PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Duncan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Starks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duncan comes to the cage accompanied by Haka . Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Duncan
vs
Starks

195 cm
26
280 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

195 cm
21
264 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tom Duncan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tony Starks!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick from Duncan misses.
Starks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Duncan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Starks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Duncan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Starks has managed to clinch.
Duncan is working for takedown but Starks is calmly controlling the position for now.
Duncan has Starks pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Starks manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Duncan prevents a body shot from Starks.
A nice right hand lands inside from Starks.
Starks misses with a punch on the inside.
Starks creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Starks leaning against his opponent.
Starks struggles to land a body shot inside as Duncan controls his hands.
Starks misses with some punches.
Starks gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Tom Duncan has been cut.
Duncan swings wildly with an uppercut but Starks uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short uppercut from Starks.
Duncan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Starks's elbow.
Starks gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Duncan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Duncan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duncan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Starks pulls his leg out and moves away.
Duncan motions for Starks to come forward. Duncan throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duncan throws a looping overhand right but Starks ducks down to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Duncan. Starks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Starks tries to close the distance and clinch but Duncan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Starks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Duncan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Starks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Duncan throws a series of punches but Starks moves out of range.
Starks is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Duncan swats away the attempt to clinch by Starks.
Starks defending well as Duncan loads up on a big left hand.
Nice defenses there by Duncan.
Starks circles away from the clinch attempt
and Starks counters with a right hand to the body.
Duncan is breathing heavily.
Duncan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tony Starks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Duncan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Starks tries to clinch up
and Duncan counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Starks cracks Duncan with an uppercut from hell and Duncan crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Starks's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Starks trying to control the position from guard on top but Duncan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Starks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Starks is looking to stand up but Duncan won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Starks looking to sit in guard and control but Duncan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Duncan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Starks wants to stand up but Duncan is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duncan trying to control the position from guard on top but Starks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Starks is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Duncan wants to control from the top but Starks keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tom Duncan wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Starks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Duncan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Starks moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Starks wants to clinch but Duncan slips to the side
and Duncan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Starks avoids the head kick by Duncan.
Starks wants to clinch
and Duncan counters with a series of strikes. Starks will be more careful next time no doubt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starks tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Duncan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Starks misses with a hook to the ribs.
Starks stalling in the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Duncan takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Duncan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Starks dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Duncan's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Duncan moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Duncan.
A head punch on the inside from Duncan fails to land.
Starks is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Duncan is keeping busy.
With the fighters up against the cage, Duncan throws an elbow but misses.
Starks blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Duncan lands a body shot.
Starks is trying to maintain a safe position but Duncan gets an underhook and turns Starks into the cage.
Starks tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Duncan avoiding damage as Starks throws knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Duncan just misses with a elbow thrown towards Starks's brow.
Duncan managing to block the knees to the body from Starks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Duncan goes for a takedown attempt but Starks pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tom Duncan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Starks forces Duncan back against the cage and clinches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Duncan.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Starks.
Starks misses with some punches.
Starks lands an elbow inside that Duncan shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duncan dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Duncan wants to stall.
Duncan presses Starks against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Duncan lands with a left to the head.

Duncan lands a takedown into guard.
Duncan looking to pass the guard.
Duncan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Starks can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Duncan controls the pace.
Duncan throwing strikes from guard but Starks blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starks wants to stand but Duncan is controlling the position.
Duncan trying to control but Starks is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tom Duncan has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Duncan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Duncan takes one to the chin there.
Duncan throws a shot to the body.

Duncan instigates a clinch.
Starks misses with the head strike.
A right hand to the body from Starks.
Starks stalls.
Starks is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Duncan is defending well for now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Duncan.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duncan lands a body shot in the clinch.
Starks swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Starks is trying to maintain a safe position but Duncan gets an underhook and turns Starks into the cage.
Duncan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Starks gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Duncan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duncan takes a shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Duncan gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Duncan is keen to just control but Starks is a slippery customer.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Starks can do anything to dispel that myth.
Starks wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Duncan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Duncan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tom Duncan's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Starks tries to clinch but Duncan moves away
letting Duncan counter with a right hand.
Duncan scores with a nice strike.
Starks moves to clinch but Duncan breaks away
and Starks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Starks closes the distance but Duncan moves to the side
and Duncan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Duncan tries to keep at a distance but Starks has taken the fight into the clinch.
Starks lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Starks as Duncan tries to tie him up.
Starks misses with a hook from the clinch.
Starks is leaning against Duncan and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Starks has Duncan pressed against the cage.
Duncan looking for a takedown.
Starks works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Duncan being controlled against the cage.
Duncan lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Duncan as Starks tries to tie him up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Starks.
Starks scores with a nice hook to the head.
Starks takes an elbow to the forehead.
Duncan stalling in the clinch but Starks improves position.
Duncan lands a hook that snaps the head of Starks backwards.
Starks controlling the action here for a moment.
Starks doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Duncan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Starks lands a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Starks comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Duncan working aggressively here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Duncan as Starks tries to tie him up.
Starks is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Duncan throws a punch but it's blocked by Starks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duncan swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Duncan letting Starks take a breather here.
Duncan looking for a takedown.
A right handed body shot lands from Starks.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A short uppercut from Starks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Duncan as Starks tries to tie him up.
Good body shot from Starks.
Starks lands with a short shot to the head.
Starks looking to stall.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Starks just misses with a elbow thrown towards Duncan's brow.
Starks swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Starks is looking to control Duncan's arms but Duncan gets an underhook and turns him. Now Starks has his back to the cage.
Starks lands a right hand that snaps the head of Duncan backwards.
Starks misses with a short punch on the inside.
Starks misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starks working aggressively here.
Starks scores with a nice hook to the head.
Starks is pressed up against the cage. Duncan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Starks down to the mat. Starks avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Duncan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Starks wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Duncan misses with a takedown attempt - Starks sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Starks tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Duncan counters with a nice uppercut.
Tony Starks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Starks tries to clinch up.
Duncan thows a body shot but no joy.
Starks throws a body punch but Duncan moves out of range.
Starks wants to clinch up but Duncan keeps it at a distance.
Starks wants to clinch.
Duncan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Duncan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starks throws a series of punches but Duncan avoids them all with ease.
Starks fails in his attempt to clinch.
Starks is looking to clinch.
Duncan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Starks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Starks checks a low kick from Duncan.
Starks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Duncan.
Duncan keeps the fight on the outside.
Duncan takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Starks moves into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Duncan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Duncan blocks an elbow strike from Starks.
Duncan wants a takedown but no success here.
Starks working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Starks stalling against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Starks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Starks has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Starks!