PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Punch Bag (ranked 25449 p4p, 2548 weight class) and John Masterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bag's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Eye of the tiger. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Bag
vs
Masterson

175 cm
18
147
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
24
155
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Punch Bag!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Masterson!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bag throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Masterson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bag's guard.
Masterson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Let's hope that Masterson 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.
Bag has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Bag knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Masterson on the ground.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Masterson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bag pulls Masterson in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masterson is looking to advance position but Bag has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Masterson tries to hold on but Bag postures up.
Bag pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Bag tries to control but Masterson wriggling away.
Masterson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Masterson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bag controls Masterson momentarily but Masterson frees himself.
Masterson 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.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Masterson's coach down at Cozad MMA Las Vegas was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Masterson's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Bag misses with the body kick

and Masterson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Masterson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bag swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Masterson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Masterson is pushing down on Bag's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bag is fighting to maintain full guard but Masterson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Masterson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Masterson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Masterson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Masterson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Bag is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bag wants to get back to his feet but Masterson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bag trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masterson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bag keeping full guard, as Masterson tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masterson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bag keeping full guard, as Masterson tries to pass.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Masterson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bag misses with a leg kick

and Masterson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bag won't be happy with that.
Masterson takes a little break here. Bag wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Masterson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masterson controls the position.
Masterson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Masterson tries to advance to mount but Bag denies him.
Bag is being controlled here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Masterson is trying to get an arm triangle but Bag is defending well.
The referee asks Masterson politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Masterson prefers to stall for the moment though.
Masterson working away.
Bag is trying to escape the position but Masterson is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Masterson is continuing to stall.
Bag gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Masterson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Masterson 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 each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bag looks to land a combination but Masterson avoids it well.

Masterson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Bag being controlled for a moment.
Bag tries to bench press Masterson off him but Masterson keeps the position.
Masterson controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Masterson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masterson takes a little break here. Bag wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Masterson is trying to get an arm triangle but Bag is defending well.
Bag is looking to regain half guard here but Masterson keeps moving and retains side control.

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.
Masterson is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Bag's shoulder. That is not cool.
Masterson tries to move to mount but Bag blocks the move with his legs.

Masterson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bag knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Masterson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bag, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Masterson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Masterson controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Masterson has hold of Bag's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Bag tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Masterson cranks the arm and Bag screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Bag, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). John Masterson!