PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bam Bam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Bam Bam has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Bam
vs
Mason

225 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

178 cm
19
178 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bam Bam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Mason!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mason closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mason lands in his opponent's guard.

Bam is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Bam looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Bam drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mason slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bam will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mason is looking to stand up but Bam won't let him.
Mason controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Mason gets to his feet - Bam follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bam avoids it really well and circles away.

Bam gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mason to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mason wants to control from the top but Bam keeps moving.
Mason throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bam 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 wants to control from the top but Bam keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bam is trying to control the position but Mason postures up.
Mason is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mason has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

Mason closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Bam kicks Mason off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mason closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bam's guard.
Bam looking to control.
Bam being controlled here, momentarily.

Mason decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've been told by Bam's head coaches at Wolves Den $200 Elite Circuits that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mason looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mason scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bam is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mason slips a nice elbow through Bam's hands, connecting with Bam's forehead.
Mason not doing much here.
Bam tries to roll over but Mason keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bam Bam will probably get the nod.
That's time! Bam's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mason drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Bam pushes Mason off and scrambles back to his feet.

Bam tries to sprawl but Mason drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Mason looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bam is looking to control Mason's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bam avoid being mounted?

Mason stands up and beckons Bam to join him on the feet.

Mason changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bam looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bam is being controlled here.

Mason is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bam knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mason scoring with punches from side control.
Mason staying calm.
Bam really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Mason stands up and beckons Bam to his feet.

That's two 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 feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mason stays in close to Bam's body and controls the position.

Mason stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Mason closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bam quickly recovers to half guard.
Mason lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Well, if Mason is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bam is looking to control Mason's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bam avoid being mounted?
Mason really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bam. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mason controlling the action here.
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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mason is nestled in close to Bam, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mason sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mason looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bam is fending him off so far but Mason persists. Nope, Bam circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Mason showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mason fails with a takedown attempt.

Bam has taken the fight to the clinch.

Bam breaks the clinch.

Mason changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bam looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Bam bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mason shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mason showed some decent athleticism there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bam gets full guard.
Mason lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Mason decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bam, up you get!

Mason closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bam's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bam working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mason.
Bam preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mason controlling from the top position.
Mason throwing strikes from guard but Bam blocks nicely.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mason decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mason shoots in but Bam avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mason changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bam tries to avoid it but Mason manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bam to the ground. Bam escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bam Bam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Mason.
Bam lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Mason takes a kick to the side of the head.
Mason keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mason feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bam is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mason trying to hold on to Bam's head to control him but Bam postures up.
Bam tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Mason tries to roll over but Bam keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bam is pressing down on Mason's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mason is holding on for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bam Bam showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bam 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Bam Bam!
After winning the bout, Bam Bam thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.