PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gao Long (ranked 3932 p4p, 3901 weight class) and Tiabult Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Long
vs
Mason

187 cm
25
200
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
195
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gao Long!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tiabult Mason!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Kenichi Hosakawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mason lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A solid leg kick lands there for Mason.
Long lands a jab to the head.
Long checks the leg kick nicely there.
Long looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Mason loads up on a big right hand but Long slips the punch.
Long was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Long throws a shot to the body.
No joy there for Long, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice uppercut there from Long.
Mason jabs Long right on the nose. Long blinks but takes it well.
Mason throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mason lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Long lands a nice shot that snaps Mason's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Long throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mason.
Long looks to score with a jab to the body but Mason is just out of range.
Long misses with a series of wild punches.
Long throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mason with a poor takedown
and Long counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mason walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Long checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Long swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Gao Long is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Long misses with a double jab.
Mason looks to throw a body kick
and Long counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason slips under a jab from Long.
Long throws a right hand that Mason ducks under and follows up with a left that Mason also avoids with ease.
Mason lands a leg kick that knocks Long off balance momentarily.
Mason connects with a leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mason fakes the leg kick and cracks Long in the body.
Mason tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Long moves out of range of the body kick from Mason.
Mason throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Long's waist but Long gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mason off to one side.
Long is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Long tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason slips a straight right by Long.
Mason is looking for the big counter here.
Mason attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Long - that will leave a mark!
Mason lands with a slapping head kick.
Long throws a solid leg kick but Mason takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Long.
Long tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mason was well out of range. Poor timing from Long.
Mason moves out of range of the leg kick from Long.
Long is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Some wild striking there from Long.
Long throws a body kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Long blocks a head kick by Mason.
Mason misses with a low kick.
Long throws a big counter combination but Mason scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Mason pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Long swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Long scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Long will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mason lands with a kick to the temple. Long shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gao Long will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Long throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A leg kick checked by Mason.
Mason counters with a body kick.
Mason lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A punch combination from Long misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mason! But no joy.
A solid leg kick lands there for Mason.
Mason feints and then cracks Long's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Long down.
Long with the inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Long misses with a double jab.
Mason throws a sloppy head kick and Long moves out of range easily.
Mason looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
An attempted straight right counter from Long misses the target.
Gao Long is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long throws a quick inside leg kick.
Long moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Mason shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Mason throws a sloppy head kick and Long moves out of range easily.
Mason throws a leg kick but Long sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Long lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Long misses with a leg kick
and Mason counters with a good low kick that Long was not able to check.
Long swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mason keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Long misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long tries a low kick but Mason avoids it.
Long takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A head kick misses from Mason.
Long thuds a left hand into Mason's body.
Long is looking to wear down Mason with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Mason scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Long's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mason dodges the punch combination from Long.
Mason doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason connects with a solid leg kick.
Mason misses with a body kick.
Mason chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Long tries to sprawl but Mason drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Mason is breathing heavily.
Mason throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Long to regain full guard.
Long wants to stand but Mason is controlling the position.

Mason drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mason jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Long looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mason is one step ahead there.
Mason trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mason is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Mason lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tiabult Mason will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Mason wants to land a leg kick but Long is out of range.
Long was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Long throws a body punch but Mason moves out of range.
Long fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mason manages to avoid it.
Mason paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Long will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Long misses with a left hand
and Mason counters with a solid body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason keeps Long at a distance using the push kick.
Long is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Long swinging wildly here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason feints and then cracks Long's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Long down.
Long misses with a body shot.
Mason works Long's body with a nice hook.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mason.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mason.
Long is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mason.
Sloppy strikes from Long. Those never looked like landing.
Mason replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Long blocks it well.
Mason avoids the body shot from Long.
Mason shapes to counter with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason throws a head kick that misses.
Mason moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Long just misses with a punch to the body.
Long misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Mason counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mason avoids the body shot from Long.
Mason tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mason connects with an inside leg kick.
Long connects with an inside leg kick.
Mason drops his hands momentarily and Long takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason moves away from the strike by Long.
Mason is looking to land body kicks.
Crunch! Long slams his shin into Mason's torso.
Mason avoids the body shot from Long.
Mason throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Long on the side of the head.
Long buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Long misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mason.
Mason pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tiabult Mason seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Mason throws a leg kick that is checked
and Long counters with a nice uppercut.
Long looks to score with a jab to the body but Mason is just out of range.
Long scores with a jab to the head.
Long throws a right hand that Mason ducks under and follows up with a left that Mason also avoids with ease.
Mason motions for Long to come forward. Mason throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mason shoots in for a double leg but Long sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Long misses with a left hand
and Mason counters with a nice leg kick.
Long sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiabult Mason comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mason has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tiabult Mason!