PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lupe Fiasco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Starbuck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fiasco comes into the arena with Lupe Back blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Fiasco
vs
Starbuck

183 cm
20
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
178 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lupe Fiasco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Starbuck!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Starbuck or perhaps it was just good defense by Fiasco which made him look bad.
Starbuck shoots in looking for a takedown. Fiasco tries to sprawl out of it but Starbuck keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fiasco manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fiasco will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Starbuck will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lupe Fiasco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Starbuck.
Fiasco jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Fiasco fails to land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Starbuck looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Starbuck looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fiasco stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fiasco wants it to stay on the feet.
Starbuck shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fiasco defends it nicely.
Starbuck has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fiasco leaves Starbuck with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Starbuck closes the distance and clinches up with Fiasco, looking for a takedown. Starbuck pushes Fiasco against the cage but Fiasco circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Starbuck shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fiasco as he avoids it easily.

Starbuck tries to keep at a distance but Fiasco has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fiasco prevents the takedown attempt.
Starbuck looks gassed!

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

Fiasco gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fiasco works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Fiasco lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Mike Starbuck has been cut.
Fiasco softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Starbuck has Fiasco pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Fiasco manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fiasco landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Fiasco manages to break the clinch.

Starbuck moves into the clinch.
Fiasco lands a nice elbow.

Fiasco breaks from the clinch.
Fiasco tries a head kick but it misses.
Starbuck dives in and grabs Fiasco's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fiasco pushes down on Starbuck's head and hops out.
Fiasco slaps away a takedown attempt from Starbuck, before circling back to the center of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Starbuck takes an elbow to the forehead.
Fiasco landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fiasco with a knee to the head.
Fiasco lands a body punch in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Fiasco.
Fiasco displaying some good clinch control by pressing Starbuck up against the cage.
Fiasco gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Fiasco tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Starbuck avoids it.

Fiasco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Fiasco gets a clinch.
Starbuck goes for a takedown attempt but Fiasco pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starbuck shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fiasco sprawls well. Fiasco wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Starbuck gets slowly back to his feet.
Starbuck shoots in looking for a takedown. Fiasco tries to sprawl out of it but Starbuck keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fiasco manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fiasco looks to land a combination. Starbuck sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Starbuck showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fiasco.
Fiasco scores with a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starbuck takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Fiasco throws a head kick that Starbuck semi-blocks.

Fiasco darts in and clinches Starbuck up against the cage.
Fiasco trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lupe Fiasco dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Starbuck's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Fiasco throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Starbuck misses with a takedown attempt - Fiasco sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Starbuck looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Starbuck changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fiasco tries to avoid it but Starbuck manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fiasco to the ground. Fiasco escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lupe Fiasco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Starbuck.

Fiasco instigates a clinch.
Fiasco working Starbuck over with knees to the body.

Fiasco manages to break the clinch.
Starbuck shoots in and drives through. Fiasco sprawls well.
Starbuck takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Fiasco darts in and clinches Starbuck up against the cage.
Fiasco has Starbuck pushed against the cage.
Lupe Fiasco has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Fiasco.

Fiasco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fiasco misses with a few strikes there.
Starbuck has his takedown stuffed
and Fiasco counters with a nice body kick.
Starbuck is breathing heavily.
Starbuck fails with a takedown attempt.
Fiasco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Starbuck tries for a takedown but Fiasco sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Starbuck misses with a takedown attempt
and Fiasco counters with a head kick. That will keep Starbuck thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Starbuck takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fiasco throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Fiasco closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Fiasco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Starbuck is trying desperately to land a takedown but Fiasco is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Starbuck.
Starbuck takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Fiasco throws a head kick that half lands.
Fiasco wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Fiasco feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Starbuck's calf.
Fiasco throws a head kick that misses.
Fiasco misses with a jab, cross combination.

Fiasco closes the distance and clinches.
Fiasco has Starbuck pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fiasco gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Starbuck.
Fiasco stalling.
Fiasco missing with knees to the body.
Starbuck can't get the takedown.
Fiasco landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Fiasco lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Fiasco lands an elbow inside that Starbuck shrugs off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fiasco working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Fiasco lands a knee to the head.
Starbuck is looking for a takedown.

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

Fiasco gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fiasco crunches a lovely knee into Starbuck's ribcage.
Fiasco lands an elbow that stopped Starbuck in his tracks for a moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Fiasco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A combination from Fiasco does no damage.
Starbuck throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fiasco's waist but Fiasco gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Starbuck off to one side.
Mike Starbuck seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fiasco misses with a series of wild punches.
A head kick from Fiasco lands but Starbuck takes it in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lupe Fiasco dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mike Starbuck's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Fiasco shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Starbuck eats them both and turns towards Fiasco to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Fiasco moves into range and clinches up with Starbuck.
With the fighters up against the cage, Fiasco throws an elbow but misses.
Starbuck has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Fiasco after a bit of a struggle.

Fiasco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fiasco.
Starbuck shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fiasco moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Starbuck tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fiasco swivels and escapes.
Lupe Fiasco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Starbuck.
Fiasco misses with a wild combination.

Fiasco gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fiasco scores with a knee to the head.
Starbuck takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fiasco is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fiasco lands a nice shot to the body.

Fiasco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Starbuck takes a kick to the side of the head.

Starbuck darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Starbuck prevents Fiasco from standing back up.

Starbuck is looking for a kimura but Fiasco is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Starbuck to get the leverage.
Starbuck trying to mount his opponent but Fiasco defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Starbuck is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Fiasco keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Fiasco is trying to stand back up but Starbuck is controlling him

Fiasco makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Starbuck shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fiasco pinned against the cage. Fiasco gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lupe Fiasco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Starbuck walks into a left hand.
Starbuck is looking to clinch but Fiasco is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fiasco swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Fiasco closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fiasco is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Starbuck can do to turn this around?
Fiasco lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fiasco makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fiasco stalls.
Fiasco lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Starbuck takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Fiasco for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Fiasco lands with a light punch inside.
Mike Starbuck has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fiasco pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Fiasco has Starbuck pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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

Fiasco moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lupe Fiasco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fiasco, 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lupe Fiasco!
Lupe Fiasco spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a big arrogant.