PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Edward Kenway (ranked 884 p4p, 1173 weight class) and John Starman (ranked 107 p4p, 143 weight class). Starman has chosen David Bowie - Starman as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kenway
vs
Starman

175 cm
43
163
49 - 20 - 4

178 cm
31
165
19 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 49 - 20 - 4, fighting out of Sydney, Edward Kenway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Starman!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Hugh Johnson and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starman drops his hands momentarily and Kenway takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Starman throws a hook but Kenway blocks it.
Kenway looks to land a right hand but Starman moved out of range.
Starman moves out of range as Kenway strikes.
Starman misses with a hook
enabling Kenway to counter with a crisp jab.
Starman misses with an uppercut.
Kenway looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Kenway misses with a body shot.
Kenway tests Starman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kenway drops his hands momentarily and Starman takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kenway takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Starman ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Starman lands a nice looking body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Some wild striking there from Kenway.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starman looks to score with a jab to the body but Kenway is just out of range.
Starman slips under a jab.
Kenway throws the left hand but Starman avoids the punch easily.
It seemed like Starman was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
John Starman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kenway loads up on a big right hand but Starman slips the punch.
Kenway tries to bum rush Starman with a series of wild strikes but Starman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kenway ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A counter left hand to the body from Kenway misses its target.
Kenway walks into a stiff left hand from Starman.
Starman thows a left - swing and a miss!
Starman wants to clinch.
Kenway throws an overhand right that lands on Starman's shoulder, as Starman tries to avoid the shot.
Starman slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Starman takes the fight into the clinch.
Starman scores with a shoulder strike.

Kenway escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A punch lands to the side of Kenway 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kenway moves out of range of the strikes.
Starman moves away from the strike by Kenway.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kenway darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Starman scores with a jab.
Kenway misses with a body shot.

Starman darts in and clinches Kenway up against the cage.
Starman pushes Kenway back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Starman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Starman tries to clinch but Kenway moves away
and Kenway counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kenway paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Starman clinches.

Kenway breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Starman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kenway but Kenway pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Starman tries to clinch
and Kenway counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Starman tries to clinch up but Kenway circles away and keeps his distance.
Starman feints a jab promting Kenway to slip. Starman then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kenway slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Edward Kenway has been cut.
Kenway on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Edward Kenway is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Starman tests Kenway's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kenway thows a left - swing and a miss!

Starman clinches up with Kenway and pushes him back against the cage.

Starman breaks the clinch.
Starman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kenway was well out of range. Poor timing from Starman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Starman works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kenway takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Starman misses the jab.
Starman has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Kenway misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kenway, as that shot connected.
Starman lands a slapping body shot.
Kenway pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Starman throws a hook to the side of Kenway's head but Kenway sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A counter left hand to the body from Kenway misses its target.
Starman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Starman wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Starman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Edward Kenway's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Starman stuns Kenway with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Starman fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kenway on the side of the head.
Starman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kenway sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Starman lands a lovely overhand right.
Starman lands with a right hand.
Starman shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Starman throws a hook to the side of Kenway's head but Kenway sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kenway moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Starman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Kenway breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Starman scores with a nice strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Starman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kenway defends it nicely.
Kenway was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenway throws a jab when Starman was well out of range.
Starman lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kenway at a distance.
Starman tries to clinch but Kenway is having none of it.
Starman throws a hook but Kenway avoids it easily.
Kenway throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Starman looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Starman throws a series of punches but Kenway moves out of range.
Kenway throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kenway staying out of range there.
Kenway loads up on a big right hand but Starman slips the punch.
Starman misses with a hook. Kenway ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenway gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Starman closes the distance and clinches.
Starman lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kenway backwards.

Kenway escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
John Starman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Starman scores with a jab. Kenway acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Starman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Starman blocks a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Starman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kenway.
Kenway thinks about countering with a head kick.
Starman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kenway sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Starman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kenway.
Starman avoids the body shot from Kenway.
Kenway works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kenway tests Starman's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenway needs to keep his hands up - Starman had a free shot at his head there.
Starman thows a left - swing and a miss!
Starman digs a good hook to Kenway's body.
Kenway keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Starman.
Starman throws a body shot but no joy.
A head kick misses from Kenway.
Kenway walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kenway throws a hook but Starman avoids it easily.
Starman throws a shot from downtown. Kenway moves away and avoids it.

Kenway gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Starman to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Starman trying to control but Kenway is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starman tries to free his leg and advance position but Kenway is retaining full guard.
Kenway pulls Starman in close to his closed guard and prevents Starman from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kenway is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kenway pulls Starman in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Starman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Edward Kenway's cut.
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!

Starman wants to clinch.
Starman wants to clinch.
Kenway moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starman throws a series of punches but Kenway moves out of range.
Starman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kenway.
Kenway throws an overhand right that lands on Starman's shoulder, as Starman tries to avoid the shot.
Kenway takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenway lands a slapping body shot.
Starman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kenway manages to avoid it.
Kenway throwing a counter right hand but Starman manages to avoid it.
Starman throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kenway counters with a stiff right hand.
Starman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kenway throws a right hand that misses
and Kenway takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Starman ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kenway throws a good cross that connects.
Kenway scores with a sloppy right hand. Starman should have avoided that one.
Starman takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Jab, jab by Starman - just one landing.
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!
Starman throws a lazy uppercut
letting Kenway counter with a right hand.
Starman swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kenway.
Kenway dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kenway steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Starman.
Starman takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kenway just misses with a punch to the body.
Starman appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kenway uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Starman.
Starman throws a big shot that misses.
Kenway connects with a crisp jab.
A shot to the liver by Starman. Beautiful body shot.
Starman slips under a jab from Kenway.
Kenway is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Starman scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenway looks to score with a jab to the body but Starman is just out of range.
Edward Kenway has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kenway looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kenway works the jab nicely.
Starman throws a lazy uppercut
and Kenway counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kenway takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Starman jabs Kenway to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Jab from Kenway.
Kenway scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Starman doesn't seem bothered though.
Starman throws the left hand but Kenway avoids the punch easily.
Starman with a hook.
Starman lands the left hand.
Starman is looking to clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Kenway on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kenway works Starman's body with a nice hook.
John Starman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Starman moves into the clinch.
Kenway lands a right hand that snaps the head of Starman backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Starman creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Starman lands with a left to the head.
A body shot lands from Kenway.

Kenway manages to break the clinch.
Starman is looking to clinch.
Kenway throws a quick counter head kick but Starman was just out of range.
Kenway misses with a straight left.
Kenway throws a right and a left that Starman avoids nicely.
Starman is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Kenway with a body shot.
Kenway avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kenway is looking to counter punch.
Kenway slips under a jab.
Kenway slips under a jab.
Kenway is looking to counter with head kicks.
Starman scores with a hook to the body. Kenway takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Edward Kenway.
Well Starman 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Starman!
A relieved looking John Starman thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.