PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Claudio Masso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paco Tabera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masso comes to the cage accompanied by The Deathwish. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Masso
vs
Tabera

190 cm
22
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
21
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Claudio Masso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paco Tabera!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Aafke Stam and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tabera clinches with his opponent.
Tabera wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tabera goes for a takedown attempt but Masso pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Tabera clinches up against the cage.

Masso is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Tabera can't fight it off and eventually Masso manages to take the fight to the floor. Tabera looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Masso wants to pass the guard but Tabera is keeping the position.
Masso has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Tabera is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Masso defends well.
Tabera trying to control the position here.
Masso is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabera wants to sweep here but Masso controlling him for the moment.
Tabera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Masso.
Masso trying to control but Tabera is working from the bottom.
Masso wants to pass the guard but Tabera is keeping the position.
Tabera trying to keep a closed guard but Masso is proving a slippery customer.
Masso missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Masso knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tabera on the ground.
Tabera pulls Masso in close to his closed guard and prevents Masso from doing any damage or advancing position.
Masso works over Tabera with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tabera working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Masso doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Masso manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tabera lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Masso!
Tabera controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tabera landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tabera wants to finish this one by submission but Masso is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Tabera.
Masso has given up his back here. Will Tabera look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Masso preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Tabera.
Tabera looks gassed!
Tabera not allowing Masso to control his hands.
Tabera keeps control of the position as Masso tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masso covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Masso is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Tabera really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Masso.

Tabera is looking for a choke. Masso gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Masso manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Tabera is trying to control the position from the bottom.
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 Claudio Masso will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tabera fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Masso shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tabera pinned against the cage. Tabera gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Masso takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tabera lands a head shot.
Masso looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Tabera rushes Masso and presses him up against the cage.
Tabera has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Masso is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tabera wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tabera is trying to break free.
Tabera changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Masso fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Tabera gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tabera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Masso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabera is adopting a defensive guard.
Masso with a nice head shot there.
Tabera keeping full guard, as Masso tries to pass.
Masso is working hard here to advance position.
Masso wants to get up but he can't break Tabera's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Masso being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Tabera scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Masso trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tabera is pulling down on Masso's head. It's preventing any offense from Masso, at least for the moment.
Masso working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Tabera has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Masso can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Masso looking to sit in guard and control but Tabera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tabera is in close to Masso's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Masso is working an open guard so Tabera takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
No luck for Masso with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Claudio Masso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tabera.
Masso gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tabera.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tabera darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Tabera gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tabera wants to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tabera is working for takedown but Masso is calmly controlling the position for now.
Masso fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Tabera ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tabera no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Tabera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tabera has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Masso stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tabera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paco Tabera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A nice combination there by Tabera.
Masso swats away the attempt to clinch by Tabera.

Masso darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tabera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Masso is just content to waste time from the top position. Tabera takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Masso accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tabera is pulling down on Masso's head to control his posture.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Masso thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabera managing to control the position.
Tabera wants to stand but Masso is controlling the position.
Masso trying to control the position from guard on top but Tabera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tabera pulls Masso in close to prevent any damage.
Masso with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tabera manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Masso manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tabera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tabera is pushing down on Masso's leg trying to pass to half guard. Masso is fighting to maintain full guard but Tabera has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tabera seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tabera wants to control but Masso is keeping him busy.
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. Tabera connects with a nice short shot to Masso's temple.
Masso gets back to full guard.
Tabera controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Masso keeping moving, preventing Tabera from controlling successfully.
Tabera with a flurry of punches that miss.

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.
Tabera is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Despite being in the dominant position, Paco Tabera just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Masso shoots in but no luck this time.
Paco Tabera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Tabera moves into the clinch.
Tabera is trying to force a seperation but Masso has the dominant position.
Masso stops a takedown attempt from Tabera.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Tabera takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Tabera working hard to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tabera manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Masso turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Masso manages to end up in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Claudio Masso.
I think Masso has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Claudio Masso!