PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dane Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denzel Slater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Denzel Slater has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mason
vs
Slater

196 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dane Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Denzel Slater!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mason tries to clinch but Slater moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Slater misses.

Mason gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Slater won't allow Mason to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mason wants to get back to his feet but Slater is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Mason is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Slater is aware though and is defending well.
Mason keeping moving, preventing Slater from controlling successfully.

Mason looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mason looking for a guillotine here but Slater defends easily.
Mason utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mason had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Slater defends it easily.
Slater would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mason is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mason could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Mason might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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

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

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.
Slater working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mason's head.
Mason keeping moving, preventing Slater from controlling successfully.

Mason escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Slater gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mason is breathing heavily.
Slater wants to control from the top but Mason keeps moving.
Slater wants to get up but he can't break Mason's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Slater passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Slater working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason tries to buck Slater off but Slater is having none of it.
Slater trying to control the action but Mason is working from the bottom.
Slater gets to mount! Mason was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Slater trying to control but Mason is having none of it.
Slater lands a couple of good shots and Mason has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Mason looking very determined here, making life difficult for Slater.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason is trying to break free.
Slater lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Slater.
Slater is punishing Mason with some ground and pound.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Slater's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Mason is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Slater trying to control momentarily.
Slater doesn't have the hooks in and Mason manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Denzel Slater will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Slater feints and as Mason raises his hands in defense, Slater changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Mason manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Mason gets caught napping as Slater dives in and scores a takedown. Mason manages to retain guard.

Mason wriggles free and stands up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mason tries to clinch up.
Mason moves in looking to clinch but Slater pushes him off.
Slater tries to counter with a clinch but Mason shakes him off and moves away.
Slater throws a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mason looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Slater moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mason pulls guard successfully.
Slater is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mason keeping moving, preventing Slater from controlling successfully.
Slater has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mason is proving hard to escape from.

Mason looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Slater passes into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Slater trying to control the position but Mason is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mason wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Slater decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Slater looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mason!
Slater working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Mason stops Slater from passing to mount.

Slater working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Slater is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Slater happy to just control the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason tries to buck Slater off but Slater is having none of it.
Mason gets back to half guard.
Mason moves into full guard.

Mason pushes a forearm under Slater's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Slater is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Dane Mason!