PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bjorn Helgi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zane Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zane Mason acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Helgi
vs
Mason

178 cm
41
169 lbs
47 - 22 - 0

180 cm
31
174 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

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 47 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bjorn Helgi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zane Mason!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mason lands a really nice looking cross but Helgi seems unphased.

It looks like Bjorn Helgi has been cut.
Helgi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mason throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mason has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Helgi is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Mason has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Helgi finds it's way round the side to connect with Mason's head.
Helgi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A bone on bone clash there as Mason blocks the leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mason, right into the meat.
Helgi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mason misses with a double jab
and Helgi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason throws a half hearted mid kick.
Mason doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Helgi cracks Mason with a good jab.
Helgi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Zane Mason seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mason misses with a right hand
and Helgi counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helgi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Helgi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mason takes a jab right on the kisser.

Helgi moves into range and clinches up with Mason.
Mason lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mason lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
I was talking to Helgi's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Mason can't find room to land a body shot as Helgi controls the action.
Helgi misses with a punch to the body.
Mason lands with a light punch inside.
Mason tries to throw a body punch but Helgi avoids it by throwing Mason back against the cage.
A short left from Mason.
Mason tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mason goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mason misses with a hook to the ribs.
A left hand lands to the body for Helgi.
Mason can't find room to land a body shot as Helgi controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helgi lands with a light punch inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Helgi struggles to land a body shot inside as Mason controls his hands.
Helgi misses with a body punch.
Mason misses with a punch on the inside.
Mason misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mason blocking some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mason.
Mason is trying to break the clinch but Helgi is controlling him.
Helgi swings wildly with an uppercut but Mason uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mason blocks a body shot from Helgi.
Helgi digs a right hand into Mason's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Mason's gas tank.
A short right from Mason.
Helgi prevents a body shot from Mason.
Mason digs a right hand underneath Helgi's ribcage. Helgi let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Mason tries to work over Helgi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mason presses Helgi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Helgi blocks a body shot from Mason.
A left hand lands to the body for Helgi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Helgi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mason tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Helgi misses with a body punch.
Mason misses with some punches.
Helgi prevents a body shot from Mason.
Helgi blocks an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Mason.

Helgi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mason misses with an uppercut
and Helgi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mason scores with a decent looking hook.
Mason fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Helgi.
A low kick from Mason is predictable there
and Helgi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mason throws a wild body kick that Helgi sees coming a mile off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason misses with a left hand
and Helgi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mason misses with a lunging right hand
and Helgi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mason thinking.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Helgi doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Helgi scores with a jab to the head.
Mason misses with a leg kick.
Mason throws a leg kick that misses.
Helgi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Helgi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mason can pounce on him.
Helgi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Helgi slips a jab from Mason.
Helgi misses with a hook.
Mason scores with a spinning back kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zane Mason will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bjorn Helgi's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Helgi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mason lands with a cross.
Helgi swats away the attempt to clinch by Mason.
Helgi lands with an overhand left.
Helgi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Helgi lands a glancing blow to the side of Mason's head.
Helgi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Helgi is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Mason.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Mason misses
and Helgi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Helgi throws a lazy right hand but Mason sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mason fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mason blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason scoring well with a low kick there.
Mason throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Helgi to counter with a crisp jab.
Mason lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Helgi connects with a nice looking jab.
Mason avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mason only half commits to the counter leg kick.
A lazy left from Mason finds it's target.
Helgi scores with a body shot.

Mason gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mason scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Helgi swings wildly with an uppercut but Mason uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mason works on Helgi's body with a couple of short punches.

Mason manages to break the clinch.
A shot to the liver by Mason. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason slips under a jab from Helgi.
Helgi throws a hook but Mason blocks it.
Helgi moves out of range of the body kick from Mason.
Mason lands with a nice body kick.
Mason fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Helgi.
Mason attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Helgi throws a leg kick

and Mason counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mason lands an uppercut.
Helgi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Helgi misses with the head strike.
Helgi misses with a punch to the body.
Helgi lands a body punch.
Mason is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Nice body punch from Mason.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Mason fails to land.
Mason has a couple of punches blocked by Helgi.
Mason scores with a nice hook to the head.
Helgi throws a punch but it's blocked by Mason.
A body shot lands from Helgi.
Helgi taking a breather.
Nice body punch from Helgi.
A head punch on the inside from Helgi fails to land.
Mason misses with a hook from the clinch.
Helgi is leaning against Mason and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mason is looking to control Helgi's arms but Helgi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mason has his back to the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mason.
Helgi lands a nice shot to the body.
Mason misses with a body punch.
Mason misses with a punch to the body.
Helgi lands a nice shot to the body.
Mason tries to circle away but Helgi has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helgi lands a left hand.
Helgi blocking some punches.
Helgi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mason.
A right hand to the body from Helgi.
Mason is pushing Helgi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Helgi blocks a body shot from Mason.
Zane Mason seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Helgi prevents a body shot from Mason.
A short left from Helgi.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mason working aggressively here.
Mason lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Mason fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mason tries to throw a body punch but Helgi avoids it by throwing Mason back against the cage.

Mason breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mason misses with a lunging right hand
letting Helgi counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zane Mason will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Bjorn Helgi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mason moves away from the strike by Helgi.
Mason misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Helgi counters with a nice uppercut.
Helgi scores with a sloppy right hand. Mason should have avoided that one.
A punch combination from Mason misses.
Helgi throws a body punch but Mason moves out of range.
Helgi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Mason misses with a looping right.

Mason rushes Helgi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason can't find room to land a body shot as Helgi controls the action.
Mason digs a right hand underneath Helgi's ribcage. Helgi let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Helgi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Helgi throws a punch but it's blocked by Mason.
Helgi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Mason throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Helgis head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason swings wildly with an uppercut but Helgi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Helgi pushes Mason back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short right from Helgi on the inside.
Mason lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Helgi backwards.
Mason tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Helgi breaks the clinch.
Helgi tries to land a front kick but Mason steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Helgi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mason.
Mason misses with a body kick.
Mason moves out of range as Helgi throws a body kick.
Helgi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mason misses with a combination
and Helgi counters with a stiff right hand.
Bjorn Helgi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mason throws a wild body kick that Helgi sees coming a mile off.
Helgi blocks a low kick nicely.
Mason throws a hook to the side of Helgi's head but Helgi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Helgi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Helgi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A slapping body kick lands there for Mason.
Helgi throws a hook to the side of Mason's head but Mason sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mason appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Helgi misses with a combination
and Helgi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Helgi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mason.
Helgi connects with a right hand. Mason shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Helgi misses.
Helgi ducks right into an uppercut from Mason.
Mason stuns Helgi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mason scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Helgi thumps Mason with a low kick.
Zane Mason is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mason falls off balance throwing a combination
and Helgi counters with a stiff right hand.
Mason lands a really nice looking cross but Helgi seems unphased.
A big right from Helgi misses.
Mason lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Mason tries to work over Helgi's front leg with a kick but Helgi checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Mason.
Mason throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Helgi.
Helgi throws an overhand right that lands on Mason's shoulder, as Mason tries to avoid the shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Helgi connects with a solid leg kick.
Mason lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Mason has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Mason wants to clinch.
Helgi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Mason swings for the body but Helgi moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zane Mason.
I've got Mason winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zane Mason!
During a confident post fight interview, Zane Mason thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.