PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Harley Davidson (ranked 4531 p4p, 4582 weight class) and Morgan Masvidal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Davidson
vs
Masvidal

180 cm
25
148
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
150
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid 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 Hilo, Harley Davidson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Morgan Masvidal!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masvidal throws a body shot but no joy.
Masvidal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Masvidal is looking to clinch.
Masvidal throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Masvidal swings for the body but Davidson moves out of range.
Masvidal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Masvidal fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A swing and a miss from Masvidal.
Davidson attempts a counter takedown but Masvidal avoids it well and moves away.
Davidson takes a swing at Masvidal's ribcage but misses.
Masvidal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Davidson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masvidal thows a left - swing and a miss!
Davidson feinted with a counter takedown.
Masvidal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Masvidal throws a big shot that misses.
Davidson circles away from the clinch attempt.
A clash of legs there as Masvidal blocks the low kick.
Masvidal feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masvidal throws a body punch but Davidson moves out of range.
Davidson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Masvidal is looking to clinch.
Masvidal misses with an uppercut

and Davidson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Masvidal can do anything to dispel that myth.
Davidson advances position into side control!
Davidson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Masvidal keeps working.

Davidson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Masvidal can't do much from the bottom here.

Davidson is trying to get an arm triangle but Masvidal is defending well.
Masvidal is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Davidson off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Davidson is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Masvidal gets his way!

Masvidal patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
You can see the frustration on Davidson's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Masvidal looking for the choke but no joy.
Davidson trying to control the position but Masvidal manages to sink in the hooks.
Davidson can't escape the position.

Davidson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Masvidal.

Masvidal working for the choke.
Davidson trying to control the hands but Masvidal breaks the grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davidson is trying to break free.
Masvidal is not going to allow Davidson to sit and survive in this position.
Davidson is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Masvidal is not going to allow Davidson to sit and survive in this position.

Masvidal tightening his grip on Davidson, looking for the choke.
Masvidal not allowing Davidson to control his hands.
Davidson wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal avoiding Davidson 's attempts to control his hands.
You can see the frustration on Davidson's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Davidson trying to control the action but Masvidal just sinks the hooks in.

Masvidal is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Davidson defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Masvidal tightening his grip on Davidson, looking for the choke.

Masvidal looking for the RNC.
Davidson trying to control the hands but Masvidal breaks the grip.
Masvidal controlling well, preventing Davidson from escaping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Morgan Masvidal dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Davidson moves away from the strike by Masvidal.
Masvidal scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Davidson ducks under a wild hook from Masvidal.
Masvidal wants to clinch

and Davidson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Masvidal actively working from the bottom here.

Davidson is working for a submission of some sort.

Davidson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Davidson is working for a kimura but Masvidal is defending it quite comfortably.
Masvidal works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Masvidal is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Davidson defends well.

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

Masvidal pushing down on Davidson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Morgan Masvidal has got the better of the ground game so far.

Davidson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Masvidal pulls his head out easily.
Masvidal missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Davidson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Masvidal is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Davidson sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Davidson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Masvidal is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Davidson sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Davidson is not content to let Masvidal control the position.
Davidson wants to get back to full guard but Masvidal has mounted him!
Davidson regains half guard.

Davidson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Masvidal is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Davidson defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Masvidal seems to be looking for submissions.
Davidson tries to get to full guard but Masvidal has control of the leg.
Davidson is looking to control Masvidal's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Davidson avoid being mounted?
Davidson wants to get back to full guard.

Davidson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Masvidal wants to control but Davidson is keeping him busy.

Masvidal is looking for a kimura here.

Davidson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Masvidal pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Davidson wants to control but Masvidal is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Masvidal prevents Davidson from improving his position.

Davidson actively working from the bottom here.
Masvidal seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Davidson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Masvidal passes to full mount!
Davidson tries to hold on but Masvidal postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Davidson is looking to get to half guard.
Masvidal tries to control but Davidson wriggling away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Morgan Masvidal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Davidson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Davidson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Davidson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Masvidal.
Masvidal throws a lazy right hand but Davidson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Masvidal gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Davidson is looking to control Masvidal's arms but Masvidal gets an underhook and turns him. Now Davidson has his back to the cage.
Masvidal lands a left hand.
Masvidal stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Masvidal goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Masvidal manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Masvidal pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Masvidal looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Davidson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Masvidal's guard.

Davidson is looking for a kimura here.

Davidson is trying to work for a kimura but Masvidal is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Davidson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Masvidal sees it coming and defends easily.

Davidson wants to work for an arm triangle but Masvidal is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Davidson is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Davidson is keen to just control but Masvidal is a slippery customer.
Masvidal wants to control but Davidson is keeping busy.
Masvidal gets full guard.

Davidson 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.

Davidson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Masvidal has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Davidson has managed to get both his arms back between Masvidal's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Davidson drops back looking for a leg! Masvidal is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Masvidal manages to kick Davidson off! Davidson jumps back into Masvidal's guard.
Davidson trying to control but Masvidal is working from the bottom.

Masvidal had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Davidson defends it easily.
Davidson won't allow Masvidal to sweep him here.

Masvidal is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Davidson preventing the sweep.
Masvidal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Davidson's guard.

Davidson looking for a guillotine here but Masvidal defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Davidson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Masvidal pushing down on Davidson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Morgan Masvidal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Davidson is looking to improve his position.

Masvidal is working for a submission of some sort.
Davidson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Masvidal is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Davidson actively working from the bottom here.
Davidson trying to control from the bottom.

Davidson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Davidson actively working from the bottom here.
Davidson is not content to let Masvidal control the position.

Masvidal looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Davidson is refusing to be controlled, as Masvidal sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Morgan Masvidal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Masvidal has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight for Morgan Masvidal!
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Morgan Masvidal!
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight for Morgan Masvidal!

Morgan Masvidal wins by unanimous decision!