PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Upper Cut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Goro Masamune (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cut
vs
Masamune

175 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
16
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes comics

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Upper Cut!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Goro Masamune!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Masamune.
Nice sprawl there from Masamune as Cut shoots in.

Masamune clinches with his opponent.

Cut lands a takedown into guard.
Cut stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Masamune swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Masamune is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cut tries to free his leg and advance position but Masamune is retaining full guard.
Masamune looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cut throws a big right hand that misses.
Masamune is trying to control the position but Cut postures up.

Cut thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Masamune trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Cut trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Masamune manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cut keeping moving, preventing Masamune from controlling successfully.
Cut wants to sweep here but Masamune controlling him for the moment.

Cut looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cut is pulling down on Masamune's head. It's preventing any offense from Masamune, at least for the moment.
Masamune must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cut keeping full guard, as Masamune tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cut being controlled here, momentarily.
Cut is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cut stuffs the takedown.
Masamune misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Masamune shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Upper Cut has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Goro Masamune.
Masamune shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cut looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Masamune is fending him off so far but Cut persists. Nope, Masamune circles away and we're back to standing.
Masamune is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cut.

Masamune closes the distance and pushes Cut back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cut is looking for a takedown.
Masamune has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cut after a bit of a struggle.
Cut has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Masamune is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Masamune tries to circle away but Cut has him pinned against the cage.
Masamune working hard to break the clinch.
Cut jumps guard but Masamune turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Cut has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Masamune uses from the top position.
Masamune trying to control the position from guard on top but Cut is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masamune wants to stand but Cut has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Masamune wants to control from the top but Cut keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Goro Masamune will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Masamune looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cut is fending him off so far but Masamune persists. Nope, Cut circles away and we're back to standing.
Masamune shoots and misses

and Cut counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cut drops down looking for an ankle pick but Masamune pulls his leg out and moves away.

Masamune rushes Cut and presses him up against the cage.
Cut tries to score a body lock takedown but Masamune shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cut is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Upper Cut. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cut has Masamune pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Masamune manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Masamune gets underhooks to prevent Cut's takedown attempt.
Masamune has a couple of punches blocked by Cut.
Cut is looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masamune'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.
Masamune presses Cut against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Masamune is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cut wants a takedown but no success here.
Cut wants a takedown.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Masamune goes for a takedown attempt but Cut pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Masamune closes the distance and clinches.
Cut keeps control of Masamune as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cut tries to score a body lock takedown but Masamune shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cut is working for takedown but Masamune is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cut can't get the takedown.

Masamune pulls guard.
Cut preventing the sweep.
Masamune keeping full guard, as Cut tries to pass.
Masamune tries to land a sweep but no joy.
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!
Masamune controls Cut momentarily but Cut frees himself.
Cut throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Masamune works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masamune tries to strike from the bottom.
Masamune tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Cut postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Masamune is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cut, into his guard.
Cut trying to keep a closed guard but Masamune is proving a slippery customer.

Masamune drops back, looking for a kneebar! Cut looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Cut looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Cut!
Masamune is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masamune is still trying to improve position.
Masamune is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Masamune wants to control but Cut postures up.

Cut working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Cut tries to advance to mount but can't.
Masamune wants to control but Cut postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cut tries for a kimura but Masamune is defending well.
Masamune wants to control but Cut postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Goro Masamune showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Cut's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Masamune lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Masamune changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cut tries to avoid it but Masamune manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cut to the ground. Cut escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cut shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Masamune has closed the distance and engaged Cut in a clinch.
Masamune tries to pull guard but Cut won't allow it.
Cut is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Cut wants the takedown. Masamune is fighting it off but Cut persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Masamune's guard against the cage.
Masamune is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Masamune holds on and takes a little breather.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cut slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masamune wants to control but Cut postures up.

Cut working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Masamune looks to move to half guard but instead Cut has passed into mount! Damn!
Cut takes Masamune's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Masamune is in trouble.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cut struggling to keep hold of the position.

Cut is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Masamune is defending well though. Cut let's go of the attempt for now.

Masamune is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Cut avoiding Masamune 's attempts to control his hands.

Cut is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Masamune knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Masamune for a finish.
Masamune can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cut working for a choke but Masamune is defending well.
Cut wants to control but Masamune is keeping busy.

Cut is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Masamune has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Cut is looking for the choke from the back position but Masamune is controlling his hands well.
Masamune trying to control the action but Cut just sinks the hooks in.
Masamune really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cut. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Masamune turns into Cut and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cut trying to control the position.
Masamune stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cut swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Upper Cut has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Masamune looking to sit in guard and control but Cut gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Masamune wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cut passes into half guard.
Goro Masamune is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cut throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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 Upper Cut.
I think Masamune has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!