PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hans Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregorios Konstantinos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gregorios Konstantinos is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Stark
vs
Konstantinos

186 cm
23
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
216 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hans Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gregorios Konstantinos!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Konstantinos misses with a takedown
and Stark counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Konstantinos shoots in but no luck this time.
Stark misses with a double jab.
Konstantinos fails with the takedown
and Stark counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hans Stark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gregorios Konstantinos.
Konstantinos shoots and misses
and Stark counters with a three punch combo that has Konstantinos backing up. Konstantinos nods at Stark to acknowledge the strikes.
Nice body punch from Stark.
Konstantinos keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stark.
Gregorios Konstantinos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Konstantinos looks for a takedown but Stark sprawls well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stark is defended easily by Konstantinos.
Konstantinos bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark throws a series of punches but Konstantinos avoids them all with ease.
Stark fails to land with a series of punches.
Konstantinos defending well as Stark loads up on a big left hand.
Konstantinos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Stark counters with a left and a right that stings Konstantinos.
Stark keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stark throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stark fails with the takedown.
Stark just misses with a punch to the body.
Stark lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Gregorios Konstantinos has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stark loads up on a big right hand but Konstantinos slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Konstantinos with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stark counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The fighters circling - Stark throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Stark shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Stark can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Konstantinos is looking to escape.
Konstantinos regains half guard.
Stark missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stark lands strikes from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stark seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Konstantinos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Konstantinos tries to get to full guard but Stark has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Konstantinos is trying to maintain the position but Stark is very close to passing his half guard.
Stark wants to control but Konstantinos is keeping him busy.
Konstantinos should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Konstantinos is pressing down on Stark's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Konstantinos lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stark!
Konstantinos throws some wild stikes that Stark manages to avoid easily.
Stark can't escape the position.
Stark wants to control but Konstantinos is having none of it.
Konstantinos controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark is in all sorts of trouble here.
Konstantinos raining down hammerfists from mount.
Stark is working to get back to half guard.
Stark blocking the ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Konstantinos working Stark over with strikes here.
Konstantinos has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Konstantinos lands with some strikes.
Konstantinos with shots to the head and body - Stark looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hans Stark dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gregorios Konstantinos's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A telegraphed right hand from Stark misses the target.
Stark looks to land a combination but Konstantinos avoids it well.
Konstantinos is trying desperately to land a takedown but Stark is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Konstantinos.
Konstantinos fails with the takedown
and Stark counters with a two punch combo.
Konstantinos fails with a takedown attempt.
Konstantinos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hans Stark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gregorios Konstantinos.
Stark tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Konstantinos was well out of range. Poor timing from Stark.
Stark misses with a double jab.
Konstantinos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Konstantinos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That has opened up Gregorios Konstantinos's cut even more.
Konstantinos avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Stark closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Konstantinos's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konstantinos pulls Stark in close to prevent any damage.
Stark wants to control from the top but Konstantinos keeps moving.
Konstantinos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stark content to stall in guard here.
Stark postures up in Konstantinos's guard and throws a big left but Konstantinos blocks it.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Konstantinos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Hans Stark.
Konstantinos shoots and misses
and Stark connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hans Stark is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stark misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Konstantinos.
Hans Stark is winning the standup battle so far.

Konstantinos shoots in and gets a takedown into Stark's guard.
Konstantinos looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Konstantinos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Konstantinos wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.
Stark is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Konstantinos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stark on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stark tries to get out of the position.
Konstantinos trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Konstantinos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stark keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Konstantinos dives in and grabs Stark's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stark pushes down on Konstantinos's head and hops out.
Stark looks to score with a jab to the body but Konstantinos is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Konstantinos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stark.
Konstantinos shoots in but no luck this time.
Stark shoots in for a takedown but Konstantinos shows good takedown defense.
Stark misses with a looping right.

Konstantinos gets the takedown into side control.
Stark struggling a bit here.
Gregorios Konstantinos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stark looking for a sweep but Konstantinos has passed into full mount! Oh no!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stark is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hans Stark will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gregorios Konstantinos's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Stark as Konstantinos shoots in.
Stark changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Stark looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Konstantinos moves into full guard.
Stark postures up in Konstantinos's guard and throws a big left but Konstantinos blocks it.
Stark preventing the sweep.
Stark throwing strikes from guard but Konstantinos blocks nicely.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Konstantinos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark trying to move into half guard but instead Konstantinos has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konstantinos wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.
Stark pulls Konstantinos in close to prevent any damage.
Konstantinos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stark is trying to keep Konstantinos in close.
Konstantinos trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Konstantinos preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Konstantinos misses with a takedown attempt
and Stark counters with a stiff right hand.
Konstantinos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stark tries to avoid it but Konstantinos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stark to the ground. Stark escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hans Stark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gregorios Konstantinos.
Stark just misses with a punch to the body.
Konstantinos with a poor takedown
and Stark counters with a two punch combo.
Konstantinos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stark sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Konstantinos somewhat.
Konstantinos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Konstantinos fails with the takedown
and Stark counters with a stiff right hand.
Stark looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Konstantinos doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Stark counters with a series of strikes. Konstantinos will be more careful next time no doubt.
Konstantinos dodges the punch combination from Stark.
Stark throws a right hand that Konstantinos ducks under and follows up with a left that Konstantinos also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Stark misses its intended target.
Konstantinos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stark but Stark pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stark misses the shot to the body.
Konstantinos shoots in for a double leg but Stark sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stark looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Konstantinos will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stark lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

The cut above Gregorios Konstantinos's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Stark misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Konstantinos misses with a takedown attempt - Stark sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Konstantinos misses with a takedown
and Stark counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark tries to score a power double leg takedown but Konstantinos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stark somewhat.
Stark lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Konstantinos circles away quickly and effectively.

Konstantinos is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stark's half guard.
Konstantinos trying to control from half guard but Stark is working away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Konstantinos is figuring out what he wants to do next.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hans Stark showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stark, 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hans Stark!