PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam Rourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mason comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Kavinsky - Nightcall kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rourke
vs
Mason

172 cm
28
185 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

188 cm
31
185 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sam Rourke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex Mason!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rourke misses with a takedown
and Mason counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rourke fails with a takedown attempt.
Rourke misses with a straight left.
Rourke stuffs the takedown attempt from Mason. Mason gets slowly back to his feet.

Rourke has managed to clinch.

Mason decides to pull guard.
Rourke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Mason has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rourke can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rourke is looking to advance position but Mason has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mason wants to finish this one by submission but Rourke is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Mason.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rourke is looking to improve his position but Mason isn't that keen on the idea.
Rourke 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.

Mason working for a submission but Rourke is keeping him at bay.

Mason is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Rourke has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Rourke!

Mason isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rourke stacks Mason on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rourke!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Mason sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rourke throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Rourke tries for a kimura but Mason is defending well.
Rourke misses with the ground and pound.
Mason is looking to regain half guard here but Rourke keeps moving and retains side control.
Rourke in side control lands a decent elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rourke creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Rourke landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Rourke is trying to get an arm triangle but Mason is defending well.
Rourke throws an elbow but Mason slips to the side and avoids it well.
Mason takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Rourke is putting a hurting on Mason here, landing some big shots from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mason takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rourke swings around for an armbar but Mason sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rourke's guard.
Mason is looking to advance position but Rourke has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Mason takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourke landing punches.
Mason in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Mason is rocked!
Rourke lands a big shot to the head and Mason winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Sam Rourke!