PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Sakamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mason
vs
Sakamoto

178 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Hates pizza

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hiro Sakamoto!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakamoto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mason attempts a counter takedown but Sakamoto avoids it well and moves away.
Sakamoto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mason swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakamoto looks for a takedown but Mason sprawls well.

Sakamoto throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mason tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sakamoto is in Mason's guard.

Mason escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakamoto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sakamoto lands a couple of elbows.

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

Mason has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sakamoto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakamoto keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mason's head.

Sakamoto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mason keeping moving, preventing Sakamoto from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakamoto drops back looking for a leg! Mason is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mason manages to kick Sakamoto off! Sakamoto jumps back into Mason's guard.

Sakamoto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mason on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mason tries to get out of the position.
Sakamoto is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Mason has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sakamoto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mason has momentary wrist control but Sakamoto slips an elbow through the middle.
Sakamoto controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sakamoto landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two 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.

Sakamoto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sakamoto is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Mason has an active guard here but Sakamoto has managed to pass into half guard.
Sakamoto drops an elbow to the side of Mason's head.
Sakamoto working Mason over with strikes.
Mason wants to improve his position but Sakamoto is controlling well.
Sakamoto passes the guard and advances to mount!
Sakamoto lands a heavy elbow.
Sakamoto with the ground and pound from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mason is bucking up trying to escape but Sakamoto cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sakamoto punishing his opponent with strikes.
Mason is working to get back to half guard.
Mason is working hard here to advance position.
Mason is breathing heavily.

Sakamoto looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Mason is in a horrible position here. Sakamoto smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Sakamoto looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sakamoto looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sakamoto prevents Mason from getting the reversal.
Sakamoto is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Mason can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto looking to finish Mason with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mason!
Sakamoto with shots to the head and body - Mason looks very uncomfortable down there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mason is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mason takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sakamoto controlling his opponent.
Sakamoto punishing his opponent with strikes.

Mason is rocked!
Mason tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Sakamoto is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Mason to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Mason shrugs it off.
Sakamoto lands a big shot there that rocks Mason but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Oh Mason is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mason working to try and regain half guard.

Mason has left one of his arms exposed and Sakamoto doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Mason screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hiro Sakamoto!