PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Udo Dirkschneider (ranked 3055 p4p, 383 weight class) and Nate Masvidal (ranked 3155 p4p, 395 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dirkschneider
vs
Masvidal

181 cm
27
172 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

188 cm
20
185 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Threads of HARDCORE

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Udo Dirkschneider!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Nate Masvidal!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dirkschneider has taken the fight to the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Dirkschneider has Masvidal pressed against the cage, preventing Masvidal from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Masvidal wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Masvidal wants to get back to striking at distance but Dirkschneider won't allow it.

Dirkschneider's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Masvidal shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dirkschneider but Dirkschneider pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've been hearing reports that Dirkschneider has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Dirkschneider throws a sloppy head kick and Masvidal moves out of range easily.
Dirkschneider takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Masvidal closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Udo Dirkschneider has been cut.
Dirkschneider thuds a left hand into Masvidal's body.

Dirkschneider clinches up with Masvidal and pushes him back against the cage.
Masvidal has had enough of the clinch but Dirkschneider keeps him there for the moment.
Dirkschneider stalling the fight.

Dirkschneider pulls guard.
Masvidal sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Dirkschneider keeping full guard, as Masvidal tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masvidal slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Dirkschneider is trying to control the position but Masvidal postures up.
My spies in Shut Up & Train! {$1000} inform me that Masvidal has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Dirkschneider 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.
Dirkschneider has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Masvidal looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Dirkschneider keeping moving, preventing Masvidal from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Dirkschneider looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Dirkschneider takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Masvidal gets tackled into the cage by Dirkschneider. Dirkschneider maintains the clinch.
Dirkschneider has Masvidal pressed against the cage, preventing Masvidal from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Masvidal stalling.
Masvidal wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dirkschneider prevents Masvidal from breaking the clinch.
Dirkschneider can't find room to land a body shot as Masvidal controls the action.
Dirkschneider tries to throw a body punch but Masvidal avoids it by throwing Dirkschneider back against the cage.

Masvidal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dirkschneider shoots in for a takedown but Masvidal shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dirkschneider throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Masvidal counter with a right hand.
Dirkschneider misses with a head kick.
Dirkschneider slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dirkschneider keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Masvidal.
Dirkschneider looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Masvidal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dirkschneider.
Dirkschneider darts in trying to clinch
and Masvidal counters with a straight right hand.
Dirkschneider tries a head kick but it misses.
A cross from Masvidal lands.
Masvidal with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Masvidal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Masvidal with a jab.
Masvidal shoots in looking for a takedown but Dirkschneider manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Masvidal's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Masvidal takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Dirkschneider throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dirkschneider closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Masvidal to the mat! Masvidal manages to get full guard.
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!
Dirkschneider trying to control but Masvidal is working from the bottom.
Masvidal trying to control the position here.
Dirkschneider wants to control from the top but Masvidal keeps moving.
Dirkschneider content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Masvidal controlling Dirkschneider's posture.
Dirkschneider working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Masvidal managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dirkschneider stays in close to Masvidal's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nate Masvidal will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Udo Dirkschneider's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dirkschneider misses with a double jab
and Masvidal counters with a one-two to the body.
A lazy left from Masvidal finds it's target.
Masvidal throws an overhand right that lands on Dirkschneider's shoulder, as Dirkschneider tries to avoid the shot.
Masvidal has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Dirkschneider pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Masvidal back to the cage. Dirkschneider follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Nice takedown defense from Masvidal. No joy for Dirkschneider on that attempt.
Masvidal pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Masvidal misses the jab.
Masvidal fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Dirkschneider on the side of the head.
Dirkschneider will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dirkschneider slips under a jab.
Dirkschneider ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Masvidal throws a hook but Dirkschneider avoids it easily.
Dirkschneider scores with a three punch combo!
Masvidal might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Masvidal connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Masvidal takes a swing at Dirkschneider's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dirkschneider tries a body shot but Masvidal blocks it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Dirkschneider.

Dirkschneider manages to break the clinch.

Dirkschneider shoots in and bounces Masvidal off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Dirkschneider trying to stand up but can't free himself from Masvidal's guard.
Dirkschneider looking to sit in guard and control but Masvidal gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Masvidal really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dirkschneider. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Masvidal passes Dirkschneider's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Masvidal is keen to just control but Dirkschneider is a slippery customer.
Masvidal is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dirkschneider is looking to improve his position.
Dirkschneider wants to control but Masvidal is keeping busy.
Dirkschneider is looking to improve his position.
Masvidal keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dirkschneider is looking to control Masvidal's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dirkschneider avoid being mounted?
Dirkschneider tries to get to full guard but Masvidal has control of the leg.
Masvidal wants to pass to mount but Dirkschneider is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dirkschneider trying to control here.
Masvidal prevents Dirkschneider from standing back up.
Dirkschneider is not content to let Masvidal control the position.
Dirkschneider trying to hold on to Masvidal's head to control him but Masvidal postures up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Dirkschneider wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dirkschneider fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Udo Dirkschneider. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masvidal fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Dirkschneider shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal is trying is best to control the position here.
Dirkschneider throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dirkschneider is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Dirkschneider controlling the pace.
Dirkschneider has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Masvidal blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dirkschneider.
Masvidal trying to hold on to Dirkschneider's head to control him but Dirkschneider postures up.
Masvidal is not content to let Dirkschneider control the position.
Masvidal wants to improve his position but Dirkschneider is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Udo Dirkschneider will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Udo Dirkschneider's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Dirkschneider changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Masvidal tries to avoid it but Dirkschneider manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Masvidal to the ground. Masvidal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Dirkschneider looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Dirkschneider throwing strikes from guard but Masvidal blocks nicely.
Dirkschneider passes Masvidal's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Masvidal regains full guard. Nicely done.
Masvidal is trying to control the position but Dirkschneider postures up.
Dirkschneider trying to control the position from guard on top but Masvidal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Udo Dirkschneider overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masvidal is trying to control the position but Dirkschneider postures up.
Dirkschneider trying to control but Masvidal is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masvidal can't keep his opponent in guard - Dirkschneider advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Masvidal is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dirkschneider pulls his head out easily.
Dirkschneider trying to control from half guard but Masvidal is working away.
Masvidal works his way to full guard. Good work.
Masvidal has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Dirkschneider has passed into side control.
Dirkschneider trying to control the action but Masvidal is working from the bottom.
Dirkschneider is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dirkschneider looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Masvidal struggling a bit here.
Dirkschneider controlling the position.
Dirkschneider tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Masvidal can't do much from the bottom here.
Masvidal tries to bench press Dirkschneider off him but Dirkschneider keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Dirkschneider tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Dirkschneider decides to stand up, so the ref orders Masvidal to his feet.
Dirkschneider misses the jab.
A nice side step and Masvidal releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Masvidal lands with a hook. Dirkschneider tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Masvidal scores with a hook.
Masvidal throws the left hand but Dirkschneider avoids the punch easily.
Dirkschneider takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Dirkschneider tries to clinch but Masvidal moves away
and Masvidal counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Masvidal has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Dirkschneider.
Dirkschneider fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dirkschneider displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Masvidal throws out the jab.
Dirkschneider attempts a counter takedown but Masvidal avoids it well and moves away.

Dirkschneider scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Masvidal desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Masvidal is looking for a sweep. Dirkschneider is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Masvidal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dirkschneider is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Masvidal in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dirkschneider can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Masvidal is looking to escape.
Dirkschneider landing strikes from the mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Udo Dirkschneider showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dirkschneider 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!