PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lucian Rasputin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buakaw Masato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rasputin might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Siren Song - Parkway Drive. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rasputin
vs
Masato

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lucian Rasputin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Buakaw Masato!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rasputin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Masato misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Rasputin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
An elbow from Rasputin crashes against the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masato can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rasputin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Masato to see if he's OK.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Masato is looking for a sweep.
Rasputin is looking to take a break and control but Masato is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rasputin has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Masato!
Masato tries to hold on but Rasputin pushes him away.
Masato is looking to get to half guard.
Rasputin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Masato is squirming around, avoiding Rasputin's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masato is in all sorts of trouble here.
Masato tries to hold on but Rasputin postures up.
Rasputin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Masato trying desperately to get to his feet.
Masato has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Rasputin trying to control momentarily.

Masato is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Rasputin gets his way!
Rasputin not allowing Masato to control his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Masato wants to get back to his feet.
Masato prevents Rasputin from getting a body triangle.

Rasputin is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Masato is defending well though. Rasputin let's go of the attempt for now.
Rasputin is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Masato trying to control but not successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masato is trying to break free.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Rasputin controlling the positon.
Rasputin tries to keep control of the position but Masato is staying busy.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Lucian Rasputin just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rasputin swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rasputin gets a takedown into half guard.
Rasputin is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masato trying to hold on to Rasputin's head to control him but Rasputin postures up.
Masato wants to get back to full guard.
Masato trying to control here.
Rasputin is looking to take a break and control but Masato is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Masato is trying to stand back up but Rasputin is controlling him
Rasputin trying to control from half guard but Masato is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucian Rasputin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rasputin shoots in and drives through. Masato sprawls well.
Nice shot lands for Rasputin.
Lucian Rasputin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch but Rasputin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rasputin misses with a takedown attempt - Masato sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rasputin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Masato's waist but Masato gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rasputin off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucian Rasputin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masato stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rasputin fails with the takedown.
Masato is looking to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Masato tries to clinch but Rasputin moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rasputin paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Masato rushes Rasputin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rasputin wants to break free but Masato has control.
Masato landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Masato landing knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Masato.
Rasputin has Masato pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Masato manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Masato scores with a knee to the head.

Masato breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Masato drives through and clinches with Rasputin against the cage.
Masato connects with a knee to the head.
Masato unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rasputin lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rasputin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Masato using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Masato blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Masato.
Rasputin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rasputin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rasputin managing to block the knees to the body from Masato.
Masato avoids the elbow strike from Rasputin, against the cage.
Masato with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Masato unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rasputin lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rasputin tries to pull guard but Masato holds him up against the cage and eventually Rasputin drops back down to his feet.
Rasputin tries to pull guard but Masato holds him up against the cage and eventually Rasputin drops back down to his feet.
Rasputin wants to break the clinch but can't.
Masato scores a nice knee to the body.
Rasputin has Masato pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Masato manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rasputin wants a takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rasputin.
Rasputin fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Masato tries to land knees in the clinch but Rasputin avoids the damage to the body.
Rasputin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Masato smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Masato tries to clinch up but Rasputin circles away and keeps his distance.
Rasputin looks for a takedown but Masato sprawls well.
Masato tries to close the distance and clinch but Rasputin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rasputin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Masato sprawls well initially but Rasputin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rasputin wants to pass to mount but Masato is defending the position.
Rasputin is thwarting Masato's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin wants to free his trapped foot but Masato is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Masato wants to improve his position but Rasputin is controlling well.
Well, if Rasputin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rasputin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Masato is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rasputin works his way into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buakaw Masato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rasputin closes the distance and clinches up with Masato, looking for a takedown. Rasputin pushes Masato against the cage but Masato circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rasputin shoots in but no luck this time.
Rasputin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucian Rasputin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rasputin shoots for a double leg takedown but Masato sprawls well. He's pushed Rasputin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Masato doesn't manage to clinch there - Rasputin circles away.
Masato wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masato tries to clinch there but Rasputin circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rasputin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masato is looking to regain half guard here but Rasputin keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Masato's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Rasputin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Masato wants to control but Rasputin postures up.
Masato wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Masato wants to control but Rasputin postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Masato tries to buck Rasputin off but Rasputin is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Masato pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Masato rushes Rasputin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Masato trying to land knees to the body.
Masato landing knees to the head.
Rasputin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rasputin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Masato gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rasputin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Masato gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Masato with a knee to the head.
Masato with a knee to the head.
Masato throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Masato.
Rasputin tries to pull guard but Masato holds him up against the cage and eventually Rasputin drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin lands a nice elbow.
Masato scores a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Masato.
Masato misses with a knee to the head.
Masato prevents Rasputin from breaking the clinch.
Masato connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rasputin's face.
Knees in the clinch landing for Masato.
Masato unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rasputin lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Masato landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Masato landing knees to the body.
Rasputin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Masato is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Masato prevents a takedown attempt there.
A knee to the head by Masato.
Masato with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Masato scores a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masato unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rasputin lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Masato with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rasputin tries to pull guard but Masato holds him up against the cage and eventually Rasputin drops back down to his feet.
Rasputin wants a takedown.
Masato with a knee to the head.
Masato is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Masato throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knees to the body from Masato.
Rasputin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Masato blocks it with crossed arms.
Knees to the body from Masato.
Masato landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rasputin wants to stall.
Masato with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buakaw Masato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Masato 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buakaw Masato!