PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Starr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Story (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Story has chosen This Plane as his entrance music. Story has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Nate Story has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Starr
vs
Story

172 cm
24
157 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
21
157 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Starr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nate Story!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Anthony Taglia and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Starr clinches up with Story and pushes him back against the cage.
Story looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Starr lands with a right to the head.

Starr manages to break the clinch.

Starr clinches with his opponent.
Starr stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Starr seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

Starr breaks from the clinch.

Story gets tackled into the cage by Starr. Starr maintains the clinch.
Nice body punch from Starr - that landed with a thud.
Starr has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Story is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Starr breaks from the clinch.

Starr closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Starr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Starr clinches with his opponent.
Starr has Story pushed against the cage.
Starr gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

Starr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Starr gets a clinch.
Starr content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Starr manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Starr closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Story wants to break free but Starr has control.
Come on Starr - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Story gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Starr.
Starr digs a right hand into Story's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Story's gas tank.
Starr tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Story avoids it.

Starr has Story pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Starr pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Story tumbling to the mat - Starr dives into Story's guard.
Story can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Starr controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Story wants to stand but Starr is controlling the position.
Story is wriggling around but Starr manages to pass to half guard.
Starr stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Starr is looking to advance position but Story won't allow it.
Starr sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stephen Starr just wasn't active enough.

Starr looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Well, if Starr is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Story tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Starr manages to move to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Starr dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Starr clinches up with Story and pushes him back against the cage.

Starr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Starr has Story up against the cage in a clinch.

Starr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Starr gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Story being controlled against the cage.
Story is breathing heavily.

Starr has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Story clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr controls the position.
Starr seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Story for as long as he can get away with.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Stephen Starr.

Starr shoots in and gets a takedown into Story's guard.
Starr working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starr slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Starr advances position into side control!
Starr just content to control the position.
Story tries to escape but Starr is in control.
Starr just content to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Story wants to get back to his feet.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Stephen Starr has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Story avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Starr closes the distance and clinches.
Starr lands a hook that snaps the head of Story backwards.
Stalling in the clinch from Starr.

That's four 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.
Starr tries to score a body lock takedown but Story shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Starr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Starr closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Starr working Story over with knees to the body.
Good body shot from Starr.

Starr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Starr has managed to clinch.
Starr stalling against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Story falls off balance throwing a combination

and Starr counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Starr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Starr shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Story is trying to defend but Starr finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Starr perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Stephen Starr.
Starr jabs at Story's body.

Starr pushes Story up against the cage in a clinch.
Starr lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Starr manages to break the clinch.
Story swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Starr counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Starr.
Starr lands a body punch.
A right hand to the body from Starr.

Starr is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Story can't fight it off and eventually Starr manages to take the fight to the floor. Story looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Story can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Starr controls the pace.
Stephen Starr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stephen Starr has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Starr closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Starr lands in his opponent's guard.
Starr stays in close to Story's body and controls the position.
Starr wants to pass the guard but Story is keeping the position.
Story wants to stand and escape but Starr is having none of it.
Starr controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Starr pushing down on Story's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Story pushes Starr off looking to stand but Starr dives back in and keeps control.
Starr sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Starr stops Story from getting back to his feet.
Starr missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Story tries to kick Starr off but Starr keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Starr slows the pace down in half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Story throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Starr moves into the clinch.
The referee calls for Starr to work.
Starr prevents Story from breaking the clinch.

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.

Starr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Story throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Starr counters by clinching up.

Starr is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Story can't fight it off and eventually Starr manages to take the fight to the floor. Story looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Starr trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Starr looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nate Story has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stephen Starr is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Starr showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Starr 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:26
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:26
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:26

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