PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Morris Day (ranked 1771 p4p, 186 weight class) and Paavo Masala (ranked 2264 p4p, 228 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Day
vs
Masala

171 cm
26
146 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

178 cm
21
154 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Morris Day!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paavo Masala!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Colin Fotheringham and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Day. No joy for Masala on that attempt.
Day changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Day feints and as Masala raises his hands in defense, Day changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Day's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Masala keeping moving, preventing Day from controlling successfully.
Day in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Day postures up in Masala's guard and throws a big left but Masala blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masala trying to control the position here.
Day preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masala trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Masala keeping moving, preventing Day from controlling successfully.
Day trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Day is looking to work some ground and pound but Masala has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Day scoring with some ground and pound.
Masala not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Day is looking to work some ground and pound but Masala has wrist control.
Day lands a couple of digs.
Day working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Masala's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Day throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Masala works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Day is working Masala over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Masala can do anything to dispel that myth.
Day postures up in Masala's guard and throws a big left but Masala blocks it.
Day being controlled here momentarily.
Day is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Day won't allow Masala to sweep him here.
Day passes into half guard.
Masala manages to get to full guard.
Day looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Day working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Masala's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Day chips away with some ground and pound.
Day postures up.
Day throwing strikes from guard but Masala blocks nicely.
Day scoring with punches to the head and body.
Masala looking for a sweep. Not yet Masala, not yet.
Masala trying to keep a closed guard but Day is proving a slippery customer.
Masala utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Day cracks Masala with a solid left hand.
Masala is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Day throwing strikes from guard but Masala blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Day stopping the sweep attempt from Masala.
Day trying to control the position from guard on top but Masala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masala looking to hit a scissor sweep but Day is one step ahead there.
Day working some strikes from top position.
Day missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Day content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Masala manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Day manages to get himself to full guard.

Day pulls Masala in to control the position.
Masala is looking to work some ground and pound but Day has wrist control.
Day working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Day pulls Masala in close to prevent any damage.
Masala working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Masala throws a big elbow that misses.
Day controls Masala momentarily but Masala frees himself.
Masala postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Masala controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Masala postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morris Day dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Masala dives in for a single leg takedown but Day sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Day is looking to counter punch.
Morris Day is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Day gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Masala to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Day avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Day managing to control the position.
Masala with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masala with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Masala accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masala trying to control but Day is working from the bottom.
Day has Masala pulled in close to control his posture.
Day utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Day pulls Masala in to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Masala shoots in and drives through. Day sprawls well.
Day attempts a counter takedown but Masala avoids it well and moves away.
Paavo Masala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Day bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Day in side control, throwing shots but Masala defends.
Day is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Masala can do to turn this around?
Masala is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Day fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Day looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Masala is avoiding damage well.
Masala manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Day trying to control from the bottom.
Day is trying to get back to full guard.
Masala wants to pass to mount but Day is defending the position.
Day is controlling Masala's trapped leg to prevent Masala from advancing to side control.
Masala misses with a head shot. Day uses the momentum to regain guard.
Masala looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masala stopping the sweep attempt from Day.
Masala postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Day has momentary wrist control but Masala slips an elbow through the middle.
Masala postures up in Day's guard and throws a big left but Day blocks it.
Masala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Masala keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Day's head.
Masala being controlled here momentarily.
Day continues to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Day utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Day preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Masala is looking to work some ground and pound but Day has wrist control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Masala keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Day's head.
Masala landing with the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Day is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Masala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Masala 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Masala dives in and grabs Day's left leg, looking for a takedown. Day pushes down on Masala's head and hops out.

Day scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Masala tries to buck Day off but Day is having none of it.
Day lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Masala down.
Day landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Masala tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Day wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Masala has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Day trying to control the position but Masala is working away.
Day 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.
Masala is trying to control Day's posture but Day avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masala gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ground and pound from Day.
Day trying to control the action but Masala is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Day landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Day working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Masala gets full guard.
Day stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Masala swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Day trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Day stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Masala swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Masala keeping moving, preventing Day from controlling successfully.
Masala looking to hit a scissor sweep but Day is one step ahead there.
Day loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Day postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Day lands a couple of elbows.
Masala looking to hit a scissor sweep but Day is one step ahead there.
Day wants to control from the top but Masala keeps moving.
Day postures up.
Day postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Day scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Day landing with the ground and pound.
Masala utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Day working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Masala keeping moving, preventing Day from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Day is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Masala striking off his back but it's not causing Day any problems.
Day is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Masala looking to hit a scissor sweep but Day is one step ahead there.
Masala trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Masala looking to control.
Day wants to control from the top but Masala keeps moving.
Day with a flurry of punches that miss.
Day stopping the sweep attempt from Masala.
Masala keeps trying to improve his position.
Day with a flurry of punches that miss.
Masala looking to hit a scissor sweep but Day is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Day working some strikes from top position.
Day with a nice head shot there.
Masala bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Day's guard.

Day wants to sweep but no luck.
Masala trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Masala is looking to work some ground and pound but Day has wrist control.
Day keeping moving, preventing Masala from controlling successfully.
Morris Day overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Masala throws a strike but Day rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Day lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Masala tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Morris Day showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Day has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Morris Day!
Morris Day got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'