PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bea Mason (ranked 3351 p4p, 385 weight class) and Valentin Hadjiev (ranked 4197 p4p, 452 weight class). Valentin Hadjiev acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Mason
vs
Hadjiev

183 cm
25
175 lbs
12 - 13 - 0

187 cm
42
170 lbs
17 - 17 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Great low kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Fast

Urban Fighter
Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

Trashy Bar (158+q / 30$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bea Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Valentin Hadjiev!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Lou da Vinci and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hadjiev.

Mason feints and as Hadjiev raises his hands in defense, Mason changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mason loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hadjiev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mason is one step ahead there.
Mason stops Hadjiev from standing up.
Hadjiev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hadjiev wants to stand up but Mason is controlling him.
Mason wants to control from the top but Hadjiev keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mason drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hadjiev dives on top into guard.

Hadjiev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mason's head.
Mason tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hadjiev with a nice head shot there.
Hadjiev landing with the ground and pound.

Mason looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hadjiev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mason has momentary wrist control but Hadjiev slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hadjiev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mason trying to keep a closed guard but Hadjiev is proving a slippery customer.
Hadjiev distracts Mason with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hadjiev lands a couple of elbows.
Mason trying to keep a closed guard but Hadjiev is proving a slippery customer.
Hadjiev chips away with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hadjiev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason trying to control but Hadjiev is working from the bottom.
Mason won't allow Hadjiev to sweep him here.
Mason throwing strikes but missing.
Hadjiev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hadjiev wants to stand up but Mason is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mason passes Hadjiev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hadjiev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mason wants to control but Hadjiev is keeping him busy.
Mason stops Hadjiev from getting back to his feet.
Hadjiev wants to improve his position but Mason is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hadjiev manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mason won't allow Hadjiev to get back to his feet.
Mason passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Valentin Hadjiev will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mason cracks the inside of Hadjiev's front leg.
Mason fails with a takedown attempt.
Mason dives in for a single leg takedown but Hadjiev sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mason shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hadjiev but Hadjiev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bea Mason. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hadjiev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mason looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mason looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason leaves Hadjiev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mason fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hadjiev avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mason gets caught napping as Hadjiev dives in and scores a takedown. Mason manages to retain guard.
Mason looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hadjiev is one step ahead there.
Mason wants to hit a switch here but Hadjiev passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Mason there!
Mason bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Mason would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason trying to control but Hadjiev is working from the bottom.

Hadjiev has his feet on Mason's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Hadjiev has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Hadjiev stuffs the takedown.
Mason lands with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mason shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hadjiev as he jumps to the side.
Hadjiev is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mason looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hadjiev is fending him off so far but Mason persists. Nope, Hadjiev circles away and we're back to standing.

Hadjiev looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mason!

Hadjiev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hadjiev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hadjiev connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Mason some visible discomfort.

Hadjiev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mason is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hadjiev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mason knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hadjiev landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hadjiev's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Mason tries to roll over but Hadjiev keeps him under control.

Hadjiev is trying to work for a kimura but Mason is defending well.
Mason looks like he's trying to stand up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hadjiev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mason with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Hadjiev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hadjiev gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mason to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Hadjiev has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Mason off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Hadjiev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Mason has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mason gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hadjiev.

Mason jumps guard.
Mason is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hadjiev is looking for a sweep. Mason is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hadjiev has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Mason is on him like a limpet, forcing Hadjiev back against the cage.
Hadjiev has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mason is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mason lands a nice knee to the body.
Hadjiev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Mason pulls guard effortlessly.
Mason throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mason tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Hadjiev drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mason dives on top into guard.

Mason trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hadjiev's guard.
Mason won't allow Hadjiev to sweep him here.
Hadjiev lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason is striking from the bottom but Hadjiev uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

Hadjiev is working for a kimura but Mason is defending it quite comfortably.
Hadjiev is thwarting Mason's attempts to control the position.
Mason wants to improve his position but Hadjiev is controlling well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mason looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hadjiev winds up and cracks Mason with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Hadjiev is looking for a kimura here.
Hadjiev drops an elbow to the side of Mason's head.
Hadjiev lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Hadjiev there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hadjiev prevents Mason from improving his position.
Mason gets back to full guard.
Mason is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Mason is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hadjiev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mason's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Valentin Hadjiev.
I've got Hadjiev 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Valentin Hadjiev!
During a confident post fight interview, Valentin Hadjiev thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.