PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Masen Towle (ranked 5899 p4p, 5865 weight class) and Christian Baratelli (ranked 467 p4p, 466 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Towle
vs
Baratelli

177 cm
18
155
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
155
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Masen Towle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Christian Baratelli!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baratelli scores with a crisp jab that stopped Towle in his tracks.

Towle gets a clinch.

Towle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Baratelli fails with a takedown attempt.
Baratelli tries to bum rush Towle with a series of wild strikes but Towle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Towle dives in for a single leg takedown but Baratelli sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Baratelli wants to counter the offense by Towle and move into the clinch position.

Towle has hold of one of Baratelli's legs. Baratelli is fighting the takedown attempt but Towle gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Towle working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Towle is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Baratelli is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Baratelli has escaped and now he's on top!

Baratelli forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Towle wants to stand back up but Baratelli manages to pass into side control.
Towle is trying to improve his position.
Towle manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Towle throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Towle has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Baratelli is working away from the top position though.
Towle slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Towle is trying to control the position but Baratelli postures up.

Baratelli stands up and waves to Towle to follow him.
Baratelli fails with an attempt to clinch.
Towle is looking to clinch.
Towle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Baratelli wants to counter with a clinch but Towle pushes him away.
Baratelli fails with a takedown attempt.
Towle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Towle has taken the fight to the clinch.
Baratelli working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Towle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Baratelli walks away with a smile on his face. Towle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Towle swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baratelli stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Baratelli wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masen Towle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baratelli shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Towle but Towle pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baratelli scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Baratelli throws a head kick that misses.
Towle just misses with a punch to the body.
Baratelli drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Towle defends it well.
Towle throws a nice looking combination but Baratelli bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Despite the aggression on Baratelli's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Baratelli throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Towle was covering up waiting for the punch and Baratelli finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Towle is wriggling around but Baratelli manages to pass to half guard.
Towle is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Baratelli stands up and beckons Towle to join him on the feet.
Baratelli tries a head kick but it misses.
Baratelli swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A little feinted left hand from Towle on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Towle manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Baratelli on his heels. He'll look to pass Baratelli's guard now, I'm sure.
Towle with a nice head shot there.

Towle drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Baratelli manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Towle has Baratelli in his guard.

Baratelli slips nicely into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Christian Baratelli will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Towle throws a combination that misses
and Baratelli counters with a series of strikes. Towle will be more careful next time no doubt.
Baratelli fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baratelli shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Towle pinned against the cage. Towle gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Baratelli tries to clinch up.
Towle fails with an attempt to clinch.

Towle drives through and clinches with Baratelli against the cage.
Towle tries to pull guard but Baratelli holds him up against the cage and eventually Towle drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Towle tries to pull guard but Baratelli holds him up against the cage and eventually Towle drops back down to his feet.
Towle content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Towle wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masen Towle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Towle tries to pull guard but Baratelli won't allow it.
Towle tries for a takedown but Baratelli manages to get underhooks.
Towle stops a takedown attempt from Baratelli.
Baratelli has Towle pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Towle manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A frustrated look appears on Baratelli's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Towle is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Towle stalling against the cage.
Towle prevents Baratelli from breaking the clinch.

Towle is trying to trip Baratelli. He has hold of a leg but Baratelli is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Towle persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Baratelli wriggles free and stands up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baratelli darts in looking for a takedown but Towle gets double underhooks and turns Baratelli into the cage.
Baratelli misses with a takedown attempt - Towle sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Towle gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Baratelli tries to score a body lock takedown but Towle shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Towle ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Towle no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Towle has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Baratelli can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Baratelli trying to control but Towle is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Towle is trying to keep Baratelli in close.
Towle wants to stand up but Baratelli is controlling him.
Baratelli wants to control from the top but Towle keeps moving.
Towle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Towle looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Towle shoots in but no luck this time.
Baratelli tries to score a power double leg takedown but Towle sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Baratelli somewhat.
Towle tries to clinch up but Baratelli circles away and keeps his distance.
Towle fails in his attempt to clinch.

Baratelli gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Baratelli's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baratelli goes for a takedown in the clinch but Towle prevents it.
Towle has Baratelli pressed against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Masen Towle will probably get the nod.
That's time! Towle's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Towle clinches with his opponent.
Towle stalls.
Baratelli stalling the fight.

Towle drags the fight down to the ground.
Towle bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Baratelli's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Towle postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Baratelli is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Towle, into his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Towle isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Baratelli stacks Towle 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 Baratelli!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baratelli trying to control the position but Towle is working away.
Towle wants to control but Baratelli postures up.
Towle is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Baratelli is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Baratelli misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Baratelli wants to control the pace but Towle is squirming around nicely.
Towle is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Towle in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Baratelli with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Towle looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Towle trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Towle is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Towle trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Towle trying to control the position but Baratelli manages to sink in the hooks.
Towle is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Baratelli.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Towle covering up well under a series of strikes from Baratelli.
A lull in the action here.
Baratelli is not going to allow Towle to sit and survive in this position.
Towle is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baratelli is trying to stick to Towle's back but Towle is turning into Baratelli. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Baratelli's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Towle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Christian Baratelli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Baratelli 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Christian Baratelli!