PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Killua Zoldyk (ranked 3392 p4p, 272 weight class) and Paavo Masala (ranked 2416 p4p, 210 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zoldyk
vs
Masala

178 cm
21
152 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

178 cm
21
154 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Killua Zoldyk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paavo Masala!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masala misses with a two punch combination.
Masala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Masala.
Masala creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
You can see the frustration on Zoldyk's face as Masala controls the position.
Masala trying to control the action but Zoldyk is working from the bottom.
Masala in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Zoldyk manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Zoldyk looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zoldyk tries to roll over but Masala keeps him under control.
Zoldyk gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masala trying to control but Zoldyk is working from the bottom.
Masala must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Masala avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zoldyk tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zoldyk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Masala's guard.

Masala trying to control the position here.
Zoldyk loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Masala looking to control.
Masala wants to sweep here but Zoldyk controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoldyk looking to sit in guard and control but Masala gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zoldyk is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Zoldyk has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Masala can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Masala wants to control from the top but Zoldyk keeps moving.
Masala working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zoldyk's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Masala passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Masala cracks Zoldyk with a big right hand but Zoldyk just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zoldyk keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zoldyk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Masala shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zoldyk sprawls well. Zoldyk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Masala gets slowly back to his feet.
Zoldyk connects with a single shot there.
Good shot there by Zoldyk.
Masala goes for a double leg but Zoldyk avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zoldyk continues to drive forward.
Killua Zoldyk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paavo Masala.
Masala slips a jab and a cross from Zoldyk.
Masala shoots in but no luck this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Masala scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zoldyk is looking to improve his position.

Zoldyk is defending against the submission attempts here by Masala.
Zoldyk is trying to maintain the position but Masala is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoldyk is not content to let Masala control the position.
Zoldyk is trying to get back to full guard.
Zoldyk gets full guard.
Masala is in close to Zoldyk's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Paavo Masala has got the better of the ground game so far.
Masala working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zoldyk's head.

Zoldyk escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Masala gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Masala trying to control but Zoldyk is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masala won't allow Zoldyk to sweep him here.
Masala lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Zoldyk is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Masala forces his way into half guard.
Masala prevents Zoldyk from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Masala seems to be looking for submissions.
Masala is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paavo Masala will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Zoldyk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Masala scores with a shot to the body.
Killua Zoldyk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zoldyk scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Zoldyk misses with a left hand

and Masala decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zoldyk's guard.

Zoldyk is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Masala postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Masala pushing down on Zoldyk's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Zoldyk works his way to full guard. Good work.
Masala trying to control the position from guard on top but Zoldyk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masala postures up in Zoldyk's guard and throws a big left but Zoldyk blocks it.
Masala trying to control the position from guard on top but Zoldyk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masala works over Zoldyk with some ground and pound from guard.
Zoldyk is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoldyk manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Masala manages to get himself to full guard.

Zoldyk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Masala is keeping the position for now.
We've been hearing that Zoldyk has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Masala is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Zoldyk with a flurry of punches that miss.

Masala looking for a guillotine here but Zoldyk defends easily.
Zoldyk working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Masala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zoldyk working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zoldyk preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masala has momentary wrist control but Zoldyk slips an elbow through the middle.
Zoldyk tries to free his leg and advance position but Masala is retaining full guard.
Zoldyk with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Zoldyk missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Masala trying to control the position.
Paavo Masala is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Masala is adopting a defensive guard.
Masala trying to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Masala looking for a sweep. Not yet Masala, not yet.
Masala preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zoldyk throwing strikes from guard but Masala blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Paavo Masala.
I've got Masala winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Paavo Masala!