PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raleigh Mason (ranked 6500 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Lindell (ranked 6056 p4p, 614 weight class). Chuck Lindell is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mason
vs
Lindell

187 cm
22
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
188 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Raleigh Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Chuck Lindell!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mason takes the fight into the clinch.

Lindell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mason tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lindell swivels and escapes.
Lindell lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Raleigh Mason has been cut.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Lindell has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Mason shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lindell defends it nicely.
A combination from Lindell does no damage.
Mason misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lindell unleashes a big counter combination but Mason bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raleigh Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lindell throws a combination that misses
and Mason counters with a nice low kick that buckles Lindell's knee momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lindell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mason wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Mason checks the leg kick.
As Lindell tries to get set, Mason tries to push him back and clinch up but Lindell manages to avoid the attempt.

Mason rushes Lindell and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Mason pulls Lindell into guard.
Mason throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Lindell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Lindell decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Lindell misses with a series of wild punches.
Lindell falls off balance throwing a combination

and Mason counters by moving into the clinch.
Lindell working hard to break the clinch.
Lindell is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Mason pulls Lindell into guard.
Mason is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mason trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Lindell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mason is keeping the position for now.
Mason trying to strike off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lindell stopping the sweep attempt from Mason.
Lindell chips away with some ground and pound.
Mason looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mason thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Mason throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Mason wants to sweep here but Lindell controlling him for the moment.
Mason is breathing heavily.
Mason trying to strike off his back.
Lindell won't allow Mason to sweep him here.

Mason pushes Lindell off and scrambles back to his feet.
Good standup being displayed there by Lindell as he connects with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
No joy there for Lindell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mason is looking to counter the offense by Lindell and move into the clinch.
Lindell jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lindell!
A punch combination from Lindell misses.
Lindell shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Mason closes the distance and clinches.

Lindell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lindell falls off balance throwing a combination

and Mason holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lindell wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lindell working hard to break the clinch.

Mason gets control of Lindell's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mason will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Lindell won't allow Mason to get back to his feet.
Mason working a defensive guard here.
Lindell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindell trying to control the position from guard on top but Mason is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lindell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mason. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lindell is working Mason over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Mason has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Lindell is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lindell is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mason tries to pull guard but Lindell won't allow it.
Mason tries to pull guard but Lindell holds him up against the cage and eventually Mason drops back down to his feet.
Mason fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Mason breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lindell looks to land a combination but Mason avoids it well.
Mason is looking to counter the offense by Lindell and move into the clinch.
Lindell stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Lindell takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chuck Lindell will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Raleigh Mason's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lindell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mason counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Lindell breaks the clinch.
Mason showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lindell.
Lindell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lindell swinging wildly here.
Mason half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Lindell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mason moves away.
Mason goes for a double leg but Lindell avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lindell continues to drive forward.
Despite the aggression on Lindell's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mason instigates a clinch.

Mason pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mason throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Despite the aggression on Lindell's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Lindell moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lindell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lindell is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindell throws a right hand that Mason ducks under and follows up with a left that Mason also avoids with ease.
Lindell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lindell throws a right hand that Mason ducks under and follows up with a left that Mason also avoids with ease.
Mason half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Mason pushes Lindell up against the cage in a clinch.

Mason manages to pull guard.
Lindell postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mason holds on and takes a little breather.

Mason manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Lindell throws a hook but Mason avoids it easily.
Mason feinted with a counter takedown.
Mason is looking to clinch.
Mason has his takedown stuffed
and Lindell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raleigh Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lindell throws a head kick but Mason moves out of range.

Lindell gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lindell wants to get back to his feet but Mason is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mason postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mason not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindell is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mason is controlling him.
Mason sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Raleigh Mason overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lindell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lindell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Chuck Lindell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mason moves into the clinch.
Mason tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lindell smiles and moves away.
Raleigh Mason is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lindell throws a right and a left that Mason avoids nicely.
Mason displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Mason closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Lindell's guard.
Mason controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Raleigh Mason will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Raleigh Mason's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lindell lands a jab to the nose.
Lindell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mason attempts a counter takedown but Lindell avoids it well and moves away.
Chuck Lindell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lindell pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mason back to the cage. Lindell follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Lindell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mason tries to clinch there but Lindell circles away.
As Mason backs off Lindell throws a huge counter combo but Mason manages to avoid it all.
Lindell throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Mason pushes Lindell up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mason breaks from the clinch.

Mason instigates a clinch.

Mason breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A combination from Lindell does no damage.
Lindell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lindell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mason shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lindell as he avoids it easily.
Lindell throws a combination that misses

and Mason holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mason is trying to break the clinch but Lindell has him pressed against the cage.
Mason is trying to pull guard but Lindell has him pressed against the cage.

Mason gets control of Lindell's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mason will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mason will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Mason striking off his back but it's not causing Lindell any problems.
Mason trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Mason keeping moving, preventing Lindell from controlling successfully.
Mason keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Mason is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Mason trying to strike off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lindell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mason misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lindell.
Lindell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Mason shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lindell napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lindell is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Mason is controlling him well.
Mason lands a decent elbow from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lindell pushes Mason away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Mason gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason controls the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mason scores with a couple of short elbows.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mason takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Mason tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lindell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mason.

Mason rushes Lindell and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindell is trying to break free.

Mason jumps guard and drags Lindell to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Lindell trying to control the position from guard on top but Mason is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mason will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Lindell trying to control the position from guard on top but Mason is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mason manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lindell manages to get himself to full guard.

Mason controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Raleigh Mason.
I think Mason 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:28

The fight is ruled a draw!