PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Omar Khabibolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mason's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Final Countdown. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Mason
vs
Khabibolov

180 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

Bloodsport Nutrition (100% Genuine)SALE 159Q $30

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Omar Khabibolov!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Paul Tew and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mason tries for a takedown but Khabibolov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Khabibolov wants to clinch but Mason slips to the side

and Mason counters with a shoot takedown. Khabibolov fights it but they end up in guard.
Mason controlling from the top position.
Mason throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Mason stands up and waves to Khabibolov to follow him.
Khabibolov tries to clinch

and Mason counters by moving into the clinch.
Mason has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Khabibolov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mason is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Khabibolov is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason keeps control of Khabibolov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mason tries to score a body lock takedown but Khabibolov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mason wants to break the clinch but can't.
Khabibolov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Khabibolov tries to land a knee to the head but Mason blocks with his arms.
Khabibolov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mason is trying to pull guard but Khabibolov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Mason fails to land.
Mason is trying to pull guard but Khabibolov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mason looking for a takedown.
Khabibolov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mason has him pressed against the cage.
Mason has had enough of the clinch but Khabibolov keeps him there for the moment.
Mason wants a takedown but no success here.
Khabibolov misses with a knee to the head.
Mason is trying to force a seperation but Khabibolov has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabibolov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mason blocks it with crossed arms.

Mason gets control of Khabibolov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mason will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mason has a closed guard, preventing Khabibolov from standing up.
Mason has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Khabibolov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Khabibolov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mason's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mason pushes Khabibolov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Khabibolov is looking to clinch.
Khabibolov wants to clinch

and Mason counters by moving into the clinch.
Mason tries to break free but Khabibolov pushes him back against the cage.
Khabibolov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mason's defenses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mason wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Khabibolov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mason blocks it with crossed arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Mason dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mason throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Khabibolov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mason is in Khabibolov's guard.
Mason stays in close to Khabibolov's body and controls the position.
Khabibolov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mason. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mason passes Khabibolov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Mason is trying to work for a kimura but Khabibolov is defending well.
Mason is taking a breather. Khabibolov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mason is working for a kimura but Khabibolov is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mason is controlling the pace.
Mason'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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Michael Mason wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Khabibolov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mason.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mason pushes Khabibolov up against the cage in a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Mason - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Mason is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Khabibolov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Khabibolov tries to stall but Mason uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mason slowing the pace effectively.
Mason wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabibolov misses with a knee strike.
Mason tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mason wants a takedown.
Khabibolov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mason takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Michael Mason has been cut.

Khabibolov breaks from the clinch.
Khabibolov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mason paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mason dives in and grabs Khabibolov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Khabibolov pushes down on Mason's head and hops out.
Khabibolov looks to clinch

so Mason counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Mason dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Mason's cut.
That's time! Mason's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Khabibolov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mason.

Mason instigates a clinch.
Khabibolov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mason tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Khabibolov scores with a knee to the head.
Khabibolov is pressed up against the cage. Mason has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Khabibolov down to the mat. Khabibolov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mason looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Khabibolov is fending him off so far but Mason persists. Nope, Khabibolov circles away and we're back to standing.
Michael Mason seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mason tries to score a power double leg takedown but Khabibolov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mason somewhat.
Khabibolov is looking to clinch.
Omar Khabibolov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown by Mason or perhaps it was just good defense by Khabibolov which made him look bad.
Khabibolov looks to clinch

and Mason counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mason.
Khabibolov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Khabibolov breaks the clinch.

Mason darts in and clinches Khabibolov up against the cage.
Khabibolov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Khabibolov connects with a knee to the head.
Khabibolov tries to circle away but Mason has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khabibolov misses with a knee to the head.
Khabibolov is trying to break the clinch but Mason is controlling him.
Mason is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Khabibolov to keep the fight standing.
Mason has had enough of the clinch but Khabibolov keeps him there for the moment.
Khabibolov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Khabibolov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mason is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Khabibolov to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Khabibolov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Khabibolov manages to break the clinch.
Khabibolov looks to clinch

and Mason moves into the clinch.
Khabibolov tries to land a knee to the head but Mason blocks with his arms.
Omar Khabibolov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Khabibolov effectively controlling the action here.
Khabibolov lands an elbow inside that Mason shrugs off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabibolov tries to land a knee to the head but Mason blocks with his arms.
Khabibolov is trying to break free.

Khabibolov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Khabibolov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khabibolov slaps away a takedown attempt from Mason, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mason shoots in looking for a takedown. Khabibolov tries to sprawl out of it but Mason keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Khabibolov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Mason gets a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Omar Khabibolov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mason 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight for Michael Mason!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Michael Mason!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Michael Mason!

Michael Mason wins by unanimous decision!
Our winner, Michael Mason, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.