PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bea Mason (ranked 21079 p4p, 696 weight class) and Manu Ahonen (ranked 3329 p4p, 406 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Mason
vs
Ahonen

183 cm
30
175 lbs
13 - 18 - 0

182 cm
37
170 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bea Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manu Ahonen!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahonen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mason.
Mason misses with a takedown attempt - Ahonen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mason moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromAhonen.
Mason avoids the head kick by Ahonen.

Ahonen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ahonen takes a shot to the head.

Ahonen decides to pull guard.
Ahonen has a closed guard, preventing Mason from standing up.

Ahonen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mason doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mason manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ahonen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mason's guard.

Mason is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ahonen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahonen stands up over Mason, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ahonen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ahonen landing with the ground and pound.
Mason 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.
Mason trying to keep a closed guard but Ahonen is proving a slippery customer.
Ahonen is in close to Mason's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mason looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mason looking to control.
Ahonen stopping the sweep attempt from Mason.
Ahonen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen stays in close to Mason's body and controls the position.
Ahonen connects with a couple of short punches.
Ahonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Mason is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mason lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ahonen looking to control.
Ahonen 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.
Ahonen keeping full guard, as Mason tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ahonen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mason defends well.
Mason postures up.
Ahonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Mason avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mason trying to control but Ahonen is working from the bottom.
Ahonen looking to control.

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.

Ahonen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mason gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Mason stands and steps away. Ahonen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Ahonen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mason's half guard.
Mason is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ahonen scores with a couple of nice shots.
My spies in Gym inform me that Ahonen has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Ahonen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mason is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ahonen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ahonen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mason manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mason wants to stand but Ahonen is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Ahonen 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.

Mason gets tackled into the cage by Ahonen. Ahonen maintains the clinch.

Ahonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ahonen closes the distance and pushes Mason back into the cage.

Mason's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mason throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ahonen's waist but Ahonen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mason off to one side.
Mason wants to clinch but Ahonen slips to the side
and Ahonen counters with a two punch combo.

Ahonen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mason punching from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ahonen lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mason trying to control here.
Ahonen is nestled in close to Mason, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mason trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Ahonen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason can't escape the position.
Mason regains half guard.
Ahonen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mason tries to get to full guard but Ahonen has control of the leg.
Ahonen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ahonen is nestled in close to Mason, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ahonen in particular looking to stall.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ahonen connects with a nice short shot to Mason's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason is pressing down on Ahonen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Manu Ahonen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ahonen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mason can't keep his opponent in guard - Ahonen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ahonen lands with a punch from half guard.
Ahonen wants to control but Mason is keeping him busy.
Mason wants to improve his position but Ahonen is controlling well.
Mason on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
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.
Ahonen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mason on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ahonen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mason is looking to control Ahonen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mason avoid being mounted?
Mason is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ahonen scores with a couple of nice shots.

Mason looking for submissions off his back.
Ahonen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ahonen connects with a nice short shot to Mason's temple.
Mason has hold of Ahonen's hands but Ahonen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ahonen is taking a breather. Mason says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen winds up and cracks Mason with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ground and pound from Ahonen.
Mason wants to get back to his feet.
Ground and pound from Ahonen.
Ahonen controlling the action here.
Ahonen working Mason over with strikes.
Ahonen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ahonen content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Ahonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ahonen swings for the body but Mason moves out of range.
Mason fails with the takedown.
Ahonen dodges the punch combination from Mason.

Ahonen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ahonen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ahonen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ahonen won't allow Mason to sweep him here.

Mason is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ahonen defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahonen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ahonen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahonen is continuing to stall.
Mason trying to control the position.
Mason has momentary wrist control but Ahonen slips an elbow through the middle.
Ahonen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mason 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mason looking to control.
Ahonen 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.
Ahonen postures up and lands a big shot to Mason's brow.
Ahonen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ahonen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mason looking to control.
Mason wants to sweep here but Ahonen controlling him for the moment.
Ahonen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ahonen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen is working Mason over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ahonen prevents Mason from getting back to his feet.
Ahonen stands up over Mason, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ahonen chips away with some ground and pound.
Ahonen postures up and lands a big shot to Mason's brow.
Manu Ahonen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ahonen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ahonen scoring with some ground and pound.
Mason wants to sweep here but Ahonen controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ahonen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ahonen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Let's hope that Ahonen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Manu Ahonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ahonen 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manu Ahonen!