PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mason Burton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Kagome (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mason Burton has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Burton
vs
Kagome

160 cm
20
161 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mason Burton!
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, Shinji Kagome!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kagome lands a head kick. Burton smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Kagome drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kagome connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Burton some visible discomfort.
Kagome trying to control the position but Burton is working away.

Kagome tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kagome has control of an arm but Burton manages to advance to Kagome's back!
Kagome tries to break free.
Kagome wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagome is keeping busy.
Burton connects with a big shot to the side of Kagome's head.
Burton is not going to allow Kagome to sit and survive in this position.
Kagome rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Burton could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Burton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Burton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Burton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kagome trying to control but Burton postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kagome tries to roll over but Burton keeps him under control.

Kagome looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Burton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Burton is working for a kimura but Kagome is defending it quite comfortably.

Burton is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kagome defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kagome tries to roll over but Burton keeps him under control.
Kagome is not content to let Burton control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Kagome shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Burton is refusing to be controlled, as Kagome sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kagome is stalling here. Burton is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kagome seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Burton has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burton trying to control the position but Kagome is working away.
Kagome sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Burton is thwarting Kagome's attempts to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burton slips a nice elbow through Kagome's hands, connecting with Kagome's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shinji Kagome will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice takedown defense from Burton. No joy for Kagome on that attempt.

Kagome rushes Burton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Burton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kagome tries to clinch but Burton is having none of it.
Kagome fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nice takedown defense from Kagome. No joy for Burton on that attempt.
Kagome steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Burton.
Kagome lands a really nice looking cross but Burton seems unphased.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kagome looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Burton thinks about countering with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kagome closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Burton did well to prevent Kagome getting side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kagome is looking for a kimura here.

Burton looking for submissions off his back.
Kagome drops an elbow to the side of Burton's head.
Kagome slows the pace down in half guard.
Kagome has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Burton looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kagome seems to be working for a kimura but Burton defends the submission attempt.
Kagome wants to take a breather but Burton is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kagome pulls his head out easily.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Burton is staying active underneath Kagome, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kagome scores with a one two! Burton had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Mason Burton has been cut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kagome is defended easily by Burton.
Burton throws a counter high kick but Kagome was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kagome looks to clinch
and Burton counters with an outside leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kagome is defended easily by Burton.
Mason Burton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinji Kagome.
Kagome is breathing heavily.
No luck for Burton with that takedown attempt.
Kagome changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Burton tries to avoid it but Kagome manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Burton to the ground. Burton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kagome lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kagome shoots in but Burton avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Burton looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Kagome showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mason Burton's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Burton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Burton lands in his opponent's guard.

Kagome isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Burton stacks Kagome on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Burton!
Burton tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kagome seems a little lost for a moment, as Burton dominates the positioning.
Burton's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Burton wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kagome, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burton tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kagome tries to bench press Burton off him but Burton keeps the position.
Burton scores with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Check out the look on Burton's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Burton throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Burton scoring with punches and elbows.

Burton wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kagome, who protects the arm well.
Kagome is trying to get back to his feet.
Kagome tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Burton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Burton is chipping away with strikes.

Burton working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Burton tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kagome manages to get back to half guard.
Burton is thwarting Kagome's attempts to control the position.
Burton lands strikes from half guard.
Kagome blocking the ground and pound attempt from Burton.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Burton drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kagome is pushing Burton's head away, looking to escape. Burton manages to hold on to the position though.
Burton is working Kagome over with some ground and pound from side control.
Mason Burton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burton is looking to take a break and control but Kagome is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Burton in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The ground and pound from Burton seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Mason Burton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shinji Kagome is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Burton working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mason Burton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kagome 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!