PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Price (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinny Mashdein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Price comes to the cage accompanied by O Fortuna by Carl Orff. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Price
vs
Mashdein

183 cm
23
170 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

165 cm
25
160 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Price!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vinny Mashdein!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Reed Andrews and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Price looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mashdein tries to get to full guard but Price has control of the leg.
Price trying to control from half guard but Mashdein is working away.
Mashdein gets full guard.
Price wants to control from the top but Mashdein keeps moving.
Mashdein throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Price is looking to work some ground and pound but Mashdein has wrist control.
Price content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mashdein wants to sweep here but Price controlling him for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Price slips a jab and a cross from Mashdein.

Price fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mashdein, pushing him back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Price throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mashdein drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Price trying to land knees to the body.
Price misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mashdein.
Mashdein on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Price has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mashdein uses from the top position.
Mashdein throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Price is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Mashdein missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Price working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mashdein.
Mashdein throws a big right hand that misses.
Mashdein tries to free his leg and advance position but Price is retaining full guard.
Price wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Price looking for a sweep. Not yet Price, not yet.
Price is breathing heavily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mashdein misses with a takedown

and Price counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Price working the ground and pound.
Price trying to control the position but Mashdein is working away.
A lull in the action here as Price stalls from top position.
Mashdein has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mashdein gets back to half guard.
Price prevents Mashdein from improving his position.
Mashdein taking some punishment here, with Price in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mashdein is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Price's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Price's back!
Mashdein struggling to land strikes to the head as Price covers up.
Mashdein thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Price avoids the strikes from Mashdein.
Price trying to control the position but Mashdein manages to sink in the hooks.
Price manages to reverse the position and now he's in Mashdein's guard. Nice work there by Price.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mashdein can do anything to dispel that myth.
Price trying to control the position from guard on top but Mashdein is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mashdein looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Price's corner is telling him to maintain position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Price decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Price lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mashdein works his way to full guard. Good work.
Price preventing the sweep.
Mashdein will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Mashdein will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Mashdein manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Price manages to get himself to full guard.
Mashdein wants to pass the guard but Price is keeping the position.
Mashdein preventing the sweep.
Price trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mashdein missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Price dominated that round.
That's time! Price's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mashdein looks to land a combination but Price avoids it well.
Mashdein shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Price counters by clinching up.
Price lands a nice elbow.
Price missing with knees to the body.
Price trying to land knees to the body.

Price breaks from the clinch.
Mashdein has his takedown stuffed

and Price moves into the clinch.
Price tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mashdein avoids it.
Price tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mashdein avoids it.

Price breaks from the clinch.

Price gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Price.
Mashdein on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Price breaks the clinch.
Mashdein has his takedown stuffed

and Price counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Price.
Alex Price has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vinny Mashdein.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Price trying to land knees to the body.
Price with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Price prevents a takedown attempt there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Price escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Price gets caught flat footed, as Mashdein shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Price has his hands on Mashdein's head, controlling the position.
Mashdein working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mashdein with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mashdein wants to pass the guard but Price is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Price has Mashdein pulled in close to control his posture.
Price avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mashdein passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mashdein tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Mashdein in side control lands a decent elbow.
Mashdein misses with the ground and pound.
Mashdein working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mashdein scoring with punches and elbows.
Mashdein throwing shots but missing, from side control.
An elbow from Mashdein crashes against the mat.
Mashdein advances to mount.
Mashdein with a couple of short strikes.
Mashdein pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mashdein throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Price blocking the ground and pound.
Mashdein putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Price is desperately trying to improve his position but Mashdein has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mashdein with good strikes from the mount here!
Alex Price overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Price takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mashdein landing strikes from the mount.
Mashdein landing shots from mount.
Mashdein with the ground and pound from mount.
Price tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mashdein lands a heavy elbow.
Price tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mashdein lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Mashdein postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Price looks a forlorn figure.
Mashdein working Price over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinny Mashdein 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. And we move into the final round!

Price clinches up with Mashdein and pushes him back against the cage.
Price gets underhooks to prevent Mashdein's takedown attempt.
Mashdein tries for a takedown but Price manages to get underhooks.

Price pulls guard.
Mashdein throwing strikes from guard but Price blocks nicely.
Mashdein thows a big elbow that misses.
Price is looking to stand up but Mashdein isn't so interested in that idea.
Price seems keen to control Mashdein's posture.
Price knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mashdein on the ground.
Price has momentary wrist control but Mashdein slips an elbow through the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mashdein lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mashdein is fighting to break Price's control of his arms but Price is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Price has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mashdein can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mashdein wants to pass the guard but Price is keeping the position.
Mashdein stands and throws Price's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Mashdein throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Price is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

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.
Mashdein is putting a hurting on Price here, landing some big shots from side control.
Price is looking to regain half guard here but Mashdein keeps moving and retains side control.
Price is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Price managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Mashdein.
Price struggling a bit here.
Mashdein misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Price gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Mashdein working Price over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mashdein throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Mashdein with a couple of short strikes.
Mashdein is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Mashdein lands a heavy elbow.
Mashdein with shots to the head and body - Price looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mashdein looking to finish with strikes here!
Mashdein punishing his opponent with strikes.
Price takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mashdein misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

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.
Mashdein lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Mashdein in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Mashdein looking to finish Price with some ground and pound. This is bad for Price!
Price is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mashdein putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Mashdein throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Mashdein lands a big elbow.
Mashdein landing shots from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Price is trying desperately to improve position.
Mashdein in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vinny Mashdein comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mashdein has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vinny Mashdein!