PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aruki Masura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miki Thron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Miki Thron will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Masura
vs
Thron

181 cm
24
187 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

186 cm
26
185 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aruki Masura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miki Thron!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thron lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Masura circles away quickly and effectively.
Masura throws a right hand that Thron ducks under and follows up with a left that Thron also avoids with ease.
Masura moves out of range as Thron strikes.

Masura has managed to clinch.

Masura works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Thron manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Thron seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Masura is holding on tight.
Masura bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Masura loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thron lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Masura!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thron goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Masura is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masura wants to control from the top but Thron keeps moving.

Thron looking for subs off his back but Masura has passed one foot through into half guard.

Masura is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Thron sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masura is trying to control. Thron wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thron moves into full guard.
Masura wants to control from the top but Thron keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thron is on top in guard.
Thron scoring with some ground and pound.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Masura is looking for a triangle but Thron pushes his legs off easily.
Thron trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thron passes Masura's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Thron prevents Masura from improving his position.
Masura pushes Thron off looking to stand but Thron dives back in and keeps control.
Masura is looking for a sweep. Thron is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thron not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Masura has hold of Thron's hands but Thron slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thron trying to control from half guard but Masura is working away.
Thron is looking to stall here but Masura recovers full guard.
Thron working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thron won't allow Masura to sweep him here.
Thron postures up in Masura's guard and throws a big left but Masura blocks it.
Masura working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thron.
Thron trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thron trying to control the position from guard on top but Masura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Masura looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Masura is breathing heavily.
Thron trying to control the position from guard on top but Masura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masura utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thron throws a strike but Masura rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Masura trying to control but Thron is working from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Masura got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thron has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Masura has managed to get both his arms back between Thron's legs - danger averted.
Masura forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Miki Thron will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thron blocks the body kick.

Masura decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Masura is keen to just control but Thron is a slippery customer.
Thron is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Masura is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Thron tries to get to full guard but Masura has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masura trying to mount his opponent but Thron defends it.

Thron actively working from the bottom here.

Masura is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thron has managed to free his arm - good work.
Thron is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Masura is looking for a kimura but Thron is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Masura to get the leverage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thron gets back to full guard.
Masura wants to control from the top but Thron keeps moving.
Masura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thron is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thron is controlling Masura's posture.

Masura drops back, looking for a kneebar! Thron looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Thron looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Thron!
Masura is not content to let Thron control the position.
Thron landing strikes.
Masura is trying to improve his position.
Masura takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thron tries to move to full mount but Masura actually manages to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thron seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Masura does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Thron missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Masura is looking for a sweep. Thron is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Thron throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thron thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Masura kicks off Thron and gets to his feet.
Masura throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Masura gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thron to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Thron wants to control from the top but Masura keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thron looking to sit in guard and control but Masura gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thron working a defensive guard here.
Masura advances position into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thron is looking to regain half guard here but Masura keeps moving and retains side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Masura tries to advance to mount but Thron denies him.

Masura is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Thron is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Thron tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Miki Thron will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Masura defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thron.
Masura fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Masura slaps away a takedown attempt from Thron, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Masura shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Thron is trying to defend but Masura finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Masura is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Thron defends it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Masura is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Thron is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thron trying desperately to get to his feet.
Masura lands a nice shot to the head.
Thron is trying desperately to improve position.
Masura lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Masura seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Thron is holding on tight.
Masura can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thron is looking to escape.
Masura is really struggling to control Thron but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Thron is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thron is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thron has given up his back here. Will Masura look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Thron tries to escape but Masura has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Masura looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Thron taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Aruki Masura!