PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andy Starks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahkmed Ufalopolaus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Starks comes to the cage accompanied by Ich + Ich - Stark. Ufalopolaus has chosen Shabnami Soraya - Az Kudumi Safar as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Andy Starks had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Starks
vs
Ufalopolaus

180 cm
31
195 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

172 cm
26
180 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

[JMFC] 160!
[JMFC] 160!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andy Starks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ahkmed Ufalopolaus!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Ufalopolaus. Starks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Starks misses with a looping left.
Good shot there by Starks.
Starks digs a good body shot into Ufalopolaus's ribs.
Andy Starks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ufalopolaus instigates a clinch.
Ufalopolaus goes for a takedown attempt but Starks pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Starks tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ufalopolaus is able to avoid easily.
Starks misses with a body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ufalopolaus.
Ufalopolaus avoids a punch combination nicely.
Starks tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ufalopolaus swivels and escapes.
Starks pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Starks.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Starks, right into the meat.
Ufalopolaus tries to clinch there but Starks circles away.
Starks throws a push kick but Ufalopolaus slaps the foot to one side.
Ufalopolaus avoids the body shot from Starks.
Ufalopolaus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Starks.
A head kick by Starks misses

and Ufalopolaus holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Starks stops a takedown attempt from Ufalopolaus.
Andy Starks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ahkmed Ufalopolaus.
Ufalopolaus fails to pull guard.
Starks cracks Ufalopolaus with a nice body shot.
Starks throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ufalopolaus can't get the takedown.
Starks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ufalopolaus goes for a takedown attempt but Starks pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ufalopolaus on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Starks. Starks obviously looking to wear him down.
Starks misses the shot to the body.
Ufalopolaus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Starks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Starks scores with the left hand. Ufalopolaus knows he should have avoided that one.
Starks is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ufalopolaus sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Starks lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Starks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ufalopolaus takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ufalopolaus closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Starks swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Ufalopolaus counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ufalopolaus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ufalopolaus has Starks pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Starks manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Ufalopolaus wants the takedown. Starks is fighting it off but Ufalopolaus persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Starks's guard against the cage.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ufalopolaus won't allow Starks to sweep him here.
Starks looking to control.
Ufalopolaus wants to control from the top but Starks keeps moving.
Ufalopolaus stopping the sweep attempt from Starks.
Ufalopolaus trying to control but Starks is working from the bottom.
Ufalopolaus must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Starks trying to keep a closed guard but Ufalopolaus is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Starks lands a slapping body shot.
Starks misses with a low kick.
Starks misses with a body shot.
Starks is looking to slow Ufalopolaus down with leg kicks.
Starks tries to close the distance and clinch but Ufalopolaus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Starks connects with a right hand. Ufalopolaus shakes it off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Starks thows a body kick. Ufalopolaus tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Starks throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ufalopolaus stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ufalopolaus bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ufalopolaus misses with a series of wild punches.
Starks goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Starks dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Starks misses with a leg kick

so Ufalopolaus counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Starks is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ufalopolaus is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ufalopolaus trying to control the position from guard on top but Starks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Starks is trying to control the position but Ufalopolaus postures up.
Ufalopolaus chips away with some ground and pound.
Starks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Starks bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ufalopolaus's guard.
Starks trying to control the position from guard on top but Ufalopolaus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ufalopolaus has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Starks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starks is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Starks wants to control from the top but Ufalopolaus keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Andy Starks has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Starks fails to land with a series of punches.
Ufalopolaus fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ufalopolaus scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Starks gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starks gets back to full guard.
Ufalopolaus looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Starks is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Starks controls Ufalopolaus momentarily but Ufalopolaus frees himself.
Starks pulls Ufalopolaus in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ufalopolaus is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Starks wants to sweep but no luck.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ahkmed Ufalopolaus wasn't active enough on the ground.
Ufalopolaus takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Starks throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Starks moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Ufalopolaus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Starks.
Starks gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ufalopolaus.
Starks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ufalopolaus shoots for a takedown but Starks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ufalopolaus shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Starks as he avoids it easily.
Starks buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ufalopolaus shoots in for a takedown but Starks shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Andy Starks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ahkmed Ufalopolaus.
Ufalopolaus takes a kick to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Starks digs a good body shot into Ufalopolaus's ribs.
Starks misses with a right hand

and Ufalopolaus decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Starks's guard.
Ufalopolaus is breathing heavily.
Starks trying to control the position.
Starks looking for a sweep. Not yet Starks, not yet.
Ufalopolaus with a nice head shot there.
Starks wants to sweep but no luck.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Starks wants to sweep but no luck.

Starks looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Andy Starks will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Starks changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ufalopolaus looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ufalopolaus wants to control but Starks postures up.
Starks controlling from side mount.
Starks is looking to take a break and control but Ufalopolaus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Starks tries for a kimura but Ufalopolaus is defending well.
Ufalopolaus tries to bench press Starks off him but Starks keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starks taking a breather here.
Ufalopolaus tries to buck Starks off but Starks is having none of it.
Starks is looking to take a break and control but Ufalopolaus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ufalopolaus is looking to regain half guard here but Starks keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Starks trying to control the position but Ufalopolaus is working away.
Ufalopolaus prevents Starks from moving into mount.
Ufalopolaus is not content to let Starks control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Andy Starks.
Ufalopolaus wants to clinch up but Starks keeps it at a distance.
Starks misses the body punch
and Ufalopolaus makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Starks is looking to wear down Ufalopolaus with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ufalopolaus keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ufalopolaus blocks the body kick.
Andy Starks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Starks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ufalopolaus manages to avoid it.
Starks swings for the body but Ufalopolaus moves out of range.
Starks avoids the body shot from Ufalopolaus.
Andy Starks is winning the standup battle so far.
Ufalopolaus tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Starks counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Starks darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Starks is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ufalopolaus moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starks tries to free his leg and advance position but Ufalopolaus is retaining full guard.
Ahkmed Ufalopolaus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ufalopolaus wants to sweep but no luck.

Ufalopolaus has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Starks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ufalopolaus looking to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Starks trying to control the position from guard on top but Ufalopolaus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ufalopolaus is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Starks defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Starks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Starks, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

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