PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gordon Masten (ranked 1793 p4p, 23716 weight class) and Ben Hornby (ranked 187 p4p, 469 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Masten
vs
Hornby

171 cm
22
156
7 - 0 - 0

171 cm
18
145
0 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gordon Masten!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Hornby!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hornby keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Masten.
Masten has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hornby lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Masten at a distance.
Masten looks to throw the jab but Hornby is out of range.
Hornby on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Masten lands a slapping body shot.
Masten lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hornby tries to bum rush Masten with a series of wild strikes but Masten uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hornby slips under a jab.

Hornby clinches up with Masten and pushes him back against the cage.
Masten lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Ben Hornby has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice right hand lands inside from Masten.
Masten scores with a nice hook to the head.

Masten pulls guard.
Masten seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Masten working for a triangle but Hornby defends it easily.
Masten has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masten pulls Hornby in close to prevent any damage.
Masten has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Masten's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Masten tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masten managing to control the position.

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.
Further stalling from Masten.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Hornby gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Masten lands an uppercut.
Masten lands a shoulder strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Masten.
Still in the clinch, Masten scores with a nice short uppercut.

Hornby is rocked!
Masten misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hornby is still on wobbly legs! Can Masten finish him?
Masten throws a head punch that misses.
Masten misses with some punches.
Masten with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hornby.
Masten misses with a short punch on the inside.
Masten swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hornby is trying to break free.
A head punch on the inside from Masten fails to land.
Masten swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Masten tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Masten misses with a punch on the inside.
Masten misses with the head strike.
Masten misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Masten.
Masten misses with a short punch on the inside.
Masten tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Masten using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hornby has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Masten throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hornby blocks it with crossed arms.
Masten misses with a hook from the clinch.
Masten working aggressively here.
Masten has a couple of punches blocked by Hornby.
Masten throws a head punch that misses.
Masten throws a head punch that misses.
Masten misses with the head strike.
Hornby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Masten working aggressively here.
Masten prevents Hornby from breaking the clinch.
Masten swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Masten working aggressively here.
Masten misses with the head strike.
Masten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Masten misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hornby.
Masten throws a knee to the head but misses.
Masten throws a knee to the head but misses.
Masten is breathing heavily.
Masten throws a head punch that misses.
Masten working aggressively here.
Masten tries to land a knee to the head but Hornby blocks with his arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hornby.
Masten throws a punch but it's blocked by Hornby.
Masten throws a head punch that misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Masten swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Masten fails to land.
Hornby blocking some punches.
Hornby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Masten.
Masten has a couple of punches blocked by Hornby.
Masten working aggressively here.
Masten misses with a knee strike.
Hornby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Masten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Masten misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hornby.
Masten misses with some punches.
Masten misses with a knee to the head.
Masten misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hornby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Masten misses with the head strike.
Masten prevents Hornby from breaking the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Masten misses with a punch on the inside.
Hornby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hornby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Masten throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hornby blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hornby has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Masten misses with some punches.
Hornby blocking some punches.
Masten swings wildly with an uppercut but Hornby uses good head movement to avoid it.
Masten tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Masten.
Masten throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hornby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Masten misses with a hook from the clinch.
Masten has a couple of punches blocked by Hornby.
Masten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Masten tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Masten throws a head punch that misses.
Masten misses with a punch on the inside.
Masten swings wildly with an uppercut but Hornby uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hornby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hornby.
Hornby blocking some punches.
Masten misses with a knee to the head.
Hornby is trying to push Masten away but Masten has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Masten throws a head punch that misses.
Hornby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Masten throws a head punch that misses.
Masten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Masten misses with a short punch on the inside.
Masten has a couple of punches blocked by Hornby.
Hornby blocking some punches.
Masten working aggressively here.
Masten misses with some punches.
Masten misses with a short punch on the inside.
Masten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Masten has a couple of punches blocked by Hornby.
Masten throws a head punch that misses.
Masten misses with a punch on the inside.
Masten working aggressively here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Masten has a couple of punches blocked by Hornby.
Masten tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Masten misses with a short punch on the inside.
Masten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hornby wants to break free but Masten has control.
Masten tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Masten misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hornby.
Masten throws a punch but it's blocked by Hornby.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hornby.
Masten misses with a hook from the clinch.
Masten misses with some punches.
Masten misses with the head strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gordon Masten dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ben Hornby's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hornby tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hornby avoids the body shot from Masten.
Gordon Masten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masten looks to land a left hand but Hornby moved out of range nicely.

Masten gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Masten lands with a short shot to the head.
Masten is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hornby to keep the fight standing.
Masten throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hornby wants to get back to striking at distance but Masten won't allow it.
Hornby looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hornby wants to break the clinch but can't.
Masten dips a shoulder and cracks Hornby with a mighty uppercut! Hornby falls back against the cage and Masten unloads with a barrage of strikes! Hornby is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Masten screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gordon Masten!
Gordon Masten is the new featherweight champion!
After the fight, Gordon Masten was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.