PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paavo Masala (ranked 1386 p4p, 155 weight class) and Killua Zoldyk (ranked 1125 p4p, 125 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?

Masala
vs
Zoldyk

178 cm
22
154 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

178 cm
22
152 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

UnderGround Supplements

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paavo Masala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Killua Zoldyk!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masala shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zoldyk pinned against the cage. Zoldyk gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zoldyk lands a two punch combo.
Zoldyk misses with a head kick.
Masala with a poor takedown
and Zoldyk counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Masala looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Masala is defended easily by Zoldyk.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paavo Masala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Masala misses.
Zoldyk lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Masala misses with a double jab
enabling Zoldyk to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoldyk avoids the body shot from Masala.
Zoldyk looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Masala shoots in for a takedown but Zoldyk shows good takedown defense.
Masala fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zoldyk avoids it really well and circles away.
Killua Zoldyk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Masala looks to throw the jab but Zoldyk is out of range.
Masala has his takedown stuffed
and Zoldyk counters with a nice uppercut.
Paavo Masala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masala throws a series of punches but Zoldyk moves out of range.
Zoldyk unleashes a big counter combination but Masala bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Masala shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zoldyk sprawls well. Zoldyk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Masala gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masala shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zoldyk sprawls well. Zoldyk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Masala gets slowly back to his feet.
Despite the aggression on Zoldyk's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Masala shoots in and gets a takedown into Zoldyk's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masala throwing strikes but missing.
Zoldyk is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Masala is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Masala throwing strikes from guard but Zoldyk blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Masala accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Masala wants to control from the top but Zoldyk keeps moving.
Zoldyk has Masala pulled in close to control his posture.
Masala controlling from the top position.
Zoldyk is trying to control the position but Masala postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zoldyk keeping moving, preventing Masala from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zoldyk throws a sloppy head kick and Masala moves out of range easily.
Masala takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Masala looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Masala is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zoldyk sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zoldyk throws out a counter right but Masala avoids it with no problem.
Masala throws a body punch but Zoldyk moves out of range.
Zoldyk looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Masala tries for a takedown but Zoldyk circles away easily
enabling Zoldyk to counter with a crisp jab.
Masala has his takedown stuffed
and Zoldyk counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Killua Zoldyk dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Masala shoots for a takedown but Zoldyk saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Masala shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zoldyk counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A slapping body kick lands there for Zoldyk.
Masala is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zoldyk sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zoldyk looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paavo Masala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masala looks for a takedown but Zoldyk sprawls well.
Paavo Masala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zoldyk enables Masala to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zoldyk manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zoldyk has Masala pulled in close to control his posture.
Masala distracts Zoldyk with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoldyk controls Masala momentarily but Masala frees himself.
Zoldyk controlling Masala's posture.
Zoldyk lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Masala wants to sweep but no luck.
Zoldyk trying to control the position from guard on top but Masala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masala tries to strike from the bottom.

That's two 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 looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Masala looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zoldyk is one step ahead there.
Masala lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zoldyk looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Masala slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zoldyk struggling a bit here.
Zoldyk is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Masala is staying active.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoldyk is working to avoid the ground and pound but Masala connects with a decent elbow.
Masala throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Masala lands a nice forearm strike.
Masala lands some shots froms side control.
Zoldyk tries to improve position but can't.

Masala is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zoldyk knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Masala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zoldyk keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoldyk manages to work his way to half guard, despite Masala's best efforts.
Zoldyk tries to roll over but Masala keeps him under control.

Masala seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Zoldyk has recovered full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Masala accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zoldyk not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Masala wants to control from the top but Zoldyk keeps moving.
Masala lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Masala dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zoldyk cracks Masala with a right hand to the side of the head.
No luck for Masala with that takedown attempt.
Masala throws a head kick that misses.
Masala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Masala tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zoldyk was well out of range. Poor timing from Masala.
Zoldyk shapes to counter with a head kick.
Zoldyk scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Masala doesn't seem bothered though.

Masala scores with a takedown into Zoldyk's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zoldyk controlling the position.

Zoldyk is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zoldyk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Masala is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoldyk is adopting a defensive guard.
Masala throwing strikes but missing.
Masala landing with the ground and pound.
Zoldyk looking to control.
Zoldyk wants to sweep but no luck.
Masala has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Masala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Paavo Masala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Masala trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Masala accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Masala is in close to Zoldyk's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zoldyk looking to control.
Zoldyk wants to sweep but no luck.
Masala lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Zoldyk is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Masala throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Masala throwing strikes but missing.
Masala working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Masala is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Zoldyk is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Zoldyk has escaped and now he's on top!

Masala utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Masala is adopting a defensive guard.
Zoldyk won't allow Masala to sweep him here.
Zoldyk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Masala works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Masala has Zoldyk pulled in close to control his posture.

Masala looking for a guillotine here but Zoldyk defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoldyk throws a strike but Masala rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Masala lands a couple of digs.
Masala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zoldyk is keeping the position for now.
Zoldyk looking to control.
Zoldyk wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Masala trying to control but Zoldyk is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Masala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paavo Masala showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Masala has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

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