PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Geraldo Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rio De Niro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mason
vs
De Niro

155 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

178 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Geraldo Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rio De Niro!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Phil Schofield and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Niro avoids a punch combination nicely.
De Niro is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Mason with a body shot.

De Niro decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
De Niro 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.
De Niro sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mason defending well though.
De Niro not doing much here.
De Niro has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
De Niro with shots to the head and body - Mason looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason is looking to get to half guard.
De Niro trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mason tries to control the position but De Niro now has his back.
Mason tries to roll but De Niro sticks to his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mason trying to control the position but De Niro manages to sink in the hooks.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mason preventing the rear naked choke attempt from De Niro.

De Niro looking for the choke but no joy.
Mason covers up after that shot from De Niro.
Mason could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason trying to get back to his feet but De Niro is in full control for now.
Mason trying to control but not successfully.
De Niro lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
De Niro trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Mason tries to escape but De Niro has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
De Niro lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
De Niro throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Niro trying to control momentarily.
De Niro gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
You can see the frustration on Mason's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Mason looking very determined here, making life difficult for De Niro.
Mason might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mason just trying to survive but De Niro is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
De Niro lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by De Niro.

De Niro is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Mason trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
De Niro controlling well, preventing Mason from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mason defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of De Niro's arms.
De Niro keeps control of the position as Mason tries to break free.

De Niro has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

De Niro is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Mason defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
De Niro looks winded!
Mason tries to break free.

Mason fending off the submission attempt from De Niro.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rio De Niro dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

De Niro scores with a takedown into Mason's guard.
De Niro lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mason preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mason wants to sweep but no luck.
De Niro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason wants to stand and escape but De Niro is having none of it.
Mason manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. De Niro manages to get himself to full guard.

De Niro is trying to control the position but Mason postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Niro has control of Mason's left arm, preventing Mason from doing any damage.
Rio De Niro has got the better of the ground game so far.

De Niro looking for subs off his back but Mason has passed one foot through into half guard.
De Niro wants to get back to full guard but Mason has mounted him!
The referee warns De Niro that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Niro wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

De Niro showing good submission defense here.
You can see the frustration on De Niro's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
De Niro turns into Mason and is now in his guard.
De Niro trying to control but Mason is working from the bottom.
De Niro has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mason working a defensive guard but De Niro passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason is looking to escape.
Mason is looking to control De Niro's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mason avoid being mounted?
Mason moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
De Niro is breathing heavily.
Mason wants to sweep but no luck.

De Niro postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mason is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of De Niro, into his guard.

Mason wants to stand but De Niro has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mason stopping the sweep attempt from De Niro.
De Niro has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Mason has passed into side control.
De Niro is looking for a sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geraldo Mason dominated that second round.
That's time! Mason's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mason misses with a jab, cross combination.
De Niro avoids the head kick by Mason.

De Niro gets the takedown into side control.

Mason throws De Niro to one side and escapes!

De Niro closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mason to the mat! Mason manages to get full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Niro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mason swivels though and keeps the full guard.
De Niro works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mason tries to kick De Niro off but De Niro keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
De Niro blocks the strikes from Mason.
Mason works his way to full guard. Good work.
De Niro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
De Niro wants to control from the top but Mason keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason wants to stand but De Niro is controlling the position.
De Niro advances position into side control!
Mason is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on De Niro's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Mason is trying to maintain the position but De Niro is very close to passing his half guard.
Mason blocking the ground and pound attempt from De Niro.
De Niro wants to control but Mason is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
De Niro is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Mason manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. De Niro keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

De Niro has Mason pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. De Niro pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Mason tumbling to the mat - De Niro dives into Mason's guard.

Mason manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Mason jumps guard but De Niro turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mason can't break the clinch.

Mason breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mason fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

De Niro shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. De Niro showed some decent athleticism there.
Mason manages to get to full guard.
Mason wants to hit a switch here but De Niro passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Mason there!
De Niro can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mason is looking to escape.
Mason is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason regains half guard.
Mason trying to control but De Niro postures up.
Mason punching from the bottom.
Mason tries to push off, looking to stand up, but De Niro manages to move to mount!
De Niro trying to control but he's not successful this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Geraldo Mason.
I think Mason 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Geraldo Mason!