PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taka Masahuku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Makin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masahuku comes to the cage accompanied by Saltarello by Dead Can Dance. Makin comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Shinedown - Simple Man kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Erik Makin told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Masahuku
vs
Makin

175 cm
24
264 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

200 cm
24
285 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Taka Masahuku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Erik Makin!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makin misses with a body shot.
Masahuku tries to clinch up but Makin circles away and keeps his distance.
Makin swings for the body but Masahuku moves out of range.
Masahuku wants to clinch up but Makin keeps it at a distance.
Makin misses with a wild body shot.
Makin lands with a nice body punch.
Makin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Masahuku was well out of range. Poor timing from Makin.
Masahuku takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Masahuku wants to clinch.
Makin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Masahuku looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Masahuku walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Makin takes a swing at Masahuku's ribcage but misses.
Makin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Masahuku moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Masahuku looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Erik Makin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makin scores with a body shot.
Masahuku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Makin.
Masahuku stuffs the takedown attempt from Makin. Makin gets slowly back to his feet.
Makin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Masahuku.
Makin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Masahuku takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Makin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Masahuku has time to react.
Makin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
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!
Makin scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Masahuku doesn't seem bothered though.
Masahuku is breathing heavily.
Makin misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makin lands a jab to Masahuku's midsection.
Masahuku tries to close the distance and clinch but Makin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makin misses the shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Makin.
Makin swats away the attempt to clinch by Masahuku.
Masahuku wants to clinch.
Makin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Masahuku.
Makin cracks Masahuku with an open hand slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masahuku tries to clinch up but Makin circles away and keeps his distance.
Masahuku doesn't manage to clinch there - Makin circles away.
Makin swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Makin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Makin passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Masahuku can't do much from the bottom here.
Masahuku is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Masahuku is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Makin off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Makin is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Masahuku gets his way!
Makin turns into Masahuku and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makin passes into half guard.
Makin throwing shots but Masahuku is blocking nicely.
Masahuku wants to get back to full guard.
Makin is thwarting Masahuku's attempts to control the position.
Masahuku is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Makin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Masahuku is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Makin seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Masahuku is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Erik Makin!