PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Char Xiu (ranked 2350 p4p, 242 weight class) and Paavo Masala (ranked 2409 p4p, 249 weight class). Paavo Masala is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Xiu
vs
Masala

170 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
154 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 New York, Char Xiu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paavo Masala!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Xiu shoots in and gets a takedown into Masala's guard.
Masala keeping full guard, as Xiu tries to pass.
Xiu stopping the sweep attempt from Masala.
Xiu tries to free his leg and advance position but Masala is retaining full guard.
Xiu trying to control but Masala is working from the bottom.
Masala preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Xiu throwing strikes but missing.
Masala keeping moving, preventing Xiu from controlling successfully.
Masala trying to keep a closed guard but Xiu is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masala 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.
Xiu has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiu tries to free his leg and advance position but Masala is retaining full guard.
Xiu trying to control the position from guard on top but Masala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Masala can do anything to dispel that myth.
Masala can't keep his opponent in guard - Xiu advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Xiu prevents Masala from improving his position.
Xiu slips a nice elbow through Masala's hands, connecting with Masala's forehead.
Masala tries to roll over but Xiu keeps him under control.
Ground and pound from Xiu.
Xiu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Xiu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Masala keeps working.
Xiu winds up and cracks Masala with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Xiu trying to pass the guard but Masala defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xiu thows a huge punch but Masala dodges it nicely.
Masala makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Masala.
Masala manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Xiu manages to get himself to full guard.

Xiu is trying to control the position but Masala postures up.
Xiu keeping moving, preventing Masala from controlling successfully.
Xiu wants to sweep but no luck.
Masala really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Xiu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Masala sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Xiu's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiu keeping hold of Masala's head, controlling as best he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xiu is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Masala's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Masala's back!
Xiu looking to hold on to the position here but Masala rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Xiu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Xiu postures up and lands a big shot to Masala's brow.
Masala is trying to control the position but Xiu postures up.
Xiu distracts Masala with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Masala tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Masala looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Xiu puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Xiu is keen to just control but Masala is a slippery customer.
Xiu lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Xiu throwing shots but Masala is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Xiu lands a nice short elbow.
Xiu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Masala trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Xiu manages to pass to mount!
Masala is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xiu lands a big shot there that rocks Masala but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Xiu looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Masala can't escape the position.
Xiu raining down shots from the mount!
Masala wants to control but Xiu is having none of it.
Xiu raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Char Xiu dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Masala shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Xiu but Xiu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Paavo Masala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A lazy left from Xiu finds it's target.
Masala tries a head kick but it misses.
Xiu half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Xiu looks to score with a jab to the body but Masala is just out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Masala.
Masala throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xiu is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Xiu is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Xiu wants to control but Masala is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiu manages to get to full guard.
Xiu wants to sweep here but Masala controlling him for the moment.
Xiu has control of Masala's left arm, preventing Masala from doing any damage.
Xiu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
My spies in K.O Heaven inform me that Masala has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Masala throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Xiu 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.
Masala scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

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.
Masala is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Xiu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Masala's guard.

Xiu wants to control from the top but Masala keeps moving.
Xiu preventing the sweep.
Xiu trying to control the position from guard on top but Masala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masala is pulling down on Xiu's head to control his posture.
Xiu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Xiu wants to control from the top but Masala keeps moving.
Xiu is really struggling to control Masala but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Masala working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiu looking to pass the guard.
Masala has momentary wrist control but Xiu slips an elbow through the middle.
Masala trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Xiu forces his way into half guard.
Xiu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Xiu scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Masala is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Xiu scores with a couple of nice shots.
Masala wants to control but Xiu is keeping busy.
Xiu passes to full mount!
Masala bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Masala accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Xiu is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Masala throwing strikes but missing.
Xiu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Xiu controlling Masala's posture.
Masala postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xiu looking to control.
Xiu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Masala controls the pace.
Masala keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Xiu's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paavo Masala will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Masala avoids the body shot from Xiu.
Xiu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Masala.

Xiu shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Masala manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Masala wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xiu landing some decent shots from guard.
Xiu pushing down on Masala's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Masala is not content to let Xiu control the position.
Masala is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Xiu scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiu wants to control but Masala is keeping him busy.
Char Xiu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Masala trying to control from the bottom.
Xiu working the head and body with strikes.
Xiu winds up and cracks Masala with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Masala moves into full guard.
Xiu cracks Masala with a solid left hand.
Xiu working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Masala's head.
Xiu content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Xiu won't allow Masala to sweep him here.
Xiu cracks Masala with a solid left hand.
Masala controlling Xiu's posture.
Masala looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xiu is working Masala over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Xiu works over Masala with some ground and pound from guard.
Xiu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Xiu postures up.
Masala manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Xiu manages to get himself to full guard.

Masala throwing strikes from guard but Xiu blocks nicely.
Masala trying to control the position from guard on top but Xiu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Xiu managing to control the position.
Masala must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Masala drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Xiu manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Masala has Xiu in his guard.

Xiu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Xiu won't allow Masala to sweep him here.
Xiu is in close to Masala's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Xiu slips nicely into half guard.
Xiu wants to pass to mount but Masala is defending the position.
Xiu takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xiu trying to control from half guard but Masala is working away.
Xiu drops an elbow to the side of Masala's head.
Xiu prevents Masala from improving his position.
Xiu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Masala can do to turn this around?
Masala is still trying to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Masala holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Char Xiu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Xiu has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:28

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