PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Slawek Tall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Maserati (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maserati has chosen Not Falling as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tall
vs
Maserati

175 cm
24
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

179 cm
25
187 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Slawek Tall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luke Maserati!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tall shoots in and bounces Maserati off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Maserati has momentary wrist control but Tall slips an elbow through the middle.
Tall postures up in Maserati's guard and throws a big left but Maserati blocks it.
Tall has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tall preventing the sweep.
Tall trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tall is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Maserati had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tall defends it easily.

Maserati working for a triangle but Tall defends it easily.
Tall throwing strikes but missing.

Maserati had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tall defends it easily.
Tall prevents Maserati from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maserati throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Tall cracks Maserati with a solid left hand.
Tall sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Maserati's guard.
Maserati tries to kick Tall off but Tall keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Maserati looks gassed!
Maserati tries to get to full guard but Tall has control of the leg.
Tall trying to control the action but Maserati is working from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tall lands a nice short elbow.

Maserati kicks off Tall and gets to his feet.
Tall fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tall shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maserati sprawls well. Maserati wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tall gets slowly back to his feet.
Tall shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Maserati as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slawek Tall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tall shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maserati throws a series of punches but Tall avoids them all with ease.
Tall fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maserati avoids it really well and circles away.
Tall throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maserati.
Maserati tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Maserati closes the distance and pushes Tall back into the cage.
Maserati with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Maserati with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Tall escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Tall fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Maserati sprawls well initially but Tall persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Maserati slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tall trying to control but Maserati is working from the bottom.
Tall working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Tall gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maserati throws a head kick but Tall moves out of range.

Tall shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Maserati's guard.
Tall with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tall trying to control but Maserati is working from the bottom.
Maserati wants to stand up but Tall is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tall with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Maserati has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tall can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tall scoring with some ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Tall closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tall lands in his opponent's guard.
Tall is in close to Maserati's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maserati is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tall is controlling him.
Tall trying to control the position from guard on top but Maserati is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tall scoring with punches to the head and body.

Maserati looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Tall got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maserati has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tall has managed to get both his arms back between Maserati's legs - danger averted.
Maserati tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maserati is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tall blocks a head kick by Maserati.
Tall will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Maserati shoots in and bounces Tall off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maserati has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tall is proving hard to escape from.
Tall is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tall looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maserati is one step ahead there.
Tall is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Tall decides to return to a standing position.
Maserati moves in looking to clinch but Tall pushes him off.

Maserati gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maserati looking for a sweep. Not yet Maserati, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tall chips away with some ground and pound.
Tall is in close to Maserati's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tall prevents Maserati from getting back to his feet.

Maserati is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tall defends well.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tall's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A punch combination from Tall misses.
Maserati moves forwards but Tall connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Maserati closes the distance and pushes Tall back into the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Maserati just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tall's brow.
Tall is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Maserati with a knee to the head.

That's two 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.
Tall tries to score a body lock takedown but Maserati shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tall blocks the elbow strike.
Maserati looking to throw knees to the head but Tall is blocking nicely.
Maserati with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Maserati misses with a knee to the head.
Tall blocks the elbow strike.

Tall manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Maserati. No joy for Tall on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slawek Tall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maserati tries to clinch but Tall moves out of range.
Maserati checks a low kick from Tall.

Tall closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Tall prevents Maserati from standing back up.
Tall passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Maserati!
Maserati is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Tall looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maserati's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Maserati is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
A nice elbow there by Tall.
Tall working the ground and pound effectively.
Maserati is working to get back to half guard.
Maserati wants to try and get back to his feet.
Maserati takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Tall in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Tall lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Maserati wants to try and get back to his feet.
A nice elbow there by Tall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maserati tries to reverse the position but Tall maintains control.
Maserati is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Tall wants to control the pace but Maserati is squirming around nicely.
Maserati gets back to half guard.
Maserati makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Maserati.
Tall chips away with some ground and pound.

Maserati wriggles free and stands up.
Maserati tries to clinch there but Tall circles away.
Tall misses with a takedown
and Maserati counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tall is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Maserati looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tall is fending him off so far but Maserati persists. Nope, Tall circles away and we're back to standing.
Tall fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tall doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Maserati counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tall gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Maserati counters with a shoot takedown. Tall fights it but they end up in guard.
Maserati wanted to stand there but Tall had control of the position.
Tall trying to keep a closed guard but Maserati is proving a slippery customer.
Maserati wants to stand but Tall has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Tall tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Maserati wants to stand but Tall is controlling his posture from full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tall is on top in guard.
Tall with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maserati utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tall trying to control but Maserati is working from the bottom.
Tall lands a couple of elbows.
Tall postures up and lands a big shot to Maserati's brow.
Maserati is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tall throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Maserati working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tall doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tall manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maserati is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tall connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Tall throws a leg kick

and Maserati counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tall won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tall is looking to regain half guard here but Maserati keeps moving and retains side control.
Tall is trying to control Maserati's posture but Maserati avoids it.

Maserati decides to stand up, so the ref orders Tall to his feet.

Tall looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Maserati wants to stand back up but Tall manages to pass into side control.
Maserati sneaks back into half guard.

Maserati is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tall pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Maserati tries to roll over but Tall keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tall frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tall lands with some strikes.
Maserati keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Maserati is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Tall has control of Maserati's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Maserati regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Maserati is trying desperately to improve position.
Maserati is trying to stand up.
Maserati is wriggling around trying to escape.

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.
Maserati in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Tall lands a big shot there that rocks Maserati but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Tall sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Maserati is bucking up trying to escape but Tall cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Tall landing strikes from the mount and Maserati is in trouble!
Maserati is trying to escape the mount.
Maserati regains half guard.
Ground and pound from Tall.

Maserati looking for submissions off his back.
Tall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maserati keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Maserati comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Maserati 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Luke Maserati!