PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hossam El Masry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Putra Rajasa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Putra Rajasa struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.5lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Putra Rajasa was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

El Masry
vs
Rajasa

178 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
23
180 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hossam El Masry !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Putra Rajasa!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, John Mangel and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rajasa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rajasa lands in his opponent's guard.
Rajasa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Rajasa is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rajasa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as El Masry works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rajasa wants to control from the top but El Masry keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rajasa content to stall in guard here.
Rajasa trying to control but El Masry is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

El Masry working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rajasa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rajasa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rajasa has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad MMA Sydney. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
El Masry keeping full guard, as Rajasa tries to pass.
El Masry is trying to control the position but Rajasa postures up.
Rajasa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. El Masry is keeping the position for now.

Rajasa is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! El Masry is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! El Masry has escaped and now he's on top!

El Masry wants to control from the top but Rajasa keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

El Masry has gone for a leg lock! Rajasa slips out almost immediately though and dives into El Masry 's guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
El Masry had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rajasa defends it easily.
Rajasa advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rajasa is looking for a kimura here.
El Masry regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rajasa seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rajasa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rajasa stopping the sweep attempt from El Masry .

Rajasa stands up and waves to El Masry to follow him.

Rajasa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with El Masry , pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Masry missing with knees to the body.

El Masry pulls guard effortlessly.
Rajasa trying to control but El Masry is working from the bottom.
Rajasa controlling from the top position.
Rajasa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
El Masry keeping moving, preventing Rajasa from controlling successfully.
Rajasa pushes down on El Masry 's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Putra Rajasa dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rajasa bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
El Masry tries to get back to half guard but can't.
El Masry might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rajasa just content to control the position.

Rajasa decides to stand up, so the ref orders El Masry to his feet.
We've been told by El Masry 's head coaches at Cozad MMA St Petersburg that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Rajasa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. El Masry defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
El Masry lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Masry fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice sprawl there from Rajasa as El Masry shoots in.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rajasa avoids the head kick by El Masry .
El Masry tries for a takedown but Rajasa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hossam El Masry . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rajasa moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hossam El Masry is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rajasa works over El Masry 's head and body with a nice combination.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rajasa or perhaps it was just good defense by El Masry , which made it look bad.
As Rajasa looks to move away, El Masry throws a big counter combo bu Rajasa just gets out of the way.

Rajasa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Rajasa.
Rajasa performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
El Masry blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rajasa.
Rajasa working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
El Masry is not content to let Rajasa control the position.
Rajasa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
El Masry is looking to control Rajasa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can El Masry avoid being mounted?
Rajasa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rajasa wants to control but El Masry is keeping him busy.
Rajasa trying to control the pace.
Rajasa throwing shots but El Masry is blocking nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rajasa looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rajasa is thwarting El Masry 's attempts to control the position.

El Masry actively working from the bottom here.
Rajasa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rajasa is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for El Masry !

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rajasa controlling the position easily from mount.
Rajasa avoids the attempt from El Masry to control.
Rajasa controlling his opponent.

Rajasa looking for a guillotine from mount but El Masry is having none of it.
El Masry tries to lock up and control but Rajasa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rajasa with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
El Masry is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Putra Rajasa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

El Masry tries for a takedown but Rajasa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Rajasa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for El Masry !
Rajasa tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
El Masry taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rajasa remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Rajasa stands up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
El Masry displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rajasa.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
El Masry dives in for a single leg takedown but Rajasa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rajasa changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
El Masry defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rajasa.
El Masry went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Hossam El Masry seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajasa closes the distance and clinches up with El Masry , looking for a takedown. Rajasa pushes El Masry against the cage but El Masry circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hossam El Masry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Putra Rajasa.
El Masry misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
El Masry lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
El Masry has a takedown stuffed.

Rajasa drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rajasa landing with the ground and pound.
Rajasa chips away with some ground and pound.
Rajasa trying to control the position from guard on top but El Masry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Masry not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rajasa seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

El Masry is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Putra Rajasa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rajasa landing some decent shots from guard.
El Masry keeping moving, preventing Rajasa from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rajasa stands and throws El Masry 's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajasa lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rajasa advances to full mount.
Rajasa content just to control the position here.
Rajasa is continuing to stall.
Rajasa tries to control but El Masry wriggling away.
Rajasa lands a big shot there that rocks El Masry but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rajasa wants to control the pace but El Masry is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rajasa throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Rajasa is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But El Masry has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from El Masry !
Rajasa keeping moving, preventing El Masry from controlling successfully.
Hossam El Masry has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rajasa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from El Masry .

And that's the end of the fight!
Putra Rajasa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rajasa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Putra Rajasa!