PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steven Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Fredriksson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stark comes to the cage accompanied by 36 MaFia - Live By Yo Rep. Fredriksson has chosen Fistful Of Steel - Rage Against The Machine as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Aaron Fredriksson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stark
vs
Fredriksson

184 cm
25
135 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

172 cm
20
135 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Global Empire MMA Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steven Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aaron Fredriksson!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fredriksson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stark sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Fredriksson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fredriksson wants to control but Stark is keeping him busy.
Stark manages to work his way to half guard, despite Fredriksson's best efforts.
Fredriksson is looking to advance position but Stark won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stark wants to improve his position but Fredriksson is controlling well.
Stark works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stark seems keen to control Fredriksson's posture.
Fredriksson wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fredriksson stopping the sweep attempt from Stark.
Fredriksson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fredriksson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stark looking for a sweep. Not yet Stark, not yet.
Fredriksson throwing strikes but missing.
Fredriksson looking to pass the guard.
Fredriksson trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Fredriksson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fredriksson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark wants to get back to full guard.
Fredriksson is looking to take a break and control but Stark is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stark manages to get to full guard.
Stark keeping moving, preventing Fredriksson from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Fredriksson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stark manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fredriksson manages to get himself to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Fredriksson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stark is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Fredriksson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fredriksson working a defensive guard here.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Fredriksson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark wants to pass the guard but Fredriksson is keeping the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Steven Stark wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Fredriksson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stark's waist but Stark gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fredriksson off to one side.
Stark slaps away a takedown attempt from Fredriksson, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Stark shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fredriksson napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark controls the position.
Stark trying to control the position but Fredriksson is working away.
Fredriksson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Fredriksson is looking to control Stark's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fredriksson avoid being mounted?

Stark wants to work for an arm triangle but Fredriksson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stark is trying to control. Fredriksson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fredriksson trying to control here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fredriksson tries to roll over but Stark keeps him under control.
Stark content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Steven Stark will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Fredriksson misses with an uppercut. Stark saw that one coming.
Stark stuffs the takedown.
Fredriksson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fredriksson misses with a takedown attempt - Stark sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Steven Stark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Fredriksson.

Fredriksson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stark did well to prevent Fredriksson getting side control.
Stark is pressing down on Fredriksson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stark trying to keep a closed guard but Fredriksson is proving a slippery customer.
Fredriksson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Stark wants to control but Fredriksson postures up.
Stark is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Stark is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fredriksson is looking for a kimura but Stark is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Fredriksson to get the leverage.
Fredriksson wants to control but Stark is keeping him busy.
Stark trying to control but Fredriksson postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stark manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Fredriksson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Fredriksson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stark has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fredriksson has managed to get both his arms back between Stark's legs - danger averted.
Stark looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fredriksson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stark is controlling Fredriksson's posture.
Fredriksson looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fredriksson trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
Fredriksson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fredriksson is breathing heavily.
Stark pulls Fredriksson in close to prevent any damage.
Steven Stark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fredriksson throws an overhand right that lands on Stark's shoulder, as Stark tries to avoid the shot.

Stark drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stark is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Stark is fighting to break Fredriksson's control of his arms but Fredriksson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Stark 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark wants to control from the top but Fredriksson keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Steven Stark wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Fredriksson shoots in for a takedown but Stark shows good takedown defense.
Fredriksson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stark's waist but Stark gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fredriksson off to one side.
No luck for Fredriksson with that takedown attempt.

Stark gets caught flat footed, as Fredriksson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stark controlling Fredriksson's posture.
Fredriksson trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fredriksson looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stark looking for a triangle here. Fredriksson is fighting it but it looks tight! Stark pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Fredriksson is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Steven Stark!
Steven Stark seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.