PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between small power (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and quick star (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

power
vs
star

160 cm
20
130 lbs
4 - 9 - 0

155 cm
19
130 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, small power!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, quick star!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

power breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
star should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
power pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
star pulls out of a head kick attempt.
star is looking to clinch but power is avoiding it.
star fails in his attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from star.
power throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A head kick misses from star.

power gets the takedown into side control.

power decides to stand back up.
A right-left combo lands from power.

It looks like quick star has been cut.
power connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
power shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
power will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
power tests star's chin there with a solid looking shot.
power closes the distance but star moves to the side

and star counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
star comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
star tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. power just stands there and leans against the ropes.
power is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
power is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
power can't break the clinch.
power is looking to break free of the clinch but star has double underhooks.
power tries to break free but star pushes him back against the ropes.
star has power pressed against the ropes, preventing power from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
power is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
power wants to break free but star has control.
power trying to stall but star improves his position.

star decides to pull guard.
star keeping moving, preventing power from controlling successfully.

power decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on star, up you get!
star avoids the head kick by power.
power is breathing heavily.
power stuffs the takedown attempt from star. star gets slowly back to his feet.
A big left from power misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
power clinches but star breaks the clinch

and star counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in power's guard now.
star throwing strikes from guard but power blocks nicely.
star won't allow power to sweep him here.
power keeping moving, preventing star from controlling successfully.
star not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

power uses the ropes to get back to his feet.
star circles away from the clinch attempt.
power lands a high kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
star throws a head kick that misses.
star throws a sloppy head kick and power moves out of range easily.
star leaves power with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

power gets caught flat footed, as star shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
star trying to control but power is working from the bottom.
star content to stall in guard here.
star passes easily into side control. Nice work.
power struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
star wants to control but power is keeping him busy.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
star tries to advance to mount but can't.
star landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
power is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
power is working to avoid the ground and pound but star connects with a decent elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
power is letting star control him for a moment.
power is not content to let star control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but quick star will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on quick star's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

star takes the fight into the clinch.

star jumps into guard, dragging power to the mat.
power preventing the sweep.
star has power pulled in close to control his posture.
power pushing down on star's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
power is looking to stall here but star recovers full guard.

power gets to his feet. star looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
power fails in his attempt to clinch.
power shoots and misses

and star counters with a shoot takedown. power fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
star won't allow power to get back to his feet.
star wants to control from the top but power keeps moving.
star is pushing down on power's leg trying to pass to half guard. power is fighting to maintain full guard but star has managed to sneak the leg through.
power wants to get back to his feet.
star looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
star is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
power punching from the bottom.
star wants to control but power is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Some bone on bone action there as star checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
power stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
star blocks a leg kick.
star tries to clinch up but power circles away and keeps his distance.

star rushes power and presses him up against the ropes.
power jumps guard but star stands there with power around his waist. power gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

star breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from power.

star looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
power is trying to stand up here but star is controlling him well.
power regains full guard. Nicely done.
star prevents power from getting back to his feet.
star content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
star works over power with some ground and pound from guard.
star stopping the sweep attempt from power.
star thows a big elbow that misses.
star wants to control from the top but power keeps moving.
star prevents power from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
star throws a right and a left that power avoids nicely.
power tries to clinch up

so star counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
star won't allow power to get back to his feet.
star trying to control the position from guard on top but power is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
quick star has got the better of the ground game so far.
power is looking to stand back up but star counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by power.

star wants to work for an arm triangle but power is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

quick star showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on quick star's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

star shoots in for a takedown but power shows good takedown defense.
power doesn't succeed with the takedown

and star moves into the clinch.

star tightens his grip and picks power up, before dumping him to the ground. power manages to land in guard.

star stands up and waves to power to follow him.
A head kick by power misses

and star moves into the clinch.
power wants to get back to striking at distance but star won't allow it.

star has hold of one of power's legs. power is fighting the takedown attempt but star gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
power keeping moving, preventing star from controlling successfully.
star won't allow power to get back to his feet.
power throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
power wants to get back to his feet but star is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

power working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because star has passed into half guard!
power is trying to get back to full guard.
power is trying to stand up here but star is controlling him well.
power scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but star manages to mount him!
You get the feeling that power really doesn't like being in this position too much.
star tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
star trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A nice elbow there by star.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, star cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
power tries to hold on but star pushes him away.
star won't let power get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
star landing shots from mount.
power has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
star keeps control of the position as power tries to break free.
power is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

power 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 star gets his way!

star looking for the RNC.
power breaks star's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
power would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
star is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
star stops power from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
power is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

star is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

power kicks star off and gets back to his feet.
small power has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
power throws a wild body kick that star sees coming a mile off.

star has power up against the ropes in a clinch.
power wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
star effectively controlling the action here.
A frustrated look appears on power's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from power fails to land.

star jumps guard and drags power to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

power drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and star dives on top into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
quick star comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got star 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight for quick star!
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight for quick star!
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for quick star!

quick star wins by unanimous decision!
quick star is the new bantamweight champion!