PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gustaf Stenbeck (ranked 396 p4p, 55 weight class) and Valentine Masterson (ranked 483 p4p, 62 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Stenbeck
vs
Masterson

180 cm
33
192 lbs
21 - 8 - 0

188 cm
26
190 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
Woodshins' Ship

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 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gustaf Stenbeck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Valentine Masterson!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Masterson.
Masterson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stenbeck staying out of range there.
Stenbeck getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Valentine Masterson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stenbeck throws out a leg kick but Masterson moves out of range and Stenbeck only half commits.
Stenbeck misses with a wild body shot.
Masterson throws out a counter right but Stenbeck avoids it with no problem.
Masterson's corner calls for a 1-2. Masterson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Stenbeck takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Stenbeck throws a hook but Masterson avoids it easily.
Masterson misses with an uppercut.
Stenbeck lands a nice looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stenbeck misses with an attempted mid kick.
A good leg kick by Masterson.
Masterson throws out a leg kick but Stenbeck moves out of range and Masterson only half commits.
Masterson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Stenbeck scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masterson misses with a hook. Stenbeck ducked under it nicely.
Stenbeck misses with a hook.
A right-left combo lands from Masterson.
Masterson misses with a looping left.
Masterson throws a solid leg kick but Stenbeck takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Masterson.
Masterson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Stenbeck blocks a leg kick.
Stenbeck lands with a cross.
Masterson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Stenbeck staying out of range there.
Stenbeck throws a leg kick but Masterson checks it.
Masterson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Stenbeck is able to avoid easily.
Masterson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Stenbeck's hands.
Masterson has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Stenbeck throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stenbeck moves out of range of the body kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Masterson.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Masterson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stenbeck.
Masterson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stenbeck was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Masterson scores with a nice body kick.
A good leg kick by Stenbeck.
Masterson wants to land a leg kick but Stenbeck is out of range.
Stenbeck appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Masterson misses with an uppercut.
Masterson looks to land a left hand but Stenbeck moved out of range nicely.
Masterson misses with a body shot.
Stenbeck throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stenbeck shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Stenbeck throws a low kick but it's checked well by Masterson.
Masterson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Stenbeck misses with a low kick.
Stenbeck throws a right hand that Masterson ducks under and follows up with a left that Masterson also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masterson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stenbeck.
Stenbeck walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Masterson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A swing and a miss from Stenbeck.
Stenbeck keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Masterson thumps Stenbeck with a low kick.
Masterson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stenbeck sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stenbeck blocks a jab.
Masterson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Stenbeck.
Masterson defending well as Stenbeck loads up on a big left hand.
A swing and a miss from Masterson.
Stenbeck swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Stenbeck throws a jab but it's blocked by Masterson.
Stenbeck throws a lazy uppercut
and Masterson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Masterson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stenbeck moves away from the strike by Masterson.
Masterson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Masterson.
Stenbeck displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Masterson throws out the jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Masterson moves out of range of the strikes.
Stenbeck uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Masterson.
Masterson swings away with a body shot that misses
and Stenbeck counters with a leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Masterson misses.
Masterson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Masterson avoids a kick to the body.
Stenbeck blocks a head kick by Masterson.
Masterson misses the shot to the body.
Stenbeck chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Masterson can pounce on him.
A head kick misses from Masterson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentine Masterson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Masterson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Masterson misses with a low kick.
Masterson misses with a body kick.
Stenbeck throws a leg kick
and Masterson counters with a slapping leg kick.
Masterson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Masterson throws a looping overhand right but Stenbeck ducks down to avoid it.
A big left from Stenbeck misses.
Valentine Masterson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stenbeck looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Stenbeck misses with a double jab.
A leg kick checked by Masterson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masterson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Stenbeck throws a hook to the side of Masterson's head but Masterson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stenbeck throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Masterson misses with a hook
and Stenbeck makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Masterson throws a leg kick but Stenbeck sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masterson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stenbeck.
Stenbeck backing away here, and Masterson unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Masterson misses with a hook. Stenbeck ducked under it nicely.
Masterson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Masterson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stenbeck.
Stenbeck uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Masterson.
Some bone on bone action there as Stenbeck checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Stenbeck throws a lazy right hand but Masterson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stenbeck fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Masterson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Stenbeck on the side of the head.
Masterson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Stenbeck's head.
Masterson misses with a wild combination.
Stenbeck is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Masterson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stenbeck misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Masterson.
A jab from Stenbeck misses.
Masterson misses with a straight left.
Stenbeck throws a leg kick but Masterson checks it.
Masterson is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Masterson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Masterson wants to slow Stenbeck down by chopping away at his legs.
Masterson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Masterson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Masterson swinging wildly here.
Masterson slips a straight right by Stenbeck.
Stenbeck on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Masterson. Masterson obviously looking to wear him down.
Masterson looks to land a right hand but Stenbeck moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masterson throws a leg kick that misses.
Masterson lands the left hand.
A good leg kick by Stenbeck.
Masterson throws a jab but it's blocked by Stenbeck.
Stenbeck swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Masterson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Stenbeck throws a leg kick that misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Masterson misses.
Stenbeck throws the left hand but Masterson avoids the punch easily.
Stenbeck buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Masterson throws a low kick but Stenbeck avoids it.
Masterson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Masterson throws a right hand that misses

