PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hell Rose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mason
vs
Rose

178 cm
39
181 lbs
28 - 18 - 0

179 cm
31
180 lbs
16 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 28 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Craig Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hell Rose!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Donald Grub and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mason slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Mason will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mason loads up on a big right hand but Rose slips the punch.
Mason looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rose.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Mason, as that shot connected.
Rose misses with a few strikes there.
Rose uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mason.
Rose uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mason.
Rose moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Jab, jab by Rose - just one landing.
Rose throws a series of punches but Mason moves out of range.
Rose tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mason paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rose lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Rose rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mason moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rose closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mason misses with some punches.
Rose is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mason is defending well for now.
Rose misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mason.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rose takes a shot to the head.
Mason misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mason takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Craig Mason has been cut.
Rose pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rose tries to land a knee to the head but Mason blocks with his arms.
Mason throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Roses head.
Rose trying to land knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mason.
Mason doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rose can't find room to land a body shot as Mason controls the action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mason.
Rose throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mason lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rose is leaning against Mason and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mason lands a left hand.
Rose throws a punch but it's blocked by Mason.
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!
Rose blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rose doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A bit of stalling here from Mason.
Mason misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Rose scores with a nice short uppercut.

Mason is trying to trip Rose. He has hold of a leg but Rose is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Mason persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Mason stops Rose from standing up.

Mason thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rose can do anything to dispel that myth.

Mason drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mason jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mason trying to control but Rose is working from the bottom.
Mason won't allow Rose to get back to his feet.
Mason wants to pass the guard but Rose is keeping the position.
Mason trying to control the position from guard on top but Rose is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mason passes Rose's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mason is working for a kimura but Rose is defending it quite comfortably.

Mason is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rose has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rose is staying active underneath Mason, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Mason is working for a submission of some sort.
Rose 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 is looking to take a break and control but Rose is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mason prevents Rose from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mason wants to work for an arm triangle but Rose is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Mason has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Rose defend it? Mason steps over the head and cranks it - Rose is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Mason!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:16 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Craig Mason!
A victorious Craig Mason thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.