PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Danial Mason (ranked 4923 p4p, 4343 weight class) and Andrey Tovarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrey Tovarov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mason
vs
Tovarov

185 cm
18
138
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
130
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Danial Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andrey Tovarov!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tovarov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Tovarov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mason looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tovarov taking a breather here.
An elbow from Tovarov crashes against the mat.
Tovarov takes a little break here. Mason wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Let's hope that Tovarov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason is looking for a sweep.

Tovarov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
An elbow from Tovarov crashes against the mat.
Mason tries to improve position but can't.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Mason striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Tovarov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mason is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mason really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Tovarov controls the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Tovarov rushes Mason and presses him up against the cage.

Tovarov gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Tovarov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Mason makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mason.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tovarov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Mason throws his legs up looking for a submission but Tovarov uses it to pass to side control.
Mason is trying to improve his position.

Tovarov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Tovarov decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Tovarov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mason's guard.
Tovarov controlling from the top position.
Tovarov throws a big right hand that misses.
Tovarov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Mason is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Tovarov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tovarov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mason manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Tovarov tries to get to full guard but Mason has control of the leg.

Mason is looking for submissions but instead, Tovarov has regained full guard.
Mason preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mason drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tovarov dives on top into guard.

Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tovarov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Andrey Tovarov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tovarov stands up from Mason's guard - Tovarov perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tovarov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mason's half guard.
Tovarov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tovarov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Mason looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mason is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Mason is defending against the submission attempts here by Tovarov.
Well, if Tovarov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mason looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Tovarov pushes past his half guard into mount!
Mason is desperately trying to improve his position but Tovarov has a good base and remains in mount.

Tovarov is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Mason to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Mason shrugs it off.
Tovarov thowing shots but they're missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tovarov looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Mason wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Tovarov.
Tovarov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tovarov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Tovarov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mason is desperately trying to improve his position but Tovarov has a good base and remains in mount.

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.
Tovarov controlling the pace for now.

Tovarov working for a submission but Mason is keeping him at bay.
Mason can't escape the position.
Tovarov controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Tovarov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Tovarov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tovarov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mason tries to close the distance and clinch but Tovarov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Tovarov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tovarov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Tovarov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Mason looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Tovarov has picked Mason up and slammed him! Mason can't keep hold of the triangle and Tovarov manages to pass to side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tovarov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Mason's legs.
Mason is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Tovarov is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tovarov is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Mason to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Mason shrugs it off.
Tovarov looking to finish with strikes here!
Tovarov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mason is desperately trying to improve his position but Tovarov has a good base and remains in mount.

Tovarov is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Mason to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Mason shrugs it off.
Mason is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Mason manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Danial Mason has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tovarov content to control rather than advance.
Mason wants to get back to full guard.
Tovarov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tovarov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tovarov is looking for a kimura here.
Tovarov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Tovarov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Tovarov moves into range and clinches up with Mason.
Mason jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tovarov walks away with a smile on his face. Mason gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

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.
Mason wants to clinch up but Tovarov keeps it at a distance.

Tovarov instigates a clinch.
Mason fails to pull guard.

Tovarov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Tovarov throwing shots but Mason is blocking nicely.
Still in half guard, Tovarov seems content to control.
Tovarov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mason defending well though.
Tovarov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Tovarov decides to return to a standing position.

Tovarov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Andrey Tovarov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mason just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tovarov's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrey Tovarov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tovarov 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrey Tovarov!