and Stenbeck counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stenbeck lands with a right to the head.
Masterson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Masterson misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Masterson lands with a right to the head.
Stenbeck blocks an uppercut.
Masterson has Stenbeck pressed against the cage, preventing Stenbeck from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Masterson misses with the head strike.
Still in the clinch, Masterson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Masterson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Masterson working aggressively here.

Stenbeck breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Masterson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stenbeck.
Stenbeck throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Masterson defending well as Stenbeck loads up on a big left hand.
Masterson connects with a jab.
Masterson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Stenbeck throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Masterson punishes Stenbeck's body with a nice straight punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentine Masterson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Masterson loads up on a big right hand but Stenbeck slips the punch.
Stenbeck on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Stenbeck, right into the meat.
A head kick by Masterson misses
and Stenbeck counters with a straight right hand.
Stenbeck throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Stenbeck takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Stenbeck checks a leg kick.
Masterson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Stenbeck. Stenbeck circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Stenbeck misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Masterson.
Masterson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Masterson there as he acknowledges the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masterson ducks under a wild hook from Stenbeck.
Masterson throws a hook to the side of Stenbeck's head but Stenbeck sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Masterson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stenbeck sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Masterson tried to score with a low kick but Stenbeck checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stenbeck ducks under a wild hook from Masterson.
Stenbeck is looking to counter punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stenbeck. Masterson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Masterson slips a jab from Stenbeck.
Stenbeck misses the shot to the body.
Masterson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Stenbeck is out of range.
Stenbeck swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Masterson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Masterson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Stenbeck stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Masterson.
Masterson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Masterson is looking to slow Stenbeck down with leg kicks.
Stenbeck lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Stenbeck avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
It looked like Stenbeck was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Masterson.
Stenbeck tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Masterson is able to avoid easily.
Gustaf Stenbeck has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masterson blocks a low kick nicely.
Stenbeck tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stenbeck misses with an attempted mid kick.
Masterson walks into a jab.
Masterson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Masterson throws a body kick that misses.
A slow jab from Stenbeck misses its intended target.
Stenbeck lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Stenbeck uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Masterson.
Stenbeck throws a leg kick but Masterson sees it coming and moves out of range.
Masterson throws a quick inside leg kick.
A left lands for Stenbeck.
Stenbeck slips a straight right by Masterson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masterson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Masterson lands with a right hand.
Masterson throws a head kick that Stenbeck semi-blocks.
Masterson avoids the body shot from Stenbeck.
Masterson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice shot by Stenbeck.
Masterson missing with a left hand there. Stenbeck was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stenbeck throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Masterson counters with a stiff right hand.
Masterson throws a jab when Stenbeck was well out of range.
Masterson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stenbeck throws a hook but Masterson blocks it.
Masterson thuds his shin into the meat of Stenbeck's side.
Stenbeck misses with a body shot
and Masterson counters with a low kick, right behind Stenbeck 's knee.
A solid body kick from Stenbeck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stenbeck missing with a left hand there. Masterson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stenbeck throws a low kick but it's checked well by Masterson.
Masterson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Stenbeck. Stenbeck circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Stenbeck slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Stenbeck throws a poor cross that misses
and Masterson counters with a nice uppercut.
Stenbeck throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Masterson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A slapping leg kick lands for Masterson.
Stenbeck tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Masterson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A telegraphed right hand from Stenbeck misses the target.
A little jabbing left from Masterson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Stenbeck blocks a low kick nicely.
A slapping leg kick lands for Stenbeck.
Valentine Masterson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Masterson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Valentine Masterson.
Well Masterson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valentine Masterson!