PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steven Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gaius Arabi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stark's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Karri Koira - Lähe mun kaa . Arabi has chosen Genesis - Justice as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Stark
vs
Arabi

172 cm
21
156 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

172 cm
23
160 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steven Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gaius Arabi!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark tries to land a leg kick but Arabi saw it coming and moves away.
Stark tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Arabi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stark defends it nicely.

Stark scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Stark throws a strike aimed at the side of Arabi's head but Arabi avoids it well.
Arabi gets back to half guard.
Arabi tries to roll over but Stark keeps him under control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Arabi trying to get back to full guard but Stark takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Stark lands with some strikes.
Arabi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Arabi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Arabi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stark keeping moving, preventing Arabi from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark is trying to control the position but Arabi postures up.
Arabi trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
Arabi looking to pass the guard.
Stark wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Arabi throws a big right hand that misses.
Stark keeping full guard, as Arabi tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stark stuns Arabi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark throws a jab but it's blocked by Arabi.
Stark throws a hook to the side of Arabi's head but Arabi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Arabi misses with a looping left.
A slow jab from Arabi misses its intended target.
Stark misses with a double jab
and Arabi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stark misses with an attempted mid kick.
Arabi connects with a right hand. Stark shakes it off.
Arabi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stark was well out of range. Poor timing from Arabi.
Arabi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Arabi takes a swing at Stark's ribcage but misses.
Steven Stark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stark drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
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!

Arabi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stark defends well.
Stark working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Arabi's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arabi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stark can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stark working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Arabi has momentary wrist control but Stark slips an elbow through the middle.

Arabi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stark defends it easily.

Arabi has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Stark is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Arabi.
Stark wants to control but Arabi is keeping him busy.
Arabi is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arabi taking a bit of punishment here - Stark scoring with strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Arabi is looking to regain half guard here but Stark keeps moving and retains side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stark in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Arabi takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Arabi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Arabi tries to get to full guard but Stark has control of the leg.
Stark is trying to control the action in half guard but Arabi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Arabi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Arabi.
Stark throwing strikes but missing.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Arabi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark passes into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Stark lands a nice short elbow.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Arabi is looking for a sweep. Stark is