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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between DeJohn Masinga (ranked 6259 p4p, 0 weight class) and Howard McCormick (ranked 24578 p4p, 0 weight class). Masinga comes to the cage accompanied by M.O.P. - Sparta. 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.
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| 182 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0 |
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200 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 5 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily |
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Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, DeJohn Masinga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Howard McCormick!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masinga moves into the clinch successfully.
Masinga lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Masinga tries for a takedown but McCormick manages to get underhooks.
Masinga'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.
McCormick goes for a takedown attempt but Masinga pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Masinga shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
McCormick manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
McCormick jumps guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Masinga landing with the ground and pound.
McCormick utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McCormick looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Masinga throwing strikes but missing.
Masinga is looking to work some ground and pound but McCormick has wrist control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Masinga missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Masinga is in close to McCormick's body, working some short punches and elbows.
McCormick has momentary wrist control but Masinga slips an elbow through the middle.
Masinga preventing the sweep.
McCormick trying to strike off his back.
Masinga knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McCormick on the ground.
Masinga stands up over McCormick, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Masinga looking to sit in guard and control but McCormick gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Masinga tries to strike from the bottom.
Masinga keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
McCormick stands up out of Masinga's guard for a moment - Masinga manages to land a nice upkick.
Masinga will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masinga not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Masinga looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but McCormick puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
McCormick is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Masinga is looking for a sweep. McCormick is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCormick is taking a breather. Masinga says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
McCormick seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Masinga does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Masinga trying to hold on to McCormick's head to control him but McCormick postures up.
Masinga wants to improve his position but McCormick is controlling well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Masinga trying to control here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Masinga flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Masinga looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Masinga goes for a double leg but McCormick avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as McCormick continues to drive forward.
McCormick instigates a clinch.
Masinga managing to block the knees to the body from McCormick.
McCormick's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McCormick throws a head kick that misses.
Masinga tries to counter by moving into the clinch but McCormick manages to circle out of the way.
McCormick leaves Masinga with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for DeJohn Masinga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masinga fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McCormick forces Masinga back against the cage and clinches.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masinga drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McCormick's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McCormick has closed the distance and engaged Masinga in a clinch.
McCormick looking to stall.
McCormick escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McCormick throws a right and a left that both miss.
McCormick looks winded!
McCormick throws a jab but it's blocked by Masinga.
McCormick gets caught napping as Masinga dives in and scores a takedown. McCormick manages to retain guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if McCormick can do anything to dispel that myth.
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!
Masinga got a little sloppy there for a moment and McCormick has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Masinga has managed to get both his arms back between McCormick's legs - danger averted.
Masinga keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McCormick's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Howard McCormick dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Masinga stuffs the takedown attempt from McCormick. McCormick gets slowly back to his feet.
Masinga manages to get an easy takedown there - catching McCormick on his heels. He'll look to pass McCormick's guard now, I'm sure.
Masinga lands a couple of elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Masinga's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
McCormick is pulling down on Masinga's head. It's preventing any offense from Masinga, at least for the moment.
Masinga lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masinga stands up over McCormick, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Masinga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCormick swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McCormick doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
McCormick is breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Masinga throwing strikes from guard but McCormick blocks nicely.
Masinga connects with a couple of short punches.
McCormick is rocked!
Masinga stands up over McCormick, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
McCormick is still in real trouble! Can Masinga finish him?
McCormick has momentary wrist control but Masinga slips an elbow through the middle.
Masinga cracks McCormick with a solid left hand.
DeJohn Masinga overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Masinga trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Masinga wants to control from the top but McCormick keeps moving.
Masinga throws a big elbow that misses.
Masinga keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McCormick's head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masinga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCormick swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Masinga's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Masinga is looking to work some ground and pound but McCormick has wrist control.
Masinga with a nice head shot there.
McCormick controlling Masinga's posture.
Masinga looking to sit in guard and control but McCormick gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
McCormick controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
McCormick seems to have recovered his senses.
Masinga might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masinga trying to keep a closed guard but McCormick is proving a slippery customer.
Masinga throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Masinga throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
McCormick stopping the sweep attempt from Masinga.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Masinga shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McCormick is trying to defend but Masinga finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
McCormick has one foot on Masinga's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masinga closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into McCormick's guard.
McCormick is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Masinga throws a strike but McCormick rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Masinga wants to control the position but McCormick says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Masinga tries to roll over but McCormick keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Masinga trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
DeJohn Masinga dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Masinga fails to land the takedown.
McCormick moves into the clinch.
McCormick escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McCormick fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masinga shoots in looking for a takedown but McCormick manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Masinga's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
McCormick gets tackled into the cage by Masinga. Masinga maintains the clinch.
McCormick takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McCormick drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Masinga will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning McCormick up against the cage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Masinga turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Masinga manages to end up in side control.
McCormick bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Masinga fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McCormick avoids it really well and circles away.
McCormick is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for DeJohn Masinga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masinga clinches up against the cage.
McCormick gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCormick slows the pace down in half guard.
Masinga tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Masinga trying to control from the bottom.
McCormick is working for a submission of some sort.
McCormick is trying to control the action in half guard but Masinga is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Masinga wants to improve his position but McCormick is controlling well.
Masinga missing with punches from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masinga trying to control from the bottom.
McCormick seems to be working for a kimura but Masinga defends the submission attempt.
McCormick prevents Masinga from improving his position.
McCormick is working for a kimura but Masinga is defending it quite comfortably.
Masinga kicks McCormick off and gets back to his feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masinga drives through with a takedown into McCormick's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Masinga trying to control but McCormick is working from the bottom.
Masinga lands a couple of digs.
McCormick looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Masinga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCormick swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Masinga postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Masinga working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Masinga scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
McCormick keeping moving, preventing Masinga from controlling successfully.
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 DeJohn Masinga.
I think Masinga 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by split decision... DeJohn Masinga!
During a confident post fight interview, DeJohn Masinga thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
41% |
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