PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sunza Masto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Evans
vs
Masto

191 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sunza Masto!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Franklyn Lucas and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masto keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mark Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Evans shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Evans showed some decent athleticism there.
Masto is trying to stand.
Evans seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Evans thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Masto to regain full guard.
Evans's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Evans working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Masto is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Evans is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Evans accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masto keeping moving, preventing Evans from controlling successfully.
Evans throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Evans working some strikes from top position.
Evans thows a big elbow that misses.

Evans drops back looking for a leg! Masto is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Masto manages to kick Evans off! Evans jumps back into Masto's guard.
Evans working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Masto's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Evans lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Masto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Evans scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Masto looks gassed!
Evans sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Evans working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Masto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Masto is keeping the position for now.
Evans working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Evans thows a big elbow that misses.
Masto is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Evans shoots in and bounces Masto off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Evans lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Evans slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Evans has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Masto keeping full guard, as Evans tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Evans dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Evans tries for a takedown but Masto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Masto is looking to clinch but Evans is avoiding it.
Evans closes the distance and clinches up with Masto, looking for a takedown. Evans pushes Masto against the cage but Masto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Masto fails in his attempt to clinch.
Masto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Evans shoots in looking for a takedown. Masto tries to sprawl out of it but Evans keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Masto manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evans fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Masto takes the fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Masto dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Masto manages to break the clinch.
Evans ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Masto wants to clinch.
Evans shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Masto as he jumps to the side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Evans.
Masto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Evans tries to avoid it but Masto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Evans to the ground. Evans escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mark Evans is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Masto misses with a series of wild punches.

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.
Evans shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Masto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Masto.
Evans looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Evans wants to improve his position but instead Masto has moved into half guard.
Evans punching from the bottom.
Evans is looking to control Masto's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Evans avoid being mounted?
Evans tries to roll over but Masto keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans missing with punches from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Evans shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Evans postures up in Masto's guard and throws a big left but Masto blocks it.
Masto trying to keep a closed guard but Evans is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Evans stands up over Masto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Masto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Evans.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Evans works over Masto with some ground and pound from guard.
Evans keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Masto's head.
Evans's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mark Evans overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Masto is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sunza Masto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Masto rushes Evans and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Masto taking a breather.

Masto breaks the clinch.
Evans misses with a takedown attempt - Masto sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Evans is looking to clinch but Masto is avoiding it.
Evans misses with a takedown attempt
and Masto counters with a head kick.

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

Masto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Evans with a poor takedown
and Masto counters with a flying knee. Nice.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Masto wants to clinch.
Masto fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masto throws a quick inside leg kick.
Masto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Masto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Evans doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Masto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Masto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Evans swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Evans has his takedown stuffed

and Masto holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Masto.
Masto prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Evans prevents the takedown attempt.
Evans is trying to drag Masto to the mat but Masto just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Masto taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Evans is working for takedown but Masto is calmly controlling the position for now.
Evans drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Masto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Masto has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Evans avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans looking for a takedown.
Evans is working for takedown but Masto is calmly controlling the position for now.
Knees in the clinch landing for Masto.
Evans has Masto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Masto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Evans drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Masto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Masto trying to land knees to the body.
Evans is trying to break the clinch but Masto has him pressed against the cage.
Masto has had enough of the clinch but Evans keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Evans goes for a takedown in the clinch but Masto prevents it.
Masto stalls.
Evans blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Evans tries to score a body lock takedown but Masto shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Evans on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sunza Masto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Masto 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sunza Masto!