PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between hiro pongha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Stara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

pongha
vs
Stara

190 cm
22
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

FinnFighters Nutrition
FinnFighters Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, hiro pongha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Stara!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
pongha shoots in but Stara avoids the takedown attempt easily.

pongha drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Stara is trying to control pongha's posture but pongha avoids it.

pongha looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Stara trying to control but pongha flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stara is trying to stand back up.
pongha biding his time, controlling Stara.
Stara rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Stara trying to control but pongha postures up.

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.

pongha seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stara keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

pongha is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
pongha trying to control from half guard but Stara is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

pongha bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
pongha trying to control the position but Stara is working away.
Stara tries to bench press pongha off him but pongha keeps the position.
Stara manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stara is looking to control pongha's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stara avoid being mounted?

Stara is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but pongha pulls his head out easily.
Stara is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

pongha decides to return to a standing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

hiro pongha 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.

pongha changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stara looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
pongha trying to control the action but Stara is working from the bottom.
Stara tries to control but pongha manages to take his back.
Stara trying to control the hands but pongha breaks the grip.

pongha patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stara trying to control the hands but pongha won't let him.
Stara wants to get back to his feet.

Stara preventing the rear naked choke attempt from pongha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stara turns into pongha and is now in his guard.
Stara wants to pass the guard but pongha is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stara misses with a takedown attempt

and pongha counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stara!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
pongha wants to control but instead Stara manages to regain half guard.
Stara works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stara working a defensive guard here.
Stara is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Stara is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stara not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stara is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Stara stalling away here and it's allowed pongha to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

hiro pongha dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Stara throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around pongha's waist but pongha gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stara off to one side.

pongha shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stara napping and manages to drive through into side control!
hiro pongha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
pongha in the domination position with Stara hanging on.
Stara regains half guard.
Stara is looking for a sweep. pongha is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stara is trying to maintain the position but pongha is very close to passing his half guard.
Stara is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
pongha wants to take a breather but Stara is having none of it.
pongha tries to stand and escape but Stara actually recovers to full guard.
pongha trying to stand up but can't free himself from Stara's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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.
Stara wants to stand but pongha is controlling the position.
Stara has a closed guard, preventing pongha from standing up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stara throws a sloppy head kick and pongha moves out of range easily.

pongha shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
pongha prevents Stara from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

pongha is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stara is just riding it out for now. pongha eventually gives up the hold.
Stara wants to get back to his feet.
Timo Stara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

Stara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stara is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.

And that's the end of the fight!
hiro pongha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well pongha has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... hiro pongha!