PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Primo Calavarra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Starr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Calavarra
vs
Starr

178 cm
21
165 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

172 cm
24
157 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Primo Calavarra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Starr!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Anthony Taglia and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starr throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Calavarra counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Calavarra throws a one two combo.
Starr fails in his attempt to clinch.
Calavarra looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Calavarra throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Starr counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Starr turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Starr advances nicely into full mount.
Calavarra tries to reverse the position but Starr maintains control.
Starr controlling his opponent.
Calavarra tries to hold on but Starr postures up.
Starr landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Starr landing strikes from the mount and Calavarra is in trouble!
Calavarra is wriggling around trying to escape.
Starr with good strikes from the mount here!
Starr takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
It looks like Starr might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Starr postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Calavarra looks a forlorn figure.
Starr controlling from mount.
Starr landing shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calavarra is trying to escape the mount.
Starr controlling from the full mount.
Calavarra keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Starr lands a big elbow.
Starr content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Stephen Starr has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Calavarra misses with a double jab

and Starr counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Calavarra's guard now.

Calavarra had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Starr defends it easily.
Starr sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starr trying to control the position from guard on top but Calavarra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Starr is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Calavarra is looking for a triangle here but Starr uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
A lull in the action here as Starr stalls from top position.
Starr is looking to take a break and control but Calavarra is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Calavarra is trying to control Starr's posture but Starr avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Starr dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Calavarra feints a jab promting Starr to slip. Calavarra then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Starr slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Starr is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Calavarra's half guard.
Starr not doing much here.

Calavarra looking for submissions off his back.
Starr stalling.
Let's hope that Starr has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr lands with a punch from half guard.
Starr tries to pass the half guard into mount. Calavarra knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Starr has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Starr is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Starr's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Calavarra is trying to maintain the position but Starr is very close to passing his half guard.
Starr content to control rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stephen Starr was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Calavarra throws a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Calavarra blocks a jab.
Calavarra misses with a combination

and Starr counters with a nice double leg into side control. Calavarra won't be happy with that.
Starr controls the position from side control.
Calavarra is looking for a sweep.
Calavarra trying to remain calm as Starr controls from the top position.
Stephen Starr has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Stephen Starr hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Calavarra throws a series of punches but Starr avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr throws a looping overhand right but Calavarra ducks down to avoid it.
Calavarra throws a left and a right that both miss

and Starr counters with a shoot takedown. Calavarra fights it but they end up in guard.
Starr stands and throws Calavarra's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Starr is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Calavarra's shoulder. That is not cool.
Starr working away.
Calavarra tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Starr wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starr working the ground and pound.
Starr controls the position.

Stephen Starr has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Calavarra misses with a double jab.

Starr closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Starr lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Calavarra looking for a guillotine here but Starr defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Starr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Calavarra fails to land with a series of punches.
Calavarra throws a combination that misses

and Starr counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Calavarra's guard now.
Starr stopping the sweep attempt from Calavarra.
Starr controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Calavarra is looking for a triangle here but Starr uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr controlling the position from side mount.
Starr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Calavarra keeps working.
Calavarra looking for a sweep but Starr has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Starr looking to control and managing it successfully.

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.
Calavarra tries to hold on but Starr postures up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Stephen Starr hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Calavarra misses with a combination

so Starr counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Starr's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Starr with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Starr trying to control but Calavarra is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Calavarra's guard.
Starr performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Calavarra is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Starr pulls his head out easily.
Starr passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Calavarra!
Starr takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starr in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Starr controlling from the full mount.
Starr lands a big shot there that rocks Calavarra but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Starr really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Calavarra throws a left and a right that both miss

and Starr counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Starr.
Starr works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Calavarra blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Starr dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Starr manages to break the clinch.
Calavarra swats away the attempt to clinch by Starr.
Starr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Starr dodges the punch combination from Calavarra.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calavarra swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Starr counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Starr.
Starr tries for a takedown. No joy.
Calavarra prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr missing with knees to the body.

Starr manages to break the clinch.
Calavarra throws a series of punches but Starr moves out of range.
Calavarra misses with a two punch combination.
Calavarra ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Starr moves away.
Starr misses the body punch
and Calavarra counters with a straight right hand.
Primo Calavarra is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Starr misses with a head kick.
Calavarra throws a combination that misses

and Starr counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Calavarra's guard now.
Starr wants to control from the top but Calavarra keeps moving.
Starr is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calavarra is trying to control the position but Starr postures up.
Calavarra wants to sweep but no luck.

Calavarra throws his legs up looking for a submission but Starr uses it to pass to side control.
Starr moves into full mount!
Starr controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr landing shots from mount.
Starr is stalling here but it's allowed Calavarra to get half guard.
Starr prevents Calavarra from improving his position.

Calavarra is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Starr pulls his head out easily.
Starr takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Starr is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Calavarra!
Starr sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Calavarra can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starr sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Starr avoids the attempt from Calavarra to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Calavarra is looking to get to half guard.
Starr controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Starr dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Calavarra moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sloppy strikes from Calavarra. Those never looked like landing.
Starr throws a hook but Calavarra avoids it easily.
Calavarra tries to bum rush Starr with a series of wild strikes but Starr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Starr swings widly with a right hand
and Calavarra cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calavarra misses with a low kick.
Some wild striking there from Calavarra.
Calavarra swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Starr counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Starr works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Calavarra is working to get back to half guard.
Starr looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Calavarra tries to hold on but Starr pushes him away.
Calavarra really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Starr controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Calavarra is squirming around, avoiding Starr's attempts to control the action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stephen Starr was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Calavarra falls off balance throwing a combination

and Starr decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Calavarra's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr forces his way into half guard.
Starr moves into full mount! Calavarra won't be happy about that!
Calavarra tries to reverse the position but Starr maintains control.
Calavarra is working hard here to advance position.
Starr takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Starr wants to control the pace but Calavarra is squirming around nicely.
Starr controlling from mount.
Calavarra tries to hold on but Starr pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calavarra can't escape the position.
Starr unloading with bombs!
Starr content just to control the position here.
Starr is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Calavarra can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Stephen Starr is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Starr takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Primo Calavarra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Starr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Starr winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 44:50
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 44:50
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 44:50

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