PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikio Okita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mason
vs
Okita

178 cm
36
181 lbs
25 - 15 - 0

180 cm
34
177 lbs
30 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Craig Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikio Okita!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mason ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okita moves away.
Mason ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okita moves away.
Mason throws a lazy uppercut

and Okita counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Okita.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Okita wants to control from the top but Mason keeps moving.
Okita throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Okita trying to control the position from guard on top but Mason is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mason is trying to control the position but Okita postures up.
Okita wants to pass the guard but Mason is keeping the position.
Okita postures up.
Okita wants to pass the guard but Mason is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okita works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Okita wants to take a breather but Mason is having none of it.
Mason regains full guard. Nicely done.

Okita postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mason is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Okita, into his guard.
Mason trying to control the position from guard on top but Okita is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason postures up.
Mason wants to stand and escape but instead Okita has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Mason working a defensive guard here.
Mason being controlled here, momentarily.
Okita looking to sit in guard and control but Mason gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mason stopping the sweep attempt from Okita.
Mason has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Okita bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mason's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okita wants to pass the guard but Mason is keeping the position.
Mason working a defensive guard here.
Okita sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mason's guard.
Mason trying to control from the bottom.
Okita trying to control the action but Mason is working from the bottom.
Okita wants to pass to mount but Mason is defending the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikio Okita dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Okita defending well as Mason loads up on a big left hand.
Okita uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mason.
Mason swings widly with a right hand

and Okita counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Okita.
Okita stands and throws Mason's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Okita trying to control the action but Mason is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okita working away.
Okita trying to control the position but Mason is working away.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mason is looking to reverse the position.
Mason manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Okita is looking to advance position but Mason won't allow it.

Okita is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mason has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason has his hands clasped together around Okita's back. He's all about the action.
Mason makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mason.
Mason looking to control.
Mason is looking to stand up but Okita isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason keeping full guard, as Okita tries to pass.
Mason is trying to control the position but Okita postures up.
Mason is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Okita is controlling him.
Okita trying to control but Mason is working from the bottom.
Mason can't keep his opponent in guard - Okita advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okita is looking to advance position but Mason won't allow it.

Okita looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Okita trying to pass the guard but Mason defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikio Okita showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Okita avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mason scores with the left hand. Okita knows he should have avoided that one.
Mason swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mason lands a slapping body shot.
Mason throws a series of punches but Okita avoids them all with ease.
Okita takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Okita throws out a loose jab but Mason uses good head movement to avoid it.
Craig Mason is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Okita avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mason ducks right into an uppercut from Okita.
Mason throws a looping overhand right but Okita ducks down to avoid it.
Okita connects with the punch.
Mason ducks right into an uppercut from Okita.
Okita comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason stuffs the takedown attempt from Okita. Okita gets slowly back to his feet.
Mason ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Okita gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mason.
Mason throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Okita on the side of the head.
Okita closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mason circles away.
Mason connects with a right hand. Okita shakes it off.
Okita lands with a nice body punch.
Craig Mason is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Okita scores with a jab. Mason acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Okita is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mason sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Craig Mason has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikio Okita.
Mason fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Okita manages to avoid it.
Mason wants to clinch up but Okita keeps it at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mason steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Okita.
Craig Mason is winning the standup battle so far.
Mason changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason falls off balance throwing a combination

and Okita counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mason won't be happy with that.
Okita trying to control the action but Mason is working from the bottom.
Mason is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Okita wants to pass to mount but Mason is defending the position.
Mason taking some punishment here, with Okita in his half guard.
Mason pushes Okita off looking to stand but Okita dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okita wants to pass to mount but Mason is defending the position.
Mason is trying to stand.
Okita tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mason knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Craig Mason has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mason pushes Okita off looking to stand but Okita dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okita looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Okita wants to control but Mason is keeping him busy.
Okita looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Okita is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mason wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okita trying to pass the guard but Mason defending well.
Okita moves nicely into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mikio Okita.
I've got Okita winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikio Okita!
A very excited looking Mikio Okita made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.