PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Armstrong comes to the cage accompanied by "Bullet Soul" Switchfoot. This should be fireworks!

Armstrong
vs
Stark

191 cm
19
223 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Xavier Armstrong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tony Stark!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Summer Carpenter and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark throws a hook but Armstrong blocks it.
Stark checks a low kick from Armstrong.
Stark wants to clinch.
Armstrong tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A good leg kick by Armstrong.
Armstrong cracks the inside of Stark's front leg.
Armstrong getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Armstrong misses with a head kick.
Stark avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stark gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Armstrong.
Armstrong throws a head kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stark. Armstrong does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stark waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Armstrong.
Armstrong throws a leg kick which misses Stark's front leg but catches the back leg as Stark tries to avoid it.
Armstrong tries to clinch

and Stark counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Stark is trying to work for a kimura but Armstrong is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark wants to pass to mount but Armstrong is defending the position.
Armstrong knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stark on the ground.
Armstrong is not content to let Stark control the position.

Armstrong is defending against the submission attempts here by Stark.
Armstrong wants to control but Stark is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Stark is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Armstrong trying to hold on to Stark's head to control him but Stark postures up.

That's two 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.
Stark is looking to take a break and control but Armstrong is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Armstrong lands a head kick. Stark smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The fighters circle momentarily. Armstrong darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Stark throws a shot from downtown. Armstrong moves away and avoids it.
Stark moves out of range of the body kick from Armstrong.
Stark throws a leg kick
and Armstrong counters with a body kick that stops Stark in his tracks momentarily.
Stark closes the distance looking to clinch
and Armstrong counters with a straight right hand.
Armstrong scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Armstrong.
Armstrong throws a push kick but Stark slaps the foot to one side.
Stark tries to clinch up.

Armstrong moves into the clinch successfully.
Armstrong lands a body shot.
Armstrong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stark blocks it with crossed arms.
Armstrong is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Armstrong.

Armstrong breaks from the clinch.
Armstrong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stark takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Armstrong slips under a jab.
No joy there for Armstrong, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Armstrong throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Armstrong looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Stark moves away from the strike by Armstrong.
An inside leg kick from Stark misses.
Xavier Armstrong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stark clinches up against the cage.
Stark is looking to control Armstrong's arms but Armstrong gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stark has his back to the cage.
Armstrong dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Armstrong lands a right hand that snaps the head of Stark backwards.
Stark taking a breather.
Armstrong lands a nice elbow.
Stark tries to stall but Armstrong uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Armstrong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stark shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Armstrong as he avoids it easily.
Armstrong throws a sloppy head kick and Stark moves out of range easily.
Stark pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A decent looking cross lands there for Stark.
Armstrong throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Armstrong misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Armstrong throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Stark looks gassed!
A slow jab from Stark misses its intended target.
Stark takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Armstrong dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Armstrong scores with a kick to the body.
Stark walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Armstrong checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A low kick from Stark misses
and Armstrong counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Armstrong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Armstrong throws a lazy right hand but Stark sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Armstrong.
Armstrong lands a head kick!
Armstrong misses with a few strikes there.
Armstrong defending well as Stark loads up on a big left hand.
Armstrong tries to land a front kick but Stark steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Armstrong is looking to land body kicks.
Stark misses with a looping left.
Xavier Armstrong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stark takes one to the chin there.
Stark is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Armstrong.
Armstrong connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong looks to land a combination but Stark avoids it well.
Stark misses with a straight left.

Stark shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Armstrong manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Stark thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Stark is breathing heavily.
Armstrong has Stark pulled in close to control his posture.
Stark tries to free his leg and advance position but Armstrong is retaining full guard.

Stark thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Stark won't allow Armstrong to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stark drops back looking for a leg! Armstrong is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Armstrong manages to kick Stark off! Stark jumps back into Armstrong's guard.
Stark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Armstrong is keeping the position for now.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Armstrong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Armstrong keeps Stark at a distance using the push kick.
Stark throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Armstrong lands a high kick!
Armstrong connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Xavier Armstrong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Stark throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Armstrong bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Stark's head.
Xavier Armstrong is winning the standup battle so far.
Stark avoids the head kick by Armstrong.
A swing and a miss from Armstrong.
Armstrong with a nice cross.
Stark is looking to chop away at Armstrong's legs.
Armstrong misses with a wild combination.
Armstrong throws a hook but Stark avoids it easily.
Stark throws a predictable looking body shot
and Armstrong counters with a nice uppercut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stark.
Armstrong throws a sloppy head kick and Stark moves out of range easily.
Armstrong tries a head kick but it misses.
Stark scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong tries a low kick but Stark avoids it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Armstrong.

Stark gets a takedown into half guard.

Stark seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stark seems to be looking for submissions.

Stark is working for a kimura but Armstrong is defending it quite comfortably.

Stark is looking for a kimura but Armstrong is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stark to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Armstrong dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Armstrong dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Stark. That did some damage!
Stark throws a looping overhand right but Armstrong ducks down to avoid it.
Stark swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stark moves out of range as Armstrong throws a body kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Armstrong.
Stark throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Armstrong sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Armstrong lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Armstrong looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Armstrong scores with a nice body kick.
Armstrong thumps Stark with a low kick.
Armstrong displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stark throws out the jab.
Armstrong throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stark's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Armstrong lands with a slapping head kick.
Stark throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice body kick from Armstrong.
Stark takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Stark shoots in but Armstrong avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Armstrong pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Armstrong is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Armstrong.
Armstrong connects with a solid leg kick.
Armstrong tries a head kick but it misses.
Stark thows a body shot but no joy.
Armstrong goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Stark shoots in and drives through. Armstrong sprawls well.

Stark shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Armstrong regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Armstrong manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stark thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Armstrong wants to get back to his feet but Stark is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stark passes Armstrong's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Armstrong makes his way to full guard, as Stark worked for a kimura.

Stark is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Armstrong is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Armstrong has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong advances position into side control!
Stark can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Armstrong 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.
Stark gets back to half guard.
Stark trying to control here.

Armstrong postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Stark to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark misses with a hook.
Stark avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Armstrong throws a head kick that Stark semi-blocks.
Armstrong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stark moves out of range as Armstrong throws a body kick.
Stark with a jab.
Stark throws a jab when Armstrong was well out of range.
Stark misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Armstrong.
Armstrong blocks a jab.

Stark drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Stark thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Armstrong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Armstrong, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier Armstrong!