PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ken Masters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicolas Refn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Masters
vs
Refn

185 cm
27
180 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

178 cm
27
174 lbs
15 - 13 - 1

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ken Masters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Nicolas Refn!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Refn moves out of range of the strikes.
Refn tries to close the distance and clinch but Masters swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nicolas Refn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Masters misses.
Refn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Refn looks for a takedown but Masters sprawls well.

Refn darts in and clinches Masters up against the cage.
Masters swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Refn can't find room to land a body shot as Masters controls the action.
Refn lands a shoulder strike.
Refn is trying to break the clinch but Masters has him pressed against the cage.

Refn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Masters fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Refn manages to avoid it.
Refn fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ken Masters has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicolas Refn.
Refn shoots in for a takedown but Masters shows good takedown defense.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Refn.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Refn clinches with his opponent.
Masters misses with a short punch on the inside.
Refn's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Masters tries to stall but Refn uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Masters tries to break free but Refn pushes him back against the cage.
Refn comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Refn looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Refn lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Refn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Refn changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Masters tries to avoid it but Refn manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Masters to the ground. Masters escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Refn tries to close the distance and clinch but Masters swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Refn shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Masters but Masters pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Masters feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Refns jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Refn has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Masters finds it's way round the side to connect with Refn's head.
Refn misses with an uppercut. Masters saw that one coming.
Refn tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Masters connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Refn shoots for a double leg takedown but Masters sprawls well. He's pushed Refn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Masters throws a nice looking combination but Refn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Masters displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Masters dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Refn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Masters sprawls well. Masters wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Refn gets slowly back to his feet.
Refn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Refn has closed the distance and engaged Masters in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Refn looking to slow down the pace here.
Masters has a couple of punches blocked by Refn.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Masters.
Masters working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Refn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Refn tries to clinch up.
Refn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Masters sprawls well. Masters wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Refn gets slowly back to his feet.

Masters tries to sprawl but Refn drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Refn scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Masters preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Refn takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Refn is thwarting Masters's attempts to control the position.
Refn looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Masters is trying is best to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
Masters avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Refn.

Ken Masters has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Refn closes the distance and pushes Masters back into the cage.

Refn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Refn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Masters connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Refn's hands.
Masters throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Refn stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Refn slips under a jab from Masters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nicolas Refn will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Refn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Masters sprawls well. Masters wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Refn gets slowly back to his feet.
Refn changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Masters tries to avoid it but Refn manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Masters to the ground. Masters escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Masters jabs at Refn's body.

Refn fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Masters to the ground. Refn is now in Masters's guard.
Refn is looking to advance position but Masters has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Refn wants to control but Masters is having none of it.
Refn can't escape the position.
Refn tries to hold on but Masters pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters trying to control but Refn is having none of it.
Refn tries to reverse the position but Masters maintains control.
Refn regains half guard.
Refn wants to control but Masters is keeping busy.
Refn is pressing down on Masters's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Refn is trying to control the position but Masters postures up.
Refn wants to sweep but no luck.
Masters wants to stand and escape but instead Refn has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Refn postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nicolas Refn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Refn's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Masters wants to sweep but no luck.
Masters is looking to stand up but Refn isn't so interested in that idea.
Refn not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
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!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nicolas Refn.
Refn clobbers Masters with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Refn instigates a clinch.
Refn blocks a body shot from Masters.
Refn wants to stall.

Masters breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Refn fails with the takedown
and Masters counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ken Masters has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicolas Refn.
Refn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Masters gets caught flat footed, as Refn shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Refn controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masters working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Refn.
Refn is fighting to break Masters's control of his arms but Masters is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Refn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Refn postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Masters controls Refn momentarily but Refn frees himself.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Refn throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Refn won't allow Masters to get back to his feet.
Refn controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Refn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Masters. Refn does a little dance to reset his feet.
Masters getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Refn wants to clinch.
Masters is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Refn clinches up with Masters and pushes him back against the cage.
Refn leaning his opponent against the cage.
Refn struggles to land a body shot inside as Masters controls his hands.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Refn tries to work over Masters's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Refn lands a nice shot to the body.

Refn breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Refn takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Refn clinches up against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Refn takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Refn looking to slow down the pace here.
Masters misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Refn is working Masters over against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Masters.

Refn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Masters comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ken Masters is winning the standup battle so far.
Refn shoots in for a takedown but Masters shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Refn doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Masters jabs Refn right on the nose. Refn blinks but takes it well.
Ken Masters has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Masters displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Refn.
Refn shoots for a takedown but Masters saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ken Masters has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicolas Refn.
Refn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Refn has a takedown stuffed.
Masters with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Refn tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Masters manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Refn looking to score a takedown here. Masters is defending well but Refn drives through and ends up in Masters's guard.
Refn wants to control from the top but Masters keeps moving.
Masters keeping full guard, as Refn tries to pass.
Masters knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Refn on the ground.
Masters throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Nicolas Refn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Masters on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Masters tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Refn controlling from the top position.
Refn throwing strikes from guard but Masters blocks nicely.
Refn is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Nicolas Refn has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A big left from Masters misses.
Masters keeps the fight on the outside.

Refn has managed to clinch.
Refn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Refn stalling the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masters lands a nice uppercut.
Masters taking a breather.
Masters lands a hook to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Refn scores with a nice short uppercut.
Masters is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Masters tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Masters misses with a punch to the body.
Nicolas Refn seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Refn lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Refn.
Masters scores with an uppercut up the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicolas Refn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Refn winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicolas Refn!
A victorious Nicolas Refn thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.