PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bea Mason (ranked 2341 p4p, 1232 weight class) and Alex Novoselic (ranked 327 p4p, 198 weight class). Novoselic is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here - Alice in Chains. Bea Mason had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Mason
vs
Novoselic

183 cm
32
175
15 - 20 - 0

178 cm
38
174
21 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

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 15 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bea Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Novoselic!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novoselic cracks Mason with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Mason shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Novoselic napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Novoselic sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Mason prevents Novoselic from improving his position.

Novoselic looking for submissions off his back.
Novoselic wants to get back to full guard.
Mason thows a huge punch but Novoselic dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Novoselic looking for submissions off his back.
Novoselic is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mason's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mason's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason breaks Novoselic's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Mason trying to control but Novoselic is working from the bottom.
Novoselic trying to control the position here.
Mason won't allow Novoselic to sweep him here.
Mason tries to free his leg and advance position but Novoselic is retaining full guard.
Mason won't allow Novoselic to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason throws a big right hand that misses.
Mason wants to pass the guard but Novoselic is keeping the position.
Novoselic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Novoselic can't keep his opponent in guard - Mason advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Novoselic trying to control from the bottom.
Novoselic is trying to get back to full guard.
Novoselic is staying active underneath Mason, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Novoselic controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novoselic tries to roll over but Mason keeps him under control.
Mason sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Novoselic defending well though.

Novoselic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Novoselic regains full guard. Nicely done.
Novoselic has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Mason avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mason wants to control from the top but Novoselic keeps moving.

That's four 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Mason shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Novoselic as he jumps to the side.
Novoselic thows a leg kick but Mason checks it
and Mason counters with a series of strikes. Novoselic will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mason throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Novoselic's waist but Novoselic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mason off to one side.
Nice shot lands for Novoselic.
Mason fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bea Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mason dives in for a single leg takedown but Novoselic sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Novoselic misses with a left hand
and Mason counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bea Mason will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Novoselic lands a two punch combo.
Novoselic throws a hook but Mason blocks it.
Mason lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Mason tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Novoselic swivels and escapes.
Novoselic darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Novoselic misses with a leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mason.
Novoselic misses the shot to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Mason misses the target.
Novoselic throws a wild body kick that Mason sees coming a mile off.
Mason wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Novoselic scores with a spinning back kick!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mason.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bea Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Novoselic with the inside leg kick.
Novoselic leaves Mason with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mason throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Novoselic tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mason is in Novoselic's guard.
Mason trying to control but Novoselic is working from the bottom.
Novoselic has his hands on Mason's head, controlling the position.
Mason tries to free his leg and advance position but Novoselic is retaining full guard.
Mason trying to control but Novoselic is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Novoselic holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Novoselic keeping moving, preventing Mason from controlling successfully.
Bea Mason overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Novoselic is controlling Mason's posture.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Novoselic has an active guard here but Mason has managed to pass into half guard.
Mason thows a huge punch but Novoselic dodges it nicely.
Novoselic is trying is best to control the position here.
Mason throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novoselic wants to get back to full guard.
Mason wants to lay and pray for a moment but Novoselic keeps working.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Novoselic throws a chopping leg kick but Mason manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Mason was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Mason slips a straight right by Novoselic.
Mason misses with a takedown
and Novoselic counters with a nice body shot.
Mason moves in looking to clinch but Novoselic pushes him off.
Mason fails with a takedown attempt.
Mason lands a front kick.
Mason throws a wild body kick that Novoselic sees coming a mile off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novoselic lands a body shot.
Novoselic wants to slow Mason down by chopping away at his legs.
Mason fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Novoselic works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Novoselic scores with a punch to the head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Novoselic.
Mason tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Novoselic swivels and escapes.
Mason takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Novoselic.
Mason fails with the takedown
and Novoselic counters with a three punch combo that has Mason backing up. Mason nods at Novoselic to acknowledge the strikes.
Novoselic misses with a looping left.
Novoselic stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Novoselic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Novoselic throws a leg kick which misses Mason's front leg but catches the back leg as Mason tries to avoid it.
Novoselic stuffs the takedown attempt from Mason. Mason gets slowly back to his feet.
Novoselic throws a jab when Mason was well out of range.

Mason darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Novoselic actively working from the bottom here.
Mason tries to pass the half guard into mount. Novoselic knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Novoselic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mason.
Novoselic is doing well to control the position and prevent Mason from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason is trying to control. Novoselic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Novoselic is controlling Mason's trapped leg to prevent Mason from advancing to side control.
Mason wants to pass to mount but Novoselic is defending the position.
Novoselic is trying to control but can't.
Novoselic slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Novoselic working for a triangle but Mason defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mason trying to control the position from guard on top but Novoselic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mason wants to pass the guard but Novoselic is keeping the position.
Novoselic has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Novoselic working for a triangle but Mason defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novoselic keeping moving, preventing Mason from controlling successfully.
Mason wants to get up but he can't break Novoselic's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Novoselic tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Novoselic cracks Mason with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Mason shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Novoselic counters with a slapping leg kick.
Novoselic lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Novoselic cracks Mason with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason is looking to clinch.
Jab by Novoselic.
Mason with a poor takedown
and Novoselic counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bea Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Novoselic scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Novoselic sizes up Mason with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Novoselic connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mason's hands.
Alex Novoselic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Novoselic throws a leg kick but Mason sees it coming and moves out of range.
Novoselic connects with a jab.
Mason slips a jab from Novoselic.
Novoselic fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mason defending well as Novoselic loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mason's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Novoselic connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Mason scrambles back to his feet.
Novoselic has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Novoselic lands with a right hand.
Mason shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Novoselic but Novoselic pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Novoselic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Novoselic 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Novoselic!
A relieved looking Alex Novoselic thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.