PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luke Neil (ranked 450 p4p, 2018 weight class) and Nate Masvidal (ranked 72 p4p, 304 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Neil
vs
Masvidal

182 cm
31
184
16 - 6 - 0

188 cm
22
185
8 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Core Combat

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 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luke Neil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Nate Masvidal!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Neil shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Masvidal is trying to defend but Neil finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Masvidal is trying to control but can't.
Masvidal is looking to improve his position.
Masvidal is staying active underneath Neil, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Masvidal actively working from the bottom here.
Masvidal avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Neil.

Masvidal looking for submissions off his back.
Masvidal has hold of Neil's hands but Neil slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Masvidal looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Masvidal wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Neil there.
Masvidal avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Neil.
Neil looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Neil is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Neil slips a nice elbow through Masvidal's hands, connecting with Masvidal's forehead.
Masvidal missing with punches from the bottom.
Neil lands with a punch from half guard.
Neil 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.
Masvidal is looking for a sweep. Neil is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Neil there.

Masvidal looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Neil looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Masvidal is trying to maintain the position but Neil is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neil moves nicely into side control.
Masvidal tries to buck Neil off but Neil is having none of it.
Neil working away.
Masvidal is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Neil's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Neil looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Neil is pressing down on Masvidal's thigh, looking to free his foot. Masvidal is holding on for now.
Neil working the head and body with strikes.
Masvidal felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Neil wants to control but Masvidal is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Masvidal has hold of Neil's hands but Neil slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Masvidal looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Neil looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Masvidal with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Masvidal is trying to get back to full guard.
Masvidal moves into full guard.

Masvidal working for a triangle but Neil defends it easily.
Masvidal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Masvidal keeping moving, preventing Neil from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal controls Neil momentarily but Neil frees himself.
Neil makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Masvidal is trying to control the position but Neil postures up.
Neil connects with a couple of short punches.
Neil distracts Masvidal with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Masvidal working for a triangle but Neil defends it easily.
Neil postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neil working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Masvidal's head.
Masvidal keeping moving, preventing Neil from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Neil slips a straight right by Masvidal.
Neil shoots in looking for a takedown. Masvidal tries to sprawl out of it but Neil keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Masvidal manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Masvidal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Masvidal throws a hook to the side of Neil's head but Neil sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Neil dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Neil shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Masvidal is trying to defend but Neil finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Masvidal is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neil working Masvidal over with strikes.
Masvidal trying to control here.
Masvidal is looking for a sweep. Neil is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neil is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Masvidal doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Neil.
Masvidal taking some punishment here, with Neil in his half guard.
Neil landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
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. Neil connects with a nice short shot to Masvidal's temple.
Neil working the head and body with strikes.
Masvidal trying to hold on to Neil's head to control him but Neil postures up.
Masvidal is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Neil is staying active.
Masvidal looks like he's trying to stand up.
Neil lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neil working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Masvidal 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.

Neil is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Neil is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Neil seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Neil is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Masvidal is rocked!
Neil works his way into full mount!
Neil looking to control but Masvidal is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neil breaks from Masvidal's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Neil is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Masvidal can do to turn this around?
Masvidal tries to hold on but Neil postures up.
Masvidal really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Neil with shots to the head and body - Masvidal looks very uncomfortable down there.
Masvidal is still in real trouble! Can Neil finish him?
Masvidal slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Neil works his way into full mount!

Neil looking for a guillotine from mount but Masvidal is having none of it.
Masvidal keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Masvidal seems to have recovered his senses.
Masvidal is squirming around, avoiding Neil's attempts to control the action.
Neil landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neil working Masvidal over with strikes here.
Neil loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Masvidal scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Neil land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Neil stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Luke Neil!
After winning the bout, Luke Neil thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.