PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Masters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryuji Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryuji Phoenix will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Masters
vs
Phoenix

190 cm
19
245 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

225 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Masters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryuji Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good shot there by Phoenix.
Masters tries to clinch but Phoenix is having none of it.
Phoenix swinging wilding here.
Masters could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Masters is looking to clinch but Phoenix is avoiding it.
Michael Masters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phoenix misses with a few strikes there.
Phoenix takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Masters is looking to clinch but Phoenix is avoiding it.
Phoenix avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Masters tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Phoenix throws a series of punches but Masters avoids them all with ease.
Phoenix misses with a low kick.
Phoenix keeps the fight on the outside.
Masters wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masters tries to clinch up.
Phoenix lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Masters backs up against the cage.
Masters throws a half hearted mid kick.
Phoenix circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters doesn't manage to clinch there - Phoenix circles away.
A punch combination from Phoenix misses.
Masters walks into a stiff left hand from Phoenix.
Phoenix throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Masters tries to clinch up but Phoenix circles away and keeps his distance.
Phoenix avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Masters just misses with a punch to the body.
Phoenix lands a lovely overhand right.
Masters tries to close the distance and clinch but Phoenix swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Masters tries to clinch there but Phoenix circles away.
Phoenix looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Phoenix keeps the fight on the outside.
Masters tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Phoenix paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Masters tries to close the distance and clinch but Phoenix swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Masters fails with an attempt to clinch.
Masters tries to clinch up but Phoenix circles away and keeps his distance.
Masters showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Phoenix.

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.
Phoenix throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Masters.

Masters darts in and clinches Phoenix up against the cage.
Phoenix lands a left hand.
Masters misses with a knee strike.
Masters avoiding damage.
Masters misses with a knee to the head.
Masters tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Masters with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Phoenix tries to break the clinch but Masters is controlling the position.
Masters lands a shot to the body.
Masters taking a breather.
Phoenix wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Masters throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Phoenix blocks it with crossed arms.
Masters tries to land a knee to the head but Phoenix blocks with his arms.
Phoenix wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but Masters keeps him there for the moment.
Phoenix dodges an elbow strike from Masters.
Phoenix is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Phoenix wants to get back to striking at distance but Masters won't allow it.
Phoenix is looking to break free of the clinch but Masters has double underhooks.
Masters missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masters looking to throw knees to the head but Phoenix is blocking nicely.
Masters with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Masters is breathing heavily.
Phoenix is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Phoenix presses Masters against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Phoenix wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Phoenix is looking to break free of the clinch but Masters has double underhooks.
Phoenix is trying to break the clinch but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Phoenix wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Phoenix is trying to break free.
Phoenix makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Masters throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Phoenix blocks it with crossed arms.
Masters keeps control of Phoenix as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Masters tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but Masters keeps him there for the moment.
A short right from Phoenix on the inside.
Masters scores with a knee to the head.
Phoenix wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Masters misses with a knee to the head.
Masters with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Phoenix wants to break the clinch but can't.

Phoenix manages to break the clinch.
A jab from Phoenix finds it's way through Masters's defenses.
Phoenix is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Masters is looking to clinch.
Phoenix throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Masters stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Masters tries to clinch up.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Phoenix!
Masters on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Phoenix throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Phoenix swats away the attempt to clinch by Masters.
Masters tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Phoenix paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Phoenix avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Masters tries to clinch up but Phoenix circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phoenix fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Phoenix's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Phoenix duly obliges.
Phoenix misses with a few strikes there.
A head kick misses from Phoenix.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryuji Phoenix dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Phoenix uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Masters has time to react.
Masters is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Phoenix cracks Masters with an open hand slap.

Masters has closed the distance and engaged Phoenix in a clinch.
Masters with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Phoenix wants to break free but Masters has control.
Masters stalling.
Masters tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Masters tries to land knees in the clinch but Phoenix avoids the damage to the body.
Masters tries to land a knee to the head but Phoenix blocks with his arms.
Phoenix tries to break the clinch but Masters is controlling the position.
Masters stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hook to the body lands for Phoenix.
Masters using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Phoenix has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Masters tries a knee to the head but Phoenix blocks it.
Phoenix is trying to break the clinch but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Phoenix is looking to break free of the clinch but Masters has double underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Phoenix tries to break the clinch but Masters is controlling the position.
Phoenix is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix wants to get back to striking at distance but Masters won't allow it.
Phoenix is looking to break free of the clinch but Masters has double underhooks.
Masters prevents Phoenix from breaking the clinch.
Masters with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Phoenix wants to break the clinch but can't.
Phoenix avoids the elbow strike from Masters, against the cage.
Phoenix wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Phoenix wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Masters throws a knee to the head but misses.
Phoenix is trying to break free.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but Masters keeps him there for the moment.
Masters using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Phoenix has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Masters using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Phoenix has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Masters keeps control of Phoenix as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Phoenix is looking to break free of the clinch but Masters has double underhooks.
Phoenix is trying to break the clinch but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Phoenix is trying to break the clinch but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Masters wants to stall.
Masters prevents Phoenix from breaking the clinch.
Masters tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Phoenix wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masters has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Phoenix wants to break free but Masters has control.
Phoenix wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Phoenix is trying to break free.
Masters creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Phoenix is looking to break free of the clinch but Masters has double underhooks.
Masters tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Phoenix wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Masters missing with knees to the body.
Phoenix is looking to break free of the clinch but Masters has double underhooks.
Phoenix wants to break the clinch but can't.
Phoenix wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Masters misses with a knee to the head.
Masters wants to stall.
Phoenix is trying to break the clinch but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Masters stalling in the clinch.
Phoenix wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Phoenix is trying to break free.
Phoenix wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The referee calls for Masters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix wants to break free but Masters has control.
Phoenix is looking to break free of the clinch but Masters has double underhooks.
Masters lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Masters keeps control of Phoenix as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Masters stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Masters using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Phoenix has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but Masters keeps him there for the moment.
Phoenix wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Masters using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Phoenix has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Phoenix wants to get back to striking at distance but Masters won't allow it.
Masters creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Phoenix can't break the clinch.
Masters is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Masters missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Masters keeps control of Phoenix as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Phoenix wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Masters has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Masters using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Phoenix has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Phoenix is looking to break free of the clinch but Masters has double underhooks.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but Masters keeps him there for the moment.
Masters tries to land a knee to the head but Phoenix blocks with his arms.
Phoenix wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Masters tries to land a knee to the head but Phoenix blocks with his arms.
Masters tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Phoenix wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Masters.
Masters misses with an elbow strike.
Phoenix tries to break the clinch but Masters is controlling the position.
Masters using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Phoenix has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Masters keeps control of Phoenix as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Masters with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but Masters keeps him there for the moment.
Phoenix can't break the clinch.
Masters tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Masters keeps control of Phoenix as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Masters dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A punch lands to the side of Masters 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Masters clinches up against the cage.
Phoenix wants to get back to striking at distance but Masters won't allow it.
Masters lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Ryuji Phoenix has been cut.
Masters keeps control of Phoenix as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Phoenix on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Phoenix wants to break the clinch but can't.
Masters misses with a knee strike.
Phoenix is trying to break the clinch but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Masters throws an elbow that misses.
Masters is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Masters with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix wants to break free but Masters has control.
Phoenix wants to break the clinch but can't.
Phoenix makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Phoenix letting Masters take a breather here.
Masters with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A knee to the head by Masters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters tries to land a knee to the head but Phoenix blocks with his arms.
Phoenix can't break the clinch.
Phoenix wants to break free but Masters has control.
Masters tries to stall but Phoenix uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Masters tries a knee to the head but Phoenix blocks it.
Phoenix digs a right hand into Masters's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Masters's gas tank.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but Masters keeps him there for the moment.
Masters looking to throw knees to the head but Phoenix is blocking nicely.
Phoenix is trying to break free.
Phoenix lands a left hand that snaps the head of Masters backwards.
Masters prevents Phoenix from breaking the clinch.
Masters prevents Phoenix from breaking the clinch.
Phoenix is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Phoenix wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Phoenix blocks an elbow strike.
Masters misses with a knee strike.
Phoenix lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Masters with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Phoenix is looking to break free of the clinch but Masters has double underhooks.

Phoenix breaks the clinch.
Masters is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Phoenix.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Masters tries to clinch up.
Masters tries to clinch there but Phoenix circles away.
Phoenix dips to his left and cracks Masters with an uppercut!
Phoenix scores with a decent looking hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Masters looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Phoenix scores with a three punch combo!

Masters has Phoenix up against the cage in a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Masters just misses with a elbow thrown towards Phoenix's brow.
Come on Masters - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Phoenix tries to break the clinch but Masters is controlling the position.
Phoenix wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Masters tries a knee to the head but Phoenix blocks it.
Phoenix is looking to break free of the clinch but Masters has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Masters to work.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but Masters keeps him there for the moment.
Masters looking to slow down the pace here.
Phoenix wants to get back to striking at distance but Masters won't allow it.
Phoenix is looking to break free of the clinch but Masters has double underhooks.
Phoenix wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Masters looking to throw knees to the head but Phoenix is blocking nicely.
Phoenix is trying to break the clinch but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Phoenix can't break the clinch.
Phoenix on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Masters prevents Phoenix from breaking the clinch.
Masters tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Phoenix is trying to break free.
Phoenix is trying to break the clinch but Masters has him pressed against the cage.
Phoenix managing to block the knees to the body from Masters.
Phoenix tries to break the clinch but Masters is controlling the position.
Masters tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

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.
Masters is trying to stall.
Masters prevents Phoenix from breaking the clinch.
Masters looking to throw knees to the head but Phoenix is blocking nicely.
Masters prevents Phoenix from breaking the clinch.
Masters landing knees to the head.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but Masters keeps him there for the moment.
A right hand to the body from Phoenix.
Masters with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Masters tries to land a knee to the head but Phoenix blocks with his arms.
Phoenix wants to get back to striking at distance but Masters won't allow it.
Phoenix is trying to break free.
Phoenix wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Masters pushes Phoenix back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Phoenix is looking to break free of the clinch but Masters has double underhooks.
Stalling in the clinch from Masters.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A head punch on the inside from Masters fails to land.
Phoenix wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nice elbow from Masters.
Phoenix can't break the clinch.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but Masters keeps him there for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Masters showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Masters 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Masters!