PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Justin Starr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Finkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Starr
vs
Finkle

177 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Starr !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bob Finkle!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, John Roberts and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finkle fails with a takedown attempt.
Starr shoots and misses

and Finkle counters with a nice double leg into side control. Starr won't be happy with that.
Finkle is looking to take a break and control but Starr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Finkle misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Starr is looking for a sweep.
Finkle is looking to take a break and control but Starr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Starr can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkle trying to control the position but Starr is working away.
You can see the frustration on Starr 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Starr is looking to reverse the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Starr gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Finkle counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Finkle.
Finkle forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starr manages to get to full guard.
Finkle won't allow Starr to sweep him here.
Starr has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Finkle has passed into side control.
Starr manages to work his way to half guard, despite Finkle's best efforts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Finkle is trying to control the action in half guard but Starr is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr gets full guard.
Finkle wants to control from the top but Starr keeps moving.
Starr looking to control.

Starr has an active guard here but Finkle has managed to pass into half guard.
Finkle controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Starr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Finkle is keen to just control but Starr is a slippery customer.
Finkle is thwarting Starr 's attempts to control the position.
Finkle looks gassed!
Starr is looking for a sweep. Finkle is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Finkle wants to pass the guard but Starr is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Finkle 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.

Starr misses with a takedown

and Finkle counters with a single leg into guard. Starr didn't expect that.
Finkle trying to control but Starr is working from the bottom.
Finkle is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Finkle throwing strikes from guard but Starr blocks nicely.

Starr is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Finkle defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Finkle looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Finkle is breathing heavily.
Finkle trying to control but Starr is working from the bottom.

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.
Starr looking for a sweep. Not yet Starr , not yet.
Finkle tries to free his leg and advance position but Starr is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Finkle tries for a takedown but Starr circles away easily

and Starr counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Starr tries to free his leg and advance position but Finkle is retaining full guard.
Starr trying to control but Finkle is working from the bottom.
Bob Finkle has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Starr is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Starr pushes down on Finkle's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Starr controlling the action here.
Starr is keen to just control but Finkle is a slippery customer.

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.
Starr sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Starr is working for a kimura but Finkle is defending it quite comfortably.

Starr is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Starr dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Starr drives through with a takedown into guard.
Starr looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Starr slips nicely into half guard.
Finkle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr is looking to stall here but Finkle recovers full guard.
Starr trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Starr drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Finkle manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Starr has Finkle in his guard.

Starr is looking for a triangle but Finkle pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Starr is controlling Finkle's posture.
Finkle preventing the sweep.
Starr working a defensive guard but Finkle passes into half guard.
Starr is holding on to half guard well.
Starr gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Finkle drops back, looking for a kneebar! Starr looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Starr looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Starr !
Starr trying to control the position but Finkle is working away.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Justin Starr just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Starr misses with a takedown attempt

and Finkle counters by moving into the clinch.
Starr tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Finkle smiles and moves away.

Starr bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finkle is not content to let Starr control the position.

Starr goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Finkle has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Starr but great work by Finkle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Finkle tries to advance to mount but Starr denies him.
Starr is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Finkle trying to control the action but Starr is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Starr showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Starr has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Starr !