PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Starr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rakur Marcin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Starr
vs
Marcin

178 cm
25
168 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
164 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reggie Starr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rakur Marcin!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Steve Montenegro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starr avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Starr throws a nice looking combination but Marcin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marcin wants to clinch up but Starr keeps it at a distance.
Starr misses with a double jab.

Starr shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Starr pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Marcin is squirming around, avoiding Starr's attempts to control the action.
Marcin wants to hold on but Starr pushes him away.
Marcin stops Starr from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Starr looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Marcin avoids a series of strikes thrown by Starr.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Starr goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Marcin turns into him and now he's in Starr's guard.
Starr keeping full guard, as Marcin tries to pass.
Starr keeping moving, preventing Marcin from controlling successfully.

Starr has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Marcin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Starr escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Marcin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Starr is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Marcin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Starr has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Marcin has managed to get both his arms back between Starr's legs - danger averted.

Starr escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Marcin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Marcin wants to control from the top but Starr keeps moving.
Marcin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Marcin passes Starr's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Starr actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcin passes the guard and advances to mount!
Marcin looking to control but Starr is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Marcin fails to take his opponent's back.
Marcin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Starr manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Starr is not content to let Marcin control the position.

Starr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starr trying to control from the bottom.
Marcin trying to pass the guard but Starr defending well.

Starr looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Starr is breathing heavily.
Marcin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Starr trying to hold on to Marcin's head to control him but Marcin postures up.
Marcin trying to control from half guard but Starr is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Starr with the active half guard here but Marcin passes nicely into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Reggie Starr will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Marcin throws a wild body kick that Starr sees coming a mile off.
Starr throws a right and a left that both miss.
Marcin is looking to clinch.
Marcin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Starr counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Marcin's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marcin looking to control.
Starr tries to free his leg and advance position but Marcin is retaining full guard.

Marcin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Starr trying to control but Marcin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr is really struggling to control Marcin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Marcin lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Starr!
Starr tries to hold on but Marcin postures up.
Starr tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marcin wants to control the pace but Starr is squirming around nicely.
Starr is looking to improve his position but Marcin isn't that keen on the idea.

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.
Marcin moves to the back position.
Starr staying busy and making it hard for Marcin to control.
Starr breaks Marcin's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Starr is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Marcin is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Marcin has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marcin looking to pass the guard.

Starr is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Marcin defends well.
Marcinis looking to pass into half guard but Starr pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Starr is in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Starr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marcin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Starr is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marcin keeping moving, preventing Starr from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Marcin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Starr is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Marcin is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Marcin has escaped and now he's on top!
Marcin trying to control but Starr is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Starr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Starr is looking for a triangle but Marcin pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Reggie Starr will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Marcin fails with the takedown

and Starr counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Starr.
Marcin trying to control the position but instead, Starr has worked for underhooks and has pushed Marcin into the cage.
Marcin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Starr gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Starr throws an elbow but it misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Starr as Marcin tries to tie him up.
Starr can't find room to land a body shot as Marcin controls the action.
Marcin blocks an elbow strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Marcin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marcin.
Starr is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marcin is working for takedown but Starr is calmly controlling the position for now.
Reggie Starr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rakur Marcin.
Marcin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
With the fighters up against the cage, Starr throws an elbow but misses.
Marcin is trying to maintain a safe position but Starr gets an underhook and turns Marcin into the cage.
Marcin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Starr's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcin stalling in the clinch but Starr improves position.
Marcin lands a good knee to the midsection. Starr won't want to take too many of those.
Marcin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Starr is keeping busy.
Marcin blocks a body shot from Starr.
Starr misses with an elbow over the top.
Starr goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marcin prevents it.
Starr tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Marcin avoids it.
Marcin crunches a lovely knee into Starr's ribcage.
Starr takes a knee to the side of the body.
Marcin scores a nice knee to the body.
Marcin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Starr takes a knee to the side of the body.
Marcin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Starr pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Starr with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Marcin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Marcin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Starr in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Starr creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Marcin landing knees to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcin tries to stall but Starr uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Marcin blocks the elbow strike.
Starr misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Starr misses with a short punch on the inside.
Starr wants a takedown.
Marcin scores a nice knee to the body.

Marcin pulls Starr into 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 Marcin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Starr has Marcin in his guard.
Reggie Starr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Starr looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Marcin has picked Starr up and slammed him! Starr can't keep hold of the triangle and Marcin manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr is looking to reverse the position.

Marcin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Marcin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Starr wants to control but Marcin postures up.
Starr tries to bench press Marcin off him but Marcin keeps the position.
Marcin tries to advance to mount but Starr denies him.
A control attempt from Starr but he's now mounted!
Starr is desperately trying to improve his position but Marcin has a good base and remains in mount.

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.
Marcin tries to control but Starr wriggling away.
Starr is looking to get to half guard.

Marcin is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Starr is surviving well by controlling Marcin's body position as best he can.
Starr can't escape the position.
Starr wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Marcin is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Starr knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Starr for a finish.
Starr staying busy and making it hard for Marcin to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rakur Marcin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

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