PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Masterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Rau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Rau has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with James Masterson's chin.

Masterson
vs
Rau

180 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
197 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Convicted

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Masterson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Rau!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rau keeps the fight on the outside.
Masterson fails in his attempt to clinch.
No luck for Rau with that takedown attempt.
Rau avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rau shoots in and drives through. Masterson sprawls well.
Masterson lands with a hook. Rau tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Masterson stuffs the takedown.
James Masterson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Rau.
Masterson fails with an attempt to clinch.

Masterson has Rau up against the cage in a clinch.
Masterson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rau backwards.
Masterson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Masterson is working Rau over against the cage.
Masterson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rau misses with a punch on the inside.

Masterson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Danga de danga de dang - Masterson scores with a four punch combination!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big left from Masterson misses.
Rau is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Rau or perhaps it was just good defense by Masterson which made him look bad.
Rau looks gassed!
Rau tries to clinch but Masterson moves out of range.

Masterson rushes Rau and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rau fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rau is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rau has Masterson pressed against the cage, preventing Masterson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Masterson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Masterson misses with a two punch combination.
Rau tries to clinch up but Masterson circles away and keeps his distance.
Rau fails with an attempt to clinch.
James Masterson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Masterson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Masterson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rau. Rau circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rau closes the distance and clinches up with Masterson, looking for a takedown. Rau pushes Masterson against the cage but Masterson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Masterson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rau circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rau tries to clinch up

and Masterson counters by clinching up.
Rau trying to control the position but instead, Masterson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rau into the cage.
Masterson is trying to break the clinch but Rau has him pressed against the cage.
Masterson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rau wants a takedown.
Masterson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rau.

Masterson breaks from the clinch.
James Masterson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rau tries to clinch up but Masterson circles away and keeps his distance.
Rau tries to clinch up

and Masterson counters with a left and a right that hurts Rau! He wobbles and falls to the floor - he's in big trouble! Masterson jumps into full mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Masterson trying to control but Rau is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masterson controlling the position easily from mount.
Rau is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Masterson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rau is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rau is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Masterson trying to control but Rau is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Masterson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Masterson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rau looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
James Masterson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rau tries to close the distance and clinch but Masterson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rau takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Masterson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Masterson lands a body punch.
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!
Masterson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A shot in the inside from Masterson.
A short left from Masterson.
Masterson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Masterson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Masterson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Raus head.
Rau is breathing heavily.
Masterson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A body shot lands from Masterson.

Masterson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Masterson throws out a powerful jab.

Rau is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Masterson rushes Rau and presses him up against the cage.
Masterson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rau backwards.
Rau is still on wobbly legs! Can Masterson finish him?
Rau takes a shot to the head.

Masterson breaks from the clinch.
Rau seems to have recovered his senses.

Rau takes the fight into the clinch.
Masterson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Masterson lands a shoulder strike.

Masterson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Masterson drops Rau with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Rau! Masterson dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Masterson!