PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kendon Martindale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martindale comes to the cage accompanied by Who Am I. Stark has chosen Ludacris - Stick'em Up as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Martindale
vs
Stark

180 cm
22
200 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

191 cm
22
211 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Hell's Balls Fightwear
Broken Halo Threads

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kendon Martindale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Stark!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark looks to land a left hand but Martindale moved out of range nicely.
Martindale shoots in and drives through. Stark sprawls well.
Stark doesn't manage to clinch there - Martindale circles away.
Stark stuffs the takedown attempt from Martindale. Martindale gets slowly back to his feet.
Stark is looking to clinch.
Stark tries to close the distance and clinch but Martindale swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martindale wants to clinch

and Stark counters with a head kick that drops Martindale - he's looking to finish, following his stunned foe to the ground!

Martindale is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark is looking to advance position but Martindale won't allow it.
Martindale slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Martindale is trying to control the position but Stark postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martindale looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Stark puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Stark slows the pace down in half guard.

Stark decides to stand up.
Stark tries to clinch up

and Martindale counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stark's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martindale wanted to stand there but Stark had control of the position.
Stark is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Stark wants to sweep here but Martindale controlling him for the moment.
Martindale throwing strikes from guard but Stark blocks nicely.
Stark wants to sweep here but Martindale controlling him for the moment.
Martindale tries to free his leg and advance position but Stark is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martindale trying to move into half guard but instead Stark has managed to sweep!
Martindale trying to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Martindale fails with the takedown
and Stark counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kendon Martindale. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martindale is breathing heavily.
Stark keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Martindale with a lazy takedown attempt

and Stark holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Stark lands a knee to the head.
Stark has Martindale pressed against the cage.
Stark unloads a knee to the mid-section. Martindale lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stark tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stark misses with a knee to the head.
Martindale tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stark just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark is trying to stall.
Stark misses with a knee to the head.
Stark slows down the pace here.
Stark using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martindale has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Martindale tries for a takedown but Stark manages to get underhooks.
Martindale can't break the clinch.
Stark throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Martindale blocks it with crossed arms.
Stark misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Martindale.
Stark landing knees to the head.
Stark with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Martindale is trying to break the clinch but Stark has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stark prevents a takedown attempt there.
Martindale throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Stark prevents the takedown attempt.
Stark throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Stark dominated that round.
That's time! Martindale's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Martindale gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stark wants to stall.
Stark gets underhooks to prevent Martindale's takedown attempt.
Stark with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stark stalling in the clinch but Martindale improves position.
Stark tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stark tries to land a knee to the head but Martindale blocks with his arms.
Martindale tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stark just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stark tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stark connects with a knee to the head.
Martindale drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kendon Martindale. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stark is breathing heavily.
Martindale on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Martindale slows down the pace here.
Stark missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martindale has Stark pressed against the cage.
Stark misses with a knee to the head.
Stark using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Stark with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Martindale letting Stark take a breather here.
Martindale tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stark smiles and moves away.
Martindale circles away from the clinch attempt

and Martindale counters by moving into the clinch.
Stark tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Martindale managing to block the knees to the body from Stark.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Martindale takes a knee right on the jaw!
Martindale wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stark tries a knee to the head but Martindale blocks it.
Martindale wants a takedown.
Stark looking to throw knees to the head but Martindale is blocking nicely.
Stark using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martindale has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stark looking to slow down the pace here.
Martindale has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stark avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Stark with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Martindale managing to block the knees to the body from Stark.
Stark manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Martindale.
Martindale is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stark gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stark looking to slow down the pace here.
Stark throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Martindale blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martindale can't get the takedown.
Martindale has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stark is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Stark with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stark misses with a knee to the head.

Martindale breaks the clinch.
Stark swings widly with a right hand

and Martindale counters by moving into the clinch.
Knees to the body from Stark.
Stark holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Stark misses with a knee to the head.
Martindale is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stark taking a breather.
Stark using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martindale has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Martindale blocks it with crossed arms.
Martindale is trying to break the clinch but Stark has him pressed against the cage.
Martindale tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stark just stands there and leans against the cage.
Come on Stark - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Stark using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martindale has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stark tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stark gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Martindale.
Stark with a knee to the head.
Stark looking to throw knees to the head but Martindale is blocking nicely.
Martindale tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Martindale has Stark pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stark manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Martindale can't get the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stark taking a breather.
Stark looking to throw knees to the head but Martindale is blocking nicely.
Stark unloads a knee to the mid-section. Martindale lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stark using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Stark showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Stark moves into the clinch successfully.
Stark tries to land a knee to the head but Martindale blocks with his arms.
Stark trying to land knees to the body.
Martindale drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stark gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stark using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martindale has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stark trying to land knees to the body.
Stark looking to throw knees to the head but Martindale is blocking nicely.
Martindale is trying to break the clinch but Stark has him pressed against the cage.
Stark using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martindale has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stark connects with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark misses with a knee to the head.
Stark landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stark landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martindale has had enough of the clinch but Stark keeps him there for the moment.
Martindale goes for a takedown attempt but Stark pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Martindale uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stark.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Martindale gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Stark counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kendon Martindale. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stark lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stark lands a knee to the body.
Stark tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stark misses with a knee to the head.

Martindale breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martindale tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Martindale moves into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Stark.
Stark connects with a nasty looking knee right to Martindale's face.
Stark misses with a knee strike.
Stark prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stark gets underhooks to prevent Martindale's takedown attempt.

Martindale tightens his grip and picks Stark up, before dumping him to the ground. Stark manages to land in guard.
Martindale wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.
Stark can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Martindale controls the pace.
Martindale trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stark avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martindale controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Martindale is working Stark over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Martindale tries to free his leg and advance position but Stark is retaining full guard.
Martindale sitting in guard here, content to control.
Martindale being controlled here momentarily.
Martindale throwing strikes but missing.

Stark is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Martindale tries to score a body lock takedown but Stark shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Stark lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stark looking to throw knees to the head but Martindale is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martindale is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stark using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martindale has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Martindale wants to get back to striking at distance but Stark won't allow it.
Stark landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stark landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stark with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stark missing with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Stark.
Stark with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Martindale avoiding damage as Stark throws knees to the body.
Stark with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stark tries to land a knee to the head but Martindale blocks with his arms.
Stark tries a knee to the head but Martindale blocks it.
Stark misses with a knee strike.
Stark managing to block the knees to the body from Martindale.
With the fighters up against the cage, Martindale throws an elbow but misses.
Stark tries a knee to the head but Martindale blocks it.

Martindale breaks the clinch.
Kendon Martindale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stark closes the distance looking to clinch

and Martindale counters by moving into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Stark comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stark 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Stark!