PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Slave Master (ranked 5393 p4p, 466 weight class) and Bubba Joe (ranked 5765 p4p, 481 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Master
vs
Joe

150 cm
25
159 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

168 cm
25
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Woodshins' Ship

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Slave Master!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bubba Joe!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Master shoots for a double leg takedown but Joe sprawls well. He's pushed Master's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Master fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Joe to the ground. Master is now in Joe's guard.
Master throws a strike but Joe rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Master keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.
Master on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Master tries to get out of the position.
Joe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Master wants to sweep but no luck.
Master is looking to stand up but Joe isn't so interested in that idea.
Master looking to hit a scissor sweep but Joe is one step ahead there.
Joe told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joe wants to control from the top but Master keeps moving.
Joe looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Master looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Master looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Joe engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Master is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Slave Master seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Master shoots for a double leg takedown but Joe sprawls well. He's pushed Master's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Master dives in for a single leg takedown but Joe sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slave Master. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Master tries to keep at a distance but Joe has taken the fight into the clinch.
Joe prevents the takedown attempt.
Master tries to pull guard but Joe won't allow it.
Master tries to pull guard but Joe forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Joe gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Master is trying to get back to full guard.
Master keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Master does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joe might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Master haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Master wants to control but Joe is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Master is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at White's ELITE Fitness Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Master wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Master shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Joe's guard.
Master really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Joe looks winded!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Master throwing strikes but missing.
Master throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe is pulling down on Master's head to control his posture.
Master throwing strikes but missing.
Master trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Master throwing strikes from guard but Joe blocks nicely.
Master postures up in Joe's guard and throws a big left but Joe blocks it.
Master wants to pass the guard but Joe is keeping the position.
Master throws an elbow that misses. Joe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Master's guard. Nice move by Joe!

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Master is pulling down on Joe's head to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Joe dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Master shoots in for a takedown but Joe shows good takedown defense.
Master throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Joe's waist but Joe gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Master off to one side.
Master shoots in looking for a takedown but Joe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Master's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slave Master. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Joe. No joy for Master on that attempt.
Master tries for a takedown but Joe circles away easily

and Joe decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Master's guard.
Joe showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Master wants to sweep but no luck.
Joe controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Joe's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Joe trying to control but Master is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Joe cracks Master with a solid left hand.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Master shoots for a takedown but Joe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Joe let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Master shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bubba Joe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Joe displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Master.
Master looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Joe fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Joe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Master has a takedown stuffed.
Joe digs a good hook to Master's body.
Joe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Joe wants it to stay on the feet.
Joe scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Joe has managed to clinch.

Joe gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Master is staying active underneath Joe, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Master is trying to control but can't.
Master is refusing to be controlled, as Joe sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Master is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Master is concentrating on defense, preventing Joe from advancing position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice takedown defense from Joe. No joy for Master on that attempt.
Master shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Joe as he jumps to the side.
Master fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

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.

Joe scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Master might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Joe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Master trying to control but Joe postures up.
Master preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Joe looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joe seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Master does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Joe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Master shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Joe is trying to defend but Master finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Master scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Master landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Joe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Master.
Master throwing shots but Joe is blocking nicely.
Master looks to land a strike but Joe avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Joe trying to keep a closed guard but Master is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Master missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Master makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Joe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Joe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Master working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Master working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Master with a flurry of punches that miss.
Joe is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Joe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Master.
Master working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Joe's head.
Master throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Joe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Slave Master overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Master throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Joe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Master working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Master working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Master trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Master shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Master was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Master with the ground and pound but Joe regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Master with the ground and pound but Joe uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Master in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Master accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Joe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Master is one step ahead there.
Master throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Joe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Joe trying to keep a closed guard but Master is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Master trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Master accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Master with a flurry of punches that miss.
Master throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Master pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Joe is keeping the position for now.
Master throws an elbow that misses. Joe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Master's guard. Nice move by Joe!

Master is looking to stand up but Joe isn't so interested in that idea.
Joe wants to control from the top but Master keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe throws an elbow that misses. Master uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Joe's guard. Nice move by Master!

Master postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Master missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Master postures up and lands a big shot to Joe's brow.
Master has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Master working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joe controls Master momentarily but Master frees himself.
Joe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Slave Master showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Joe has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bubba Joe!