PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gregory Erickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Masino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Erickson comes to the cage accompanied by Valhalla . Masino has chosen Il Padrino as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Erickson
vs
Masino

193 cm
26
263 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
26
250 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gregory Erickson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Don Masino!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Erickson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Erickson swats away the attempt to clinch by Masino.
It looked like Erickson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Erickson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Erickson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Erickson misses with a shot to the body
and Erickson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson swinging wildly here.
It seemed like Masino was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Erickson misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Masino looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Erickson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Masino.
Erickson misses with a few strikes there.
Erickson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Masino momentarily.

It looks like Don Masino has been cut.
Masino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Masino clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masino swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Masino blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Erickson tries to circle away but Masino has him pinned against the cage.
Erickson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Masino pushes Erickson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Masino fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Masino scores with a nice short uppercut.
Masino swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Erickson misses with a punch on the inside.
Erickson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Masino swings wildly with an uppercut but Erickson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Masino swings wildly with an uppercut but Erickson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Masino pushes Erickson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Masino missing with knees to the body.
Erickson blocking some punches.

Erickson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Masino takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Masino scores with a nice short uppercut.
Masino swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Erickson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Erickson struggles to land a body shot inside as Masino controls his hands.
Erickson tries to break free but Masino pushes him back against the cage.
A short right from Erickson on the inside.
Masino swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Masino creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Masino misses with a punch on the inside.
Erickson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Masino lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Erickson blocking some punches.
Masino lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Masino swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Masino swings wildly with an uppercut but Erickson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Masino throws a head punch that misses.
Masino fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masino misses with a punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Erickson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Masino fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Erickson is trying to break the clinch but Masino is controlling him.
Erickson blocking some punches.
Masino misses with some punches.
Masino blocks a body shot from Erickson.
Masino has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Erickson seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Masino can turn it around.
Masino has a couple of punches blocked by Erickson.
Erickson lands with a light punch inside.
Erickson tries to throw a body punch but Masino avoids it by throwing Erickson back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Masino fails to land.
Masino has a couple of punches blocked by Erickson.
Masino lands a hook that snaps the head of Erickson backwards.
Masino fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Erickson wants to stall.
Masino lands a hook to the side of the head.
Erickson wants to stall.
Erickson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Masino dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Don Masino's cut.
That's time! Erickson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Erickson scores with a nice strike.
Masino is looking to clinch but Erickson is avoiding it.
Masino wants to clinch up but Erickson keeps it at a distance.
Erickson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Erickson is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Erickson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Masino fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Erickson, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson is trying to break the clinch but Masino has him pressed against the cage.
Erickson misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Masino.
A short body shot lands from Erickson as the two fighters clinch.
Erickson blocking some punches.
Erickson tries to break the clinch but Masino is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Masino fails to land.
Erickson is trying to break the clinch but Masino is controlling him.
A frustrated look appears on Erickson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short left from Masino.
Erickson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Masino lands a body punch in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Masino.
Erickson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Masino lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Masino fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Masino misses with some punches.
Masino blocking some punches.
A right hand to the body from Erickson.
Erickson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Masino backwards.
Erickson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Masino swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Masino blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Erickson blocks an uppercut.
Masino has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Erickson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Masino working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erickson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Masino misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Masino.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Erickson struggles to land a body shot inside as Masino controls his hands.
Masino fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Masino is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Erickson is defending well for now.
Erickson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Masino is keeping busy.
Masino scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Masino makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Erickson.
Masino misses with a short punch on the inside.
Erickson is trying to break the clinch but Masino is controlling him.
Masino swings wildly with an uppercut but Erickson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Masino throws a head punch that misses.
Masino misses with a hook from the clinch.
Erickson is trying to break free.
Masino has Erickson pressed against the cage, preventing Erickson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson lands a nice uppercut.
Masino misses with a short punch on the inside.
Masino misses with a hook from the clinch.
Masino misses with the head strike.
Erickson lands a shoulder strike.
Erickson swings wildly with an uppercut but Masino uses good head movement to avoid it.
Erickson blocks an uppercut.
Masino tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Masino swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Masino swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Masino swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Erickson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Masino tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Erickson can't break the clinch.
Erickson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Masino pushes Erickson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Masino throws a head punch that misses.
Masino swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Don Masino seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masino letting Erickson take a breather here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Erickson.
Erickson has a couple of punches blocked by Masino.
A head punch on the inside from Masino fails to land.
Masino throws a head punch that misses.
Masino tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Erickson.
A shot in the inside from Erickson.
A frustrated look appears on Erickson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Erickson managing to block the knees to the body from Masino.
Erickson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Masino fails to land.
Erickson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Erickson is trying to break free.
Masino working aggressively here.
Erickson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Masino swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Masino tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Erickson swings wildly with an uppercut but Masino uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Masino showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Don Masino's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Erickson throws a body punch but Masino moves out of range.
Erickson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Masino.
A little feinted left hand from Erickson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Masino doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Masino misses with a hook
and Erickson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gregory Erickson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Erickson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Erickson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Masino.
Gregory Erickson is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab lands there for Masino.
Erickson cracks Masino with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Don Masino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Erickson moves away from the strike by Masino.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Masino looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Masino fails in his attempt to clinch.
Erickson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Masino just misses with a punch to the body.
Masino takes a swing at Erickson's ribcage but misses.
Erickson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That has opened up Don Masino's cut even more.
Erickson is throwing a storm of strikes! Right hook, left hook and follows it up with a spinning back fist! Masino hits the canvas like a rag doll! And just like that, this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Gregory Erickson!
Gregory Erickson retains his heavyweight title!
Post fight, Gregory Erickson took to the microphone: 'Bow before me!'.
In defeat, Don Masino stepped up to the mic, saying 'I will kill your family...Mafia doesn't forget'.