PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Snappy Whiplash (ranked 4239 p4p, 320 weight class) and Paavo Masala (ranked 6000 p4p, 384 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Whiplash
vs
Masala

168 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
19
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Snappy Whiplash!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paavo Masala!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whiplash with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Whiplash lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Whiplash scores with a nice strike.
Whiplash is looking to slow Masala down with leg kicks.
Nice jab there from Whiplash.
Whiplash cracks the inside of Masala's front leg.
Whiplash throws a push kick but Masala slaps the foot to one side.
Whiplash is looking to slow Masala down with leg kicks.
Whiplash throws a hook to the side of Masala's head but Masala sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A nice inside leg kick there by Whiplash. That's going to slow Masala down.
Whiplash connects with a leg kick. Masala looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Whiplash feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Masala's calf.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Whiplash buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Masala on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
We've been told by Whiplash's head coaches at Cobra Kai Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masala takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Snappy Whiplash is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Whiplash looks to land a right hand but Masala moved out of range.
Masala tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Masala tries for a takedown but Whiplash circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Masala takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Whiplash chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Whiplash.
Whiplash lands with a thumping leg kick.
Whiplash thuds his shin into the meat of Masala's side.
Jab, jab by Whiplash - just one landing.
Whiplash misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masala walks forward, straight into a front kick from Whiplash.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Masala darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Whiplash tries to roll over but Masala keeps him under control.
Masala is thwarting Whiplash's attempts to control the position.
Masala trying to mount his opponent but Whiplash defends it.
Whiplash desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Whiplash knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Masala on the ground.
Masala landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whiplash holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Masala is trying to control the action in half guard but Whiplash is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whiplash is looking for a sweep. Masala is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Whiplash keeping hold of Masala's head, controlling as best he can.
Masala missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Whiplash is looking to improve his position.
Masala throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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.
Masala missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Masala thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Whiplash's head.
Masala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Whiplash keeps working.
Masala missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Masala missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Whiplash is trying to get back to full guard.
Masala not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Whiplash blocking the ground and pound attempt from Masala.
Whiplash taking some punishment here, with Masala in his half guard.
Masala prevents Whiplash from improving his position.
Masala seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Snappy Whiplash dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Masala takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Whiplash throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Masala takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Paavo Masala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Masala is defended easily by Whiplash.
Whiplash scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whiplash lands a leg kick that knocks Masala off balance momentarily.
Nice sprawl there from Whiplash as Masala shoots in.
Masala shoots in for a double leg but Whiplash sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Snappy Whiplash has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paavo Masala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whiplash is looking to slow Masala down with leg kicks.
Snappy Whiplash is winning the standup battle so far.
Whiplash lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Masala's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Whiplash tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Masala is able to avoid easily.

Masala shoots in and bounces Whiplash off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Whiplash is looking to stand back up but Masala counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Whiplash.

Masala thows a huge punch but Whiplash dodges it nicely.
Masala winds up and cracks Whiplash with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Masala wants to control but Whiplash is keeping him busy.

Masala is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Whiplash avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Masala.
Whiplash on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Whiplash tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masala scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Masala lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Masala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Masala working over Whiplash with some ground and pound. Whiplash looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Whiplash is not content to let Masala control the position.
Masala throwing shots but Whiplash is blocking nicely.
Masala slips a nice elbow through Whiplash's hands, connecting with Whiplash's forehead.
Masala thows a huge punch but Whiplash dodges it nicely.
Masala is keen to just control but Whiplash is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whiplash keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Whiplash wants to control but Masala is keeping busy.
Whiplash taking some punishment here, with Masala in his half guard.
Masala not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Masala thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ground and pound from Masala.
Paavo Masala has got the better of the ground game so far.
Masala wants to control but Whiplash is keeping him busy.
Whiplash trying to hold on to Masala's head to control him but Masala postures up.
Masala working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Masala is working for a kimura but Whiplash is defending it quite comfortably.
Masala is nestled in close to Whiplash, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whiplash is staying active underneath Masala, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Masala throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Masala not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Masala is nestled in close to Whiplash, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Whiplash tries to get to full guard but Masala has control of the leg.
Masala has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Masala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Masala shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Whiplash to counter with a crisp jab.
Masala looks for a takedown but Whiplash sprawls well.

Whiplash gets caught flat footed, as Masala shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Whiplash keeping moving, preventing Masala from controlling successfully.
Masala landing some decent shots from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whiplash is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Masala is controlling him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Masala's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masala loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Masala trying to control the position from guard on top but Whiplash is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Masala thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Masala postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Whiplash utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Masala missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Whiplash avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Masala passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Masala in side control, throwing shots but Whiplash defends.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masala has control of an arm but Whiplash manages to advance to Masala's back!
Masala is trying to break free.
Masala trying to control the hands but Whiplash breaks the grip.
Masala manages to reverse the position and now he's in Whiplash's guard. Nice work there by Masala.
Whiplash keeping moving, preventing Masala from controlling successfully.
Whiplash pulls Masala in close to his closed guard and prevents Masala from doing any damage or advancing position.
Masala wants to control from the top but Whiplash keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masala lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Masala throwing strikes from guard but Whiplash blocks nicely.
Whiplash keeping moving, preventing Masala from controlling successfully.
Whiplash is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Masala tries to free his leg and advance position but Whiplash is retaining full guard.
Masala has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

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.
Masala trying to control the position from guard on top but Whiplash is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masala is looking to work some ground and pound but Whiplash has wrist control.
Masala with a flurry of punches that miss.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Whiplash working a defensive guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Masala moves out of range of the body kick from Whiplash.

Whiplash gets caught flat footed, as Masala shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Whiplash wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Masala manages to pass to side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Whiplash tries to get to full guard but Masala has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paavo Masala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Masala 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paavo Masala!