PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rony Dias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evan Starkman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dias
vs
Starkman

175 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rony Dias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Evan Starkman!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dias shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Starkman sprawls well. Starkman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dias gets slowly back to his feet.
Dias misses with a takedown

so Starkman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Starkman tries to free his leg and advance position but Dias is retaining full guard.
Dias is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Starkman slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Starkman working away.
Starkman lands some shots froms side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dias gets back to half guard.

Starkman escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starkman shoots in for a takedown but Dias shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dias fails with the takedown

and Starkman counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rony Dias. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Starkman decides to stand up, so the ref orders Dias to his feet.

Dias instigates a clinch.

Starkman manages to pull guard.
Starkman is adopting a defensive guard.
Starkman's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Starkman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dias looking to sit in guard and control but Starkman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Starkman scoring with some ground and pound.
Starkman controlling from the top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Starkman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starkman stopping the sweep attempt from Dias.
Starkman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Dias looking for a guillotine here but Starkman defends easily.
Dias is breathing heavily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Starkman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starkman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Starkman with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Starkman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Starkman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dias has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Starkman has managed to get both his arms back between Dias's legs - danger averted.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starkman seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Starkman dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Starkman looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dias 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.
Starkman's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Dias is trying to control the position but Starkman postures up.
Starkman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Starkman scoring with some ground and pound.
Dias being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Evan Starkman.
Dias is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dias tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Starkman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Starkman.

Starkman closes the distance and pushes Dias back into the cage.
Starkman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dias smiles and moves away.
Dias displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Starkman.
Dias fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dias uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Starkman.

Starkman darts in and clinches Dias up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starkman misses with a punch on the inside.

Starkman pulls Dias into guard.
Dias is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Starkman is on top in guard.
Dias keeping full guard, as Starkman tries to pass.
Starkman throws a big elbow that misses.
Dias wants to sweep here but Starkman controlling him for the moment.

Starkman stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dias tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Starkman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dias avoids a kick to the body.
Dias shoots in but Starkman avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Starkman darts in and clinches Dias up against the cage.
Dias wants a takedown.

Starkman turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Starkman manages to end up in side control.
Dias is being controlled here.
Starkman works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Starkman is trying to get an arm triangle but Dias is defending well.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Starkman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dias has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dias is trying to escape the position but Starkman is controlling the position.
Dias takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Starkman remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
You can see the frustration on Dias's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Starkman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Starkman rushes Dias and presses him up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Starkman has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dias uses from the top position.
Dias throws an elbow that misses. Starkman uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dias's guard. Nice move by Starkman!
Starkman sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Starkman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Starkman throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dias is working an open guard so Starkman takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Dias tries to close the distance and clinch up but Starkman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dias connects with a high kick.

Starkman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Dias is fighting off a takedown attempt but Starkman is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Dias to the mat. Dias regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dias tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Starkman's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starkman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dias is keeping the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Evan Starkman.
Starkman shoots in for a takedown but Dias shows good takedown defense.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Starkman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dias's guard.
Starkman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dias is keeping the position for now.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Starkman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Starkman stands up and waves to Dias to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starkman throws a series of punches but Dias moves out of range.
Starkman misses with a low kick.
Starkman swats away the attempt to clinch by Dias.
Starkman misses with a head kick.
Dias fails with the takedown.

Starkman gets a takedown into half guard.

Dias is defending against the submission attempts here by Starkman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starkman content to control rather than advance.
Dias on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rony Dias has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Evan Starkman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dias looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evan Starkman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Starkman has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evan Starkman!