Mason thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.