PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Massey (ranked 24498 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lopata Vasile (ranked 7535 p4p, 0 weight class). Lopata Vasile has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mike Massey's chin.

Massey
vs
Vasile

218 cm
19
177 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
176 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Massey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lopata Vasile!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasile shoots in but no luck this time.
Vasile misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Massey clinches.
Massey fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Massey changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vasile fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Massey stuffs the takedown.
Vasile tries to score a power double leg takedown but Massey sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vasile somewhat.
Massey is looking for a counter combo.
Mike Massey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lopata Vasile.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasile goes for a double leg but Massey avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Massey continues to drive forward.
Massey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vasile paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vasile doesn't manage to clinch there - Massey circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Massey as Vasile shoots in.
As Vasile looks to move away, Massey throws a big counter combo but Vasile just gets out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vasile pushes Massey up against the cage in a clinch.
Massey has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vasile after a bit of a struggle.
Massey is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Vasile to keep the fight standing.
Massey is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Massey stops a takedown attempt from Vasile.
Vasile fails to pull guard.
Vasile looks winded!

Massey escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vasile shoots in for a double leg but Massey sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vasile tries to score a body lock takedown but Massey shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Vasile is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Massey tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasile is pressed up against the cage. Massey has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Vasile down to the mat. Vasile avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A clash of legs there as Massey blocks the low kick.
Massey seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Vasile has a takedown stuffed.
Vasile tries a head kick but it misses.
Vasile fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Massey gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Massey jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vasile walks away with a smile on his face. Massey gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Massey throws a sloppy head kick and Vasile moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Massey moves in looking to clinch but Vasile pushes him off.

Massey gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Vasile wants a takedown but no success here.
Massey really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Massey ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Massey no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Vasile trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Massey working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vasile doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vasile manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Massey not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vasile throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Massey works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Massey will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Vasile is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Massey is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vasile defends well.

Massey looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vasile postures up.
Vasile throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Massey tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vasile swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Massey darts in trying to clinch
and Vasile counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Massey dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vasile shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Massey sprawls well. Massey wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vasile gets slowly back to his feet.
Vasile throws a jab but it's blocked by Massey.
Massey moves out of range of the body kick from Vasile.
Horrible takedown attempt by Vasile or perhaps it was just good defense by Massey, which made it look bad.
Vasile misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Massey moves into the clinch.
Vasile is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Massey jumps guard but Vasile turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Massey keeps control of Vasile as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Massey goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vasile prevents it.
Massey is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Massey. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Massey pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Massey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vasile paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vasile doesn't manage to clinch there - Massey circles away.
Vasile throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Massey's waist but Massey gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vasile off to one side.
Vasile is breathing heavily.

Massey closes the distance and clinches.

Massey's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Massey clinches.

Massey lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Vasile is looking to get back to is feet but Massey passes into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've been informed that Vasile has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Vasile can't do much from the bottom here.
Vasile taking punishment in the form of punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Massey tries for a kimura but Vasile is defending well.
Massey is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vasile can do to turn this around?
Vasile tries to improve position but can't.
Massey tries to score with some ground and pound. Vasile controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Vasile is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Massey is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Vasile knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Massey works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Vasile manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Massey moves into full guard.
Massey avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasile working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Massey looking for subs off his back but Vasile has passed one foot through into half guard.
Massey is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Massey is looking to escape.
Vasile throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Massey to regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Massey dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Vasile tries to close the distance and clinch up but Massey swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vasile is defended easily by Massey.
Mike Massey is winning the standup battle so far.

Vasile clinches up with Massey and pushes him back against the cage.
Vasile lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Massey wants a takedown.
Massey fails to pull guard.

Massey breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Massey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vasile with the counter takedown but Massey avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Massey displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vasile.
Vasile misses the body punch
and Massey counters with a nice leg kick.

Massey shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vasile is trying to defend but Massey finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Vasile blocking the ground and pound attempt from Massey.
Massey is thwarting Vasile's attempts to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Massey winds up and cracks Vasile with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Vasile manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mike Massey overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vasile takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vasile is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Vasile is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Massey is trying to stand back up but Vasile is controlling him
Vasile content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Massey looks like he's trying to stand up.
Vasile is trying to control the action in half guard but Massey is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Massey is trying to stand back up but Vasile is controlling him
Vasile is taking a breather. Massey says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four 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.
Massey regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vasile trying to control the position from guard on top but Massey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Massey has his foot on Vasile's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vasile works his way back into a safe position though.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vasile throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Massey's waist but Massey gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vasile off to one side.
Mike Massey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lopata Vasile.
Vasile tries to close the distance and clinch up but Massey swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Massey shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Massey was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Massey tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

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 Mike Massey.
Well Massey has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Massey!