PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eric Diabo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maik Masiina (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.

Diabo
vs
Masiina

178 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

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 Helsinki, Eric Diabo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maik Masiina!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masiina wants to clinch up but Diabo keeps it at a distance.

Masiina gets a takedown into half guard.
Diabo is trying to maintain the position but Masiina is very close to passing his half guard.
Masiina is looking to take a break and control but Diabo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Masiina is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Masiina is keen to just control but Diabo is a slippery customer.
Diabo keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Diabo wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Masiina seems to be working for a kimura but Diabo defends the submission attempt.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Diabo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diabo clinches but Masiina breaks the clinch
and Masiina counters with a slapping leg kick.
Masiina misses with a takedown attempt - Diabo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Diabo jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masiina fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Masiina fails with the takedown.
Eric Diabo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maik Masiina.

Masiina fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Diabo, pushing him back against the cage.
Masiina creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Diabo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Masiina is keeping busy.

Diabo successfully pulls guard.
Masiina in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Diabo pulls Masiina in close to prevent any damage.
Masiina wants to control from the top but Diabo keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masiina tries to stand but Diabo is controlling from the bottom.

Diabo is looking for a triangle but Masiina pushes his legs off easily.
Diabo is breathing heavily.
Masiina prevents Diabo from getting back to his feet.
Diabo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Diabo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Masiina tries to hold on but Diabo pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diabo prevents Masiina from getting the reversal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diabo avoids the attempt from Masiina to control.
Masiina is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Diabo stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Maik Masiina will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Diabo tries for a takedown but Masiina circles away easily
and Masiina counters with a thumping low kick.
Masiina wants to clinch

and Diabo counters with a shoot takedown. Masiina fights it but they end up in guard.
Diabo won't allow Masiina to sweep him here.
Masiina is pulling down on Diabo's head. It's preventing any offense from Diabo, at least for the moment.
Masiina wants to stand but Diabo is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Masiina manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diabo manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Masiina stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Masiina changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Diabo tries to avoid it but Masiina manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Diabo to the ground. Diabo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Masiina throws a nice outside leg kick.
Diabo throws a lazy head kick

and Masiina counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Masiina content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
It looks like Masiina is going to stand back up.
Masiina is looking to advance position but Diabo won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masiina not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Diabo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Masiina is working away from the top position though.

Masiina decides to stand and escape the position.

Masiina forces Diabo back against the cage and clinches.
Diabo tries to pull guard but Masiina won't allow it.

Masiina is trying to trip Diabo. He has hold of a leg but Diabo is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Masiina persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Diabo trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diabo keeping moving, preventing Masiina from controlling successfully.

Diabo is looking for a triangle but Masiina pushes his legs off easily.
Masiina pushing down on Diabo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Masiina trying to pass the guard but Diabo defending well.
Diabo wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Diabo wants to control but Masiina is keeping busy.

Masiina stands up out of the half guard.
Nice sprawl there from Diabo as Masiina shoots in.
Masiina tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Masiina swats away the attempt to clinch by Diabo.
Masiina looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maik Masiina showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Diabo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Masiina tries to land knees in the clinch but Diabo avoids the damage to the body.
Masiina tries to score a body lock takedown but Diabo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Masiina tries to pull guard but Diabo won't allow it.
Diabo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Masiina.
Diabo leaning his opponent against the cage.

Masiina breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masiina is looking to slow Diabo down with leg kicks.
Masiina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Masiina clinches but Diabo breaks the clinch

and Diabo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diabo tries to free his leg and advance position but Masiina is retaining full guard.

Masiina looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Diabo passes Masiina's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Diabo tries to stand but can't do so whilst Masiina controls his leg.
Diabo stalling away here and it's allowed Masiina to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Diabo wants to control from the top but Masiina keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Masiina working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Diabo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Diabo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Diabo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Masiina is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Masiina is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Diabo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Eric Diabo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maik Masiina.
Diabo has a couple of punches blocked by Masiina.
Diabo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Diabo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Masiina pulls his leg out and moves away.
Diabo with a poor takedown
and Masiina counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diabo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Masiina counters with an inside leg kick.
Masiina lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diabo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Masiina looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Masiina passes Diabo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masiina is trying to control the action in half guard but Diabo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Masiina looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Masiina is working for a submission of some sort.
Masiina is looking to advance position but Diabo won't allow it.
Diabo is trying to maintain the position but Masiina is very close to passing his half guard.
Eric Diabo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Diabo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Maik Masiina.
Well Masiina has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Maik Masiina!