PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Masterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slawek Tall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masterson comes to the cage accompanied by Legend of Back Wind. Slawek Tall has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Masterson
vs
Tall

170 cm
30
187 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

175 cm
30
201 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kevin Masterson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Slawek Tall!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Tall.

Tall closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Masterson to the mat! Masterson manages to get full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Masterson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tall throws a big right hand that misses.

Masterson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tall defends well.
Masterson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Masterson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tall sees it coming and defends easily.
Masterson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tall defending well though.
Masterson wants to pass the guard but Tall is defending well.
Tall is not content to let Masterson control the position.

Masterson is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tall wants to control but Masterson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Masterson is keen to just control but Tall is a slippery customer.
Masterson trying to control the pace.
Tall won't allow Masterson to pass to mount.
Tall tries to roll over but Masterson keeps him under control.
Tall wants to get back to his feet.

Masterson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tall sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tall is looking for a sweep. Masterson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Masterson is trying to control. Tall wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tall gets full guard.
Tall wants to stand and escape but Masterson is having none of it.
Masterson trying to control but Tall is working from the bottom.
Tall has a closed guard, preventing Masterson from standing up.
Masterson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Masterson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Masterson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masterson stops Tall from standing up.
Tall working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Masterson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tall avoids it really well and circles away.
Masterson has a takedown stuffed.
Masterson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Masterson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Masterson enables Tall to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Masterson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Tall must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tall sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tall advances position into side control!
Masterson can't do much from the bottom here.
Tall tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Masterson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Masterson can't do much from the bottom here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Masterson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tall's best efforts.
Masterson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tall's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tall's back!
Tall wants to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kevin Masterson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Masterson shoots in but no luck this time.
Masterson shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Tall as Masterson shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Masterson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tall drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tall is looking to work some ground and pound but Masterson has wrist control.
Tall wants to control from the top but Masterson keeps moving.
Slawek Tall has got the better of the ground game so far.
Masterson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tall trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tall landing some decent shots from guard.

Masterson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tall passes into side control.
Masterson is not content to let Tall control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masterson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Masterson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Masterson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tall sees it coming and defends easily.
Masterson is thwarting Tall's attempts to control the position.
Masterson wants to control but Tall is keeping him busy.
Tall is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Masterson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Masterson's back!
Tall is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Masterson up.
Masterson covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Masterson turns into Tall and is now in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masterson looking to pass the guard.
Masterson won't allow Tall to sweep him here.
Tall is breathing heavily.
Masterson passes Tall's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Masterson stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Masterson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tall manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Masterson trying to control but Tall is working from the bottom.
Tall lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Masterson!
BOOM! Tall connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tall scoring with strikes but Masterson is staying in there.
Tall landing strikes from the mount and Masterson is in trouble!
Masterson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Masterson is squirming around, avoiding Tall's attempts to control the action.

Tall goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Masterson turns into him and now he's in Tall's guard.
Tall manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tall lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Masterson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tall seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Masterson wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Masterson is staying active underneath Tall, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tall throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tall thows a huge punch but Masterson dodges it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Masterson tries to kick Tall off but Tall keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Masterson trying to hold on to Tall's head to control him but Tall postures up.
Tall has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slawek Tall showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Masterson misses with a takedown attempt - Tall sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Masterson dives in and grabs Tall's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tall pushes down on Masterson's head and hops out.

Tall closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Masterson to the mat! Masterson manages to get full guard.
Masterson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Masterson is looking for a triangle but Tall pushes his legs off easily.
Tall trying to control but Masterson is working from the bottom.
Tall is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Tall throwing strikes from guard but Masterson blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masterson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tall throwing strikes but missing.
Tall postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tall takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tall throws a big right hand that misses.

Masterson working for a triangle but Tall defends it easily.
Tall trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tall accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tall cracks Masterson with a solid left hand.
Tall trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Masterson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masterson fails to move to back control.
Tall wants to hold on but Masterson pushes him away.

Masterson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Masterson wants to control the pace but Tall is squirming around nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Masterson raining down shots from the mount!
Tall is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Masterson stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Tall throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Masterson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tall is in Masterson's guard.
Masterson seems keen to control Tall's posture.

Masterson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tall doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tall manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tall looking to sit in guard and control but Masterson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tall is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Masterson is looking to work some ground and pound but Tall has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masterson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tall looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tall is working an open guard so Masterson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Tall shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tall stops Masterson from standing up.
Masterson keeping moving, preventing Tall from controlling successfully.
Masterson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tall postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Masterson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tall with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tall loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kevin Masterson.
I think Masterson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Slawek Tall!