PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chad Raymond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Starbuck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Starbuck has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Raymond
vs
Starbuck

165 cm
21
175 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
178 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chad Raymond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Starbuck!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Dillan Fox and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Raymond checks a leg kick.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Starbuck closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Raymond has one of Starbuck's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Raymond might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Starbuck is trying to get an arm triangle but Raymond is defending well.
Raymond wants to control but Starbuck postures up.

Starbuck tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Starbuck has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Starbuck wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Raymond, who protects the arm well.
Raymond misses with an elbow from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starbuck tries to advance to mount but can't.

Starbuck wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Raymond, who protects the arm well.

Starbuck working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Raymond is trying to control Starbuck's posture but Starbuck avoids it.
Raymond tries to bench press Starbuck off him but Starbuck keeps the position.
Starbuck tries to advance to mount but can't.

Starbuck tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Starbuck has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Raymond tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starbuck scores with punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Raymond's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Starbuck is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Raymond is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Starbuck tries to advance to mount but can't.
Starbuck working the head with strikes.

Starbuck is trying to get an arm triangle but Raymond is defending well.
Raymond could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Starbuck working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raymond is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Starbuck is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Raymond regains half guard there - taking advantage of Starbuck's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Starbuck trying to pass the guard but Raymond defending well.
Raymond has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Starbuck is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Starbuck looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Starbuck scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raymond slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Starbuck stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Raymond swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Starbuck passes Raymond's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Starbuck prevents Raymond from improving his position.

Starbuck looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Raymond knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Starbuck on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Starbuck passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Raymond!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Starbuck dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Raymond closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Raymond lands in his opponent's guard.
Raymond has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Starbuck looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Raymond throwing strikes from guard but Starbuck blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Raymond accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Raymond lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raymond working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Raymond is working Starbuck over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Raymond throwing strikes but missing.
Raymond is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Starbuck looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Raymond avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Starbuck is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Raymond has his hands clasped together but Starbuck extends an breaks Raymond's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Starbuck.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mike Starbuck!
Mike Starbuck very nearly forgot to thank Anti-Tapout Clothing amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.