PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Starostenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nick Carter is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Starostenko
vs
Carter

182 cm
20
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
21
225 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Starostenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nick Carter!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Starostenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carter tries to clinch but Starostenko is having none of it.
Carter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Carter stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Carter wants it to stay on the feet.
Starostenko shoots in for a double leg but Carter sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Carter tries to clinch but Starostenko is having none of it.

Carter moves into the clinch.
Starostenko goes for a takedown in the clinch but Carter prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksandr Starostenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Starostenko wants the takedown. Carter is fighting it off but Starostenko persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Carter's guard against the ropes.
Starostenko is breathing heavily.
Carter wants to stand but Starostenko is controlling the position.
Carter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Carter is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Starostenko is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Starostenko with a nice head shot there.
Starostenko could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Carter wants to stand but Starostenko is controlling the position.

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.
Starostenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Carter works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Carter is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starostenko cracks Carter with a solid left hand.
Carter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Carter wants to stand and escape but Starostenko is having none of it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Starostenko postures up in Carter's guard and throws a big left but Carter blocks it.
Carter is looking to stand up but Starostenko isn't so interested in that idea.

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.
Carter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Starostenko prevents Carter from getting back to his feet.
Starostenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Carter has wrist control.
Carter wants to stand but Starostenko is controlling the position.
Starostenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Carter is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Starostenko is controlling him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Carter scrambles and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Starostenko is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Carter.
Carter moves in looking to clinch but Starostenko pushes him off.
Carter moves in looking to clinch but Starostenko pushes him off.

Carter drives through and clinches with Starostenko against the ropes.

Starostenko turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Carter wants to get back to his feet.
Carter regains half guard, as Starostenko was trying to land strikes.
Carter pushes Starostenko off looking to stand but Starostenko dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Starostenko.
Starostenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Starostenko prevents Carter from standing back up.
Starostenko with the ground and pound but Carter uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Starostenko stops Carter from standing up.
Carter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Starostenko prevents Carter from getting back to his feet.
Starostenko postures up in Carter's guard and throws a big left but Carter blocks it.
Starostenko won't allow Carter to get back to his feet.
Carter preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Carter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Starostenko throws and elbow that misses. Carter uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Starostenko's guard. Nice move by Carter!
Carter wants to stand but Starostenko has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Carter gets to his feet - Starostenko follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nick Carter will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Starostenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Carter tries to clinch but Starostenko is having none of it.

Carter moves into the clinch successfully.
Starostenko is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Carter gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Carter prevents a takedown attempt there.
Carter taking a breather.
Carter lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Carter trying to control the position but instead, Starostenko has worked for underhooks and has pushed Carter into the ropes.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Nick Carter.
Carter moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Carter goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Starostenko takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Aleksandr Starostenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carter dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Carter fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Starostenko, pushing him back against the ropes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Carter is leaning against Starostenko and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Carter tries to stall but Starostenko uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Starostenko up against the ropes.

Starostenko is trying to trip Carter. He has hold of a leg but Carter is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Starostenko persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Carter is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Starostenko is controlling him.
Starostenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Carter wants to stand up but Starostenko is controlling him.
Starostenko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Carter's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter wants to stand but Starostenko is controlling the position.
Starostenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Starostenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Carter has wrist control.

Carter uses the ropes to get back to his feet.

Starostenko gets a takedown into half guard.
Carter looks like he's trying to stand up.
Starostenko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Carter defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter blocking the ground and pound attempt from Starostenko.
Carter regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Starostenko.
Carter is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Starostenko is controlling him.
Starostenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Starostenko won't allow Carter to get back to his feet.
Carter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Starostenko.
Carter is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Starostenko is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Carter preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Starostenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Carter has wrist control.
Starostenko prevents Carter from getting back to his feet.
Starostenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Carter wants to stand up but Starostenko is controlling him.
Starostenko landing some decent shots from guard.
Starostenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Starostenko prevents Carter from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Carter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Carter 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Nick Carter!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Nick Carter!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Aleksandr Starostenko!

Nick Carter wins by split decision!