PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Julian Assange (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iso Stara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Assange
vs
Stara

170 cm
18
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Julian Assange!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Iso Stara!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Donald Grub and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Stara misses

and Assange counters by moving into the clinch.
Nice elbow from Assange.

It looks like Iso Stara has been cut.
Assange misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stara.
Stara with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stara managing to block the knees to the body from Assange.
Assange pushes off an throws an elbow but Stara leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Assange throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Assange can't find room to land a body shot as Stara controls the action.
Stara avoids a wild elbow strike from Assange.
Assange lands an elbow that stopped Stara in his tracks for a moment.
Assange swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Assange throws an elbow but it misses.
Stara is pushing Assange up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Stara takes an elbow to the temple.
Stara avoids the elbow strike from Assange, against the cage.
Stara using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Assange has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Assange tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stara avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Assange manages to break the clinch.
Assange will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Stara fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stara misses with a low kick.
Stara throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Assange moves out of range of the leg kick from Stara.
Stara tries to close the distance and clinch up but Assange swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stara is looking to score with low kicks.
Assange avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Assange.
Assange throws a chopping leg kick but Stara manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Assange blocks a head kick by Stara.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stara.
Stara wants to clinch up but Assange keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Assange rushes Stara and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Assange is trying to stall.
Assange throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Stara looking to throw knees to the head but Assange is blocking nicely.
Assange wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Assange misses with an elbow strike.
Assange blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stara has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A frustrated look appears on Stara's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Stara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Assange lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stara blocks an elbow strike.
Stara avoiding damage as Assange throws knees to the body.
Stara looking to slow down the pace here.
Assange tries to break free but Stara pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stara is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Assange looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Stara avoids the elbow strike from Assange, against the cage.
Assange throws an elbow but it misses.
Stara is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Stara connects with a knee to the head.
Stara looking to throw knees to the head but Assange is blocking nicely.
Stara avoids the elbow strike from Assange, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Stara is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Stara using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Assange has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Assange dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Assange is looking to break free of the clinch but Stara has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assange lands an elbow inside.
Stara using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Assange has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Assange throws an elbow but it misses.
Assange throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Assange breaks from the clinch.
Stara tries to score with a low kick but Assange moves his leg out of the way.
Assange stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Assange wants it to stay on the feet.
Assange looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Assange, right into the meat.
Stara scoring well with a low kick there.
Stara shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Assange as he jumps to the side.
Julian Assange has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iso Stara.
The fight stays on the outside here - Assange looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stara tries to land a leg kick but Assange saw it coming and moves away.
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 Julian Assange will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Iso Stara's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stara pivots, looking for a leg kick but Assange is out of range and Stara settles back down.
Stara throws a leg kick
and Assange counters with an outside leg kick.
Assange leaves Stara with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stara fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Assange throws a low kick, looking for Stara's leg but Stara calmly moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Stara.
Stara connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Assange fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Stara.
Good leg kick by Stara there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Iso Stara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stara misses with a low kick.
Stara moves in looking to clinch but Assange pushes him off.
Assange wants to slow Stara down by chopping away at his legs.
Assange blocks a head kick by Stara.
Assange connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stara is breathing heavily.
Stara takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Assange misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stara.
Stara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Assange tries to close the distance and clinch but Stara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stara buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Assange wants to clinch up but Stara keeps it at a distance.
Assange looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Stara shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Assange as he avoids it easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Assange.
Assange chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Assange throws a leg kick which misses Stara's front leg but catches the back leg as Stara tries to avoid it.
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!
Assange throws a jab when Stara was well out of range.
Assange misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stara is looking to score with low kicks.
Assange scores with a leg kick.
Stara throws a head kick that misses.
Assange lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Assange misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stara fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Assange checks it well.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Assange, right into the meat.
Some bone on bone action there as Stara checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Assange scores with a hook to the body. Stara takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Julian Assange is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Assange fakes the leg kick and cracks Stara in the body.
Assange lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Assange throws a hook to the side of Stara's head but Stara sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stara shoots in looking for a takedown. Assange tries to sprawl out of it but Stara keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Assange manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Julian Assange has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iso Stara.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assange throws a nice outside leg kick.
Assange attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Assange feints and then cracks Stara's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Stara down.
A bone on bone clash there as Assange blocks the leg kick.
Assange throws a head kick but Stara moves out of range.
Assange throws a low kick but Stara moves out of range easily.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Assange.
Assange dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Stara. That did some damage!

Assange rushes Stara and presses him up against the cage.
Stara dodges an elbow strike from Assange.
Stara with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assange creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Stara's defenses.
Stara's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Assange lands a damaging elbow.
Stara is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Assange is defending well for now.
Assange throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice elbow from Assange.
Stara dodges an elbow strike from Assange.
Assange throws an elbow but it misses.
Assange creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Stara's defenses.
Stara is trying desperately to land a takedown but Assange is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Stara.
Assange throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Assange lands a damaging elbow.
Assange lands an elbow inside.
Assange pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Assange breaks from the clinch.
Assange throws a chopping leg kick but Stara manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Assange throws a jab when Stara was well out of range.
Stara blocks a low kick nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Assange dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Iso Stara's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Assange fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Stara wants to slow Assange down by chopping away at his legs.
Assange throws a leg kick but Stara checks it.
Assange tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
An inside leg kick lands from Stara.
Assange throws a leg kick but Stara checks it.
Assange buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Stara pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Stara tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Assange.
Stara throws a sloppy head kick and Assange moves out of range easily.
Stara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Good work by Assange as he checks the leg kick.
Assange checks the leg kick nicely there.
Stara throws a head kick that misses
and Assange counters with a big head kick but Stara shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stara blocks a head kick by Assange.
Stara moves out of range of the leg kick from Assange.
Assange throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stara fails with a takedown attempt.
Assange throws a solid leg kick but Stara takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Assange.
Assange scores with a head kick.
An inside leg kick from Assange misses.
Assange fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Stara checks it well.
Assange misses with a low kick.
Stara blocks a head kick by Assange.
Stara throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
That kick from Assange tenderised Stara's leg. Stara is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Stara as he checks the leg kick.
Stara on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Assange. Assange obviously looking to wear him down.

Assange clinches with his opponent.
Stara is trying to force a seperation but Assange has the dominant position.
Assange misses with an elbow over the top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Assange tries to land knees in the clinch but Stara avoids the damage to the body.
Stara missing with knees to the body.
Julian Assange has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stara tries a knee to the head but Assange blocks it.
Assange lands an elbow inside.
Stara dodges an elbow strike from Assange.
Assange lands a nice elbow.
Assange lands an elbow inside.
Stara avoids a wild elbow strike from Assange.
Assange lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assange lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Assange lands an elbow inside that Stara shrugs off.

Assange breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A leg kick checked by Assange.
A bone on bone clash there as Stara blocks the leg kick.
Assange checks a low kick from Stara.
A nice leg kick lands there from Assange.

Assange gets a clinch.
Stara blocks an elbow strike from Assange.
Nice elbow from Assange.
Stara blocks an elbow strike from Assange.
Assange misses with an elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Assange.
Assange lands an elbow just above Stara 's eye.
Stara lands a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stara takes an elbow to the temple.

Assange breaks the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Assange.
Iso Stara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Assange throws a leg kick but Stara sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Stara tried to score with a low kick but Assange checks it.
Stara wants to clinch up but Assange keeps it at a distance.
Assange is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stara fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stara walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Assange checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Assange moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stara looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stara takes a kick to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julian Assange showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Assange has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julian Assange!