PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chad Masters (ranked 5855 p4p, 275 weight class) and TJ Garbrandt (ranked 3688 p4p, 182 weight class). TJ Garbrandt has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Chad Masters's chin.

Masters
vs
Garbrandt

150 cm
21
135 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
135 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chad Masters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, TJ Garbrandt!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Steven Brown and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masters with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Garbrandt to counter with a crisp jab.
Good standup being displayed there by Garbrandt as he connects with a hook.
Masters throws a sloppy body shot
and Garbrandt connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Masters with a lazy takedown attempt
and Garbrandt counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Masters takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Masters with a lazy takedown attempt
and Garbrandt connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chad Masters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masters drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Garbrandt lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Masters backs up against the cage.
Masters could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garbrandt throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Chad Masters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masters takes one to the chin there.
Masters walks into a left hand.
Masters misses with a takedown
and Garbrandt connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Masters takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Good standup being displayed there by Garbrandt as he connects with a hook.
Garbrandt with a nice cross.
Garbrandt has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters tries for a takedown but Garbrandt circles away easily
and Garbrandt counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Garbrandt might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The crowd cheers as Garbrandt lands an impressive looking overhand right. Masters doesn't seem phased though.
Masters gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Garbrandt counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Garbrandt moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Masters is rocked!
Masters shoots and misses
and Garbrandt counters with a monster hook and another for good measure! Masters falls to the ground, out cold! Stick some heavy metal music over the top of that clip and it's one for the highlight makers!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). TJ Garbrandt!
During a confident post fight interview, TJ Garbrandt thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.