PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Earle Sawyer (ranked 6928 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mason Kalua (ranked 6248 p4p, 0 weight class). Earle Sawyer has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sawyer
vs
Kalua

196 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Earle Sawyer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mason Kalua!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kalua has a takedown stuffed.
Sawyer misses with a kick to the body.
A head kick misses from Sawyer.

Kalua shoots in and bounces Sawyer off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kalua trying to control the position from guard on top but Sawyer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kalua stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sawyer swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalua pushing down on Sawyer's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sawyer is trying to get back to full guard.
Sawyer is working hard here to advance position.

Sawyer looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Kalua pushes past his half guard into mount!
Kalua is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kalua trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Kalua looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Sawyer is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kalua goes for an armbar but Sawyer turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Sawyer.
Sawyer postures up.
Sawyer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sawyer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kalua works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sawyer throws a strike but Kalua rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sawyer keeping moving, preventing Kalua from controlling successfully.
Kalua passes Sawyer's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalua is trying to control. Sawyer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Sawyer looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kalua is looking to stall here but Sawyer recovers full guard.
Kalua stands up over Sawyer, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sawyer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kalua on the ground.
Sawyer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kalua landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kalua postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sawyer is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kalua, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kalua is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kalua looks winded!
Kalua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sawyer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sawyer could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kalua preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Kalua dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sawyer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kalua now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kalua moves out of range as Sawyer throws a body kick.
Kalua fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sawyer avoids it really well and circles away.
A bone on bone clash there as Kalua blocks the leg kick.
Kalua is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kalua tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sawyer sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kalua somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kalua gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Sawyer counter with a right hand.
Earle Sawyer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mason Kalua.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalua throws a leg kick

and Sawyer counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Kalua manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Sawyer is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Kalua is breathing heavily.
Kalua fails to pull guard.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sawyer takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sawyer taking a breather.
Sawyer slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer has Kalua pushed against the cage.
Sawyer slowing the pace effectively.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Earle Sawyer.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kalua or perhaps it was just good defense by Sawyer, which made it look bad.
Earle Sawyer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sawyer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer is stalling here.
Sawyer effectively controlling the action here.
Sawyer seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Sawyer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kalua is defending well for now.
Sawyer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kalua backwards.
Kalua blocking some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sawyer.
Sawyer tries to land knees in the clinch but Kalua avoids the damage to the body.
Sawyer taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer avoiding damage.

Sawyer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kalua has a takedown stuffed.
Kalua fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sawyer avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Earle Sawyer dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kalua dives in for a single leg takedown but Sawyer sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Sawyer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sawyer stuffs the takedown.
Kalua misses with a takedown attempt - Sawyer sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sawyer half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Earle Sawyer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mason Kalua.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sawyer has closed the distance and engaged Kalua in a clinch.
Sawyer'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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalua drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sawyer pulls his leg out and moves away.
A combination from Sawyer does no damage.

Sawyer pushes Kalua up against the cage in a clinch.
Sawyer with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sawyer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

It looks like Mason Kalua has been cut.
Sawyer stops a takedown attempt from Kalua.
Kalua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sawyer.

Sawyer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
It looked like Sawyer was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Sawyer connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kalua dives in for a single leg takedown but Sawyer sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kalua.
Sawyer appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sawyer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kalua shoots in looking for a takedown but Sawyer manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kalua's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer connects with a body shot that sends Kalua's belly button to the back.
Sawyer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Sawyer clinches up against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sawyer.
Sawyer taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sawyer dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sawyer gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Kalua tries to pull guard but Sawyer holds him up against the cage and eventually Kalua drops back down to his feet.
Sawyer stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sawyer working Kalua over with knees to the body.
Sawyer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kalua can do to turn this around?
Sawyer stalling the fight.
Earle Sawyer has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kalua is working for takedown but Sawyer is calmly controlling the position for now.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Earle Sawyer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sawyer 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Earle Sawyer!