PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Archer (ranked 3912 p4p, 5011 weight class) and Kenny Mason (ranked 378 p4p, 456 weight class). Rocco Archer has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Archer
vs
Mason

176 cm
22
148
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
155
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ajax Cloth
Hawaii Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rocco Archer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenny Mason!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Chris Saunders and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mason shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mason chips away with some ground and pound.
Mason has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mason passes Archer's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mason slips a nice elbow through Archer's hands, connecting with Archer's forehead.
Mason is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Mason stalling.
My spies in Cozad MMA Tokyo inform me that Mason has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Archer is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mason scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mason slows the pace down in half guard.
Archer trying to control but Mason postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mason in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Archer has hold of Mason's hands but Mason slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Archer is breathing heavily.
Mason sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Archer looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Mason prevents Archer from improving his position.
Mason lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Mason.
Mason keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Let's hope that Mason 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.
It looks like Mason might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Mason gets a double leg takedown into Archer's guard.
Mason tries to stand but Archer is controlling from the bottom.
Mason engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason slips nicely into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Archer has a hand on Mason's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Mason takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Mason dominated that round.
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.

Archer gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mason to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mason sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mason preventing the sweep.
Mason sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Archer's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason slows the pace down in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Mason is going to stand back up.
Mason keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Mason's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Mason is continuing to stall.

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.
Mason lands strikes from half guard.
Mason wants to free his trapped foot but Archer is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Mason stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Mason closes the distance and clinches.

Mason pulls guard successfully.
Mason is pulling down on Archer's head. It's preventing any offense from Archer, at least for the moment.
Archer trying to control the position from guard on top but Mason is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kenny Mason has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Archer prevents Mason from getting back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mason can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mason looking to hit a scissor sweep but Archer is one step ahead there.
Mason keeping moving, preventing Archer from controlling successfully.

Mason is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Archer is aware though and is defending well.

Mason working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Archer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Archer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

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.
Mason is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Mason wants to stand but Archer is controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mason has closed the distance and engaged Archer in a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Mason showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mason digs a right hand into Archer's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Archer's gas tank.
Archer tries to pull guard but Mason forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Mason gets control of Archer's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mason will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mason keeping moving, preventing Archer from controlling successfully.
Mason is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mason manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mason gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Archer is looking to get back to is feet but Mason passes into side control.
Mason has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mason controlling from side mount.
Mason working the ground and pound.
Mason landing strikes.
Mason is staying tight to Archer's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Mason pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

Mason working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Archer turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Mason off and cradles Archer's limp body as Mason celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Kenny Mason!