PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Ryo Hazuki (ranked 22400 p4p, 3136 weight class) and Gordon Masten (ranked 420 p4p, 260 weight class). Ryo Hazuki had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 147.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hazuki
vs
Masten

176 cm
29
160
9 - 13 - 0

171 cm
31
144
10 - 1 - 0

Great elbows
Very quick

World class boxer
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 9 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryo Hazuki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gordon Masten!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masten throws a leg kick which misses Hazuki's front leg but catches the back leg as Hazuki tries to avoid it.
Masten buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Masten tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hazuki is able to avoid easily.
Hazuki went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Hazuki doesn't manage to clinch there - Masten circles away.
Hazuki throws a right hand that Masten ducks under and follows up with a left that Masten also avoids with ease.
Masten tries to counter with a clinch but Hazuki shakes him off and moves away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Masten checks a leg kick.
Hazuki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Masten tried to score with a low kick but Hazuki checks it.
Masten looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hazuki throws a combination. Masten tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Masten fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hazuki has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hazuki is looking to clinch.
A jab from Hazuki does it's job there.
A swing and a miss from Hazuki.
Hazuki throws a lazy head kick
and Masten counters with a leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Masten moves into the clinch.
Hazuki struggles to land a body shot inside as Masten controls his hands.
Hazuki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Masten tries to work over Hazuki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hazuki using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hazuki tries to land knees in the clinch but Masten avoids the damage to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hazuki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazuki lands a hook that snaps the head of Masten backwards.
Masten softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Nice body punch from Masten - that landed with a thud.
Masten lands a right hand.
Hazuki blocking some punches.
Masten stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Masten can't find room to land a body shot as Hazuki controls the action.
A hook to the body from Masten.
Masten lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Masten swings wildly with an uppercut but Hazuki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hazuki can't find room to land a body shot as Masten controls the action.
Hazuki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Masten goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hazuki digs a right hand into Masten's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Masten's gas tank.
A head punch on the inside from Masten fails to land.
Nice body punch from Hazuki.
Masten doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Masten blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Masten stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Masten lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Masten working aggressively here.
Masten working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Masten creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Masten.
Masten lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Masten blocks a body shot from Hazuki.
A body shot lands from Masten.
Masten lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short left from Masten.
Hazuki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Masten blocks a body shot from Hazuki.
Hazuki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Masten's elbow.
Masten has a couple of punches blocked by Hazuki.
Masten lands a hook that snaps the head of Hazuki backwards.
Masten lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hazuki tries a body shot but Masten blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hazuki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Masten blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Masten doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hazuki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Masten fails to land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gordon Masten dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hazuki throws the left hand but Masten avoids the punch easily.

Masten moves into range and clinches up with Hazuki.
Masten has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hazuki misses with a punch to the body.
Still in the clinch, Masten scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gordon Masten seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Masten takes a knee to the side of the body.
Masten tries a body shot but Hazuki blocks it.
Masten pushes Hazuki back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Hazuki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Masten lands a shot to the body.
Masten works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hazuki takes a shot to the head.
Masten misses with a punch to the body.
Masten doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Masten lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hazuki backwards.
Hazuki lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Masten tries to throw a body punch but Hazuki avoids it by throwing Masten back against the ropes.
A short uppercut from Masten.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Masten misses with a body punch.
Hazuki can't find room to land a body shot as Masten controls the action.
Masten tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hazuki's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hazuki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masten tries to throw a body punch but Hazuki avoids it by throwing Masten back against the ropes.
Masten misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hazuki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Masten.
Hazuki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Masten avoids it.
Masten softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Hazuki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Masten on the inside.
Hazuki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Masten lands a hook that snaps the head of Hazuki backwards.
Hazuki prevents a body shot from Masten.
Hazuki lands a nice knee to the body.
Hazuki misses with some punches.
Masten prevents a body shot from Hazuki.
Masten makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Masten doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hazuki misses with a body punch.
Hazuki presses Masten against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Masten misses with a punch to the body.
Hazuki lands a knee to the body.
Masten misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hazuki is working Masten over against the ropes.
Hazuki lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Masten backwards.
Hazuki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice left hand lands by Masten.
Masten struggles to land a body shot inside as Hazuki controls his hands.
Masten misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hazuki missing with knees to the body.
Masten throws a punch but it's blocked by Hazuki.
Hazuki struggles to land a body shot inside as Masten controls his hands.
Masten misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hazuki misses with a body punch.
Hazuki misses with the head strike.
Hazuki tries to work over Masten's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hazuki working Masten over with knees to the body.
Hazuki using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Masten.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Masten tries a body shot but Hazuki blocks it.
Masten lands with a short shot to the head.
Hazuki takes a shot to the head.
Masten lands a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gordon Masten showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Masten misses with a kick to the body.
Hazuki swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A chopping leg kick lands by Masten.
Hazuki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Masten fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hazuki has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hazuki fails in his attempt to clinch.

Masten clinches up against the ropes.
Hazuki lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Masten backwards.
Masten misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hazuki missing with knees to the body.
A short body shot lands from Hazuki as the two fighters clinch.
Hazuki tries to work over Masten's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hazuki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Masten's elbow.
Masten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hazuki is working Masten over against the ropes.
Masten tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hazuki tries a body shot but Masten blocks it.
Masten prevents a body shot from Hazuki.
A right handed body shot lands from Hazuki.
Masten misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masten tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hazuki digs a right hand into Masten's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Masten's gas tank.
Masten tries a body shot but Hazuki blocks it.
Masten swings wildly with an uppercut but Hazuki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hazuki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Masten lands a shoulder strike.
Hazuki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hazuki pushes Masten back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hazuki.
A head punch on the inside from Masten fails to land.
Masten misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Masten working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Masten scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Masten can't find room to land a body shot as Hazuki controls the action.
Masten misses with some punches.
Masten blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hazuki stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hazuki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Masten.
Hazuki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masten gets through Hazuki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Masten misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hazuki stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Masten takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hazuki using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Masten lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hazuki backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Masten.
Hazuki working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hazuki blocks an uppercut.
Masten misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hazuki struggles to land a body shot inside as Masten controls his hands.
Masten lands a shoulder strike.
Masten has a couple of punches blocked by Hazuki.
Masten is working Hazuki over against the ropes.
Masten struggles to land a body shot inside as Hazuki controls his hands.
Masten misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hazuki trying to land knees to the body.
Ryo Hazuki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Masten lands a hook that snaps the head of Hazuki backwards.
Hazuki misses with a hook to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gordon Masten comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Masten 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gordon Masten!
After the fight, Gordon Masten was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.