PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sancho Zola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stari Starac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zola's entrance music is Black Crow On A Tombstone by Satyricon. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Starac's choice of entrance music: The Last Waltz . Stari Starac will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Zola
vs
Starac

185 cm
25
197 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

196 cm
26
195 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sancho Zola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Stari Starac!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zola keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zola.

It looks like Stari Starac has been cut.
A big right from Zola misses.
Zola misses with a wild body shot.
Starac misses with a takedown attempt - Zola sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zola is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Starac.
Zola throws a series of punches but Starac moves out of range.
Zola misses with an uppercut. Starac saw that one coming.
Starac moves away from the strike by Zola.
Zola misses with a looping left.
Zola fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Starac shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zola keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zola might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zola is defending against the submission attempts here by Starac.
Starac missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Starac looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Starac missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

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.
Starac throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Starac is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zola is just riding it out for now. Starac eventually gives up the hold.
Starac has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Starac is looking for a kimura but Zola is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Starac to get the leverage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zola tries to bum rush Starac with a series of wild strikes but Starac uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Starac steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zola.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starac ducks right into an uppercut from Zola.
Nice defenses there by Zola.
Zola misses with a body shot.
Starac ducks under a wild hook from Zola.
Zola throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zola lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Starac keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zola misses with a body shot.
Zola is looking to land body kicks.
Zola misses with a body kick.

Starac feints and as Zola raises his hands in defense, Starac changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zola is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Starac is controlling him.
Starac trying to control the position from guard on top but Zola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starac postures up in Zola's guard and throws a big left but Zola blocks it.
Starac passes into half guard.
Starac thows a huge punch but Zola dodges it nicely.

Starac is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zola has managed to free his arm - good work.

Starac is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zola has managed to free his arm - good work.
Zola looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sancho Zola dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stari Starac's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zola lands the left hand.
Zola throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Starac sees it coming and avoids it easily.
No luck for Starac with that takedown attempt.
Zola looks to land a right hand but Starac moved out of range.
Zola rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Starac moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Starac staying out of range there.
Sancho Zola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zola misses with a body shot.
Zola connects with a good right hand that stumbles Starac. Starac circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Zola bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Zola grinds an elbow into Starac's temple.

Zola decides to stand back up. Zola steps back and let's Starac get back to his feet.
A punch combination from Zola misses.
Starac uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zola.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zola. Starac does a little dance to reset his feet.
Starac tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zola sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Starac somewhat.
Zola throws out a loose jab but Starac uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zola tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Starac was well out of range. Poor timing from Zola.
Zola scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zola throws a shot to the body.
Zola looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Starac looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zola looks to land a right hand but Starac moved out of range.
Zola misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starac throws a nice head kick!
Zola swings for the body but Starac moves out of range.
Zola throws a jab when Starac was well out of range.
Zola looks to throw the jab but Starac is out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zola. Starac does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zola thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zola looks to score with a jab to the body but Starac is just out of range.
Zola throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Starac closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Starac is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zola defends it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Starac is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starac thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Starac throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Starac tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zola knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zola avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Starac.

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

That's four 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.
Starac stops Zola from getting back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zola throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Starac drives through with a takedown into guard.

Starac is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Zola is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Zola has escaped and now he's on top!
Starac has momentary wrist control but Zola slips an elbow through the middle.

Zola gets to his feet. Starac looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Zola shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Starac defends it nicely.
Some wild striking there from Zola.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sancho Zola dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Stari Starac's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zola leaves Starac with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zola throws a series of punches but Starac avoids them all with ease.
Zola lands with a shot to the body.
Zola scores with a three punch combo!
Zola misses with a few strikes there.
Zola takes a swing at Starac's ribcage but misses.
Starac uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zola.
Zola misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Starac.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zola fails to land with a series of punches.
Sancho Zola is winning the standup battle so far.
Starac takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Starac shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zola defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starac moves out of range as Zola strikes.
Zola misses with a body kick.
Zola swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zola misses with a wild combination.
Zola dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Starac with a lazy takedown attempt

and Zola counters with a takedown into side control.
Sancho Zola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stari Starac.
Zola creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Starac sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Zola is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Starac has escaped the position, nice work there.
Starac managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Zola.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zola is looking to take a break and control but Starac is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zola lands an elbow.

Zola stands up and beckons Starac to his feet.
A good leg kick by Starac.
Zola throws a lazy right hand but Starac sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zola throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zola misses with a straight right.
Zola throws an overhand right that lands on Starac's shoulder, as Starac tries to avoid the shot.

Starac scores with a takedown into Zola's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Starac accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starac postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Starac accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Starac thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Starac won't allow Zola to get back to his feet.
Stari Starac has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Starac throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Starac landing with the ground and pound.
Starac trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Zola manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

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.
Zola works over Starac with some ground and pound from guard.

Zola gets to his feet - Starac follows without any prompting.
Starac displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zola throws out the jab.
Zola thows a body shot but no joy.
A chopping leg kick lands by Starac.
Starac fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Starac tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zola swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zola throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zola throws a shot from downtown. Starac moves away and avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sancho Zola showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zola 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sancho Zola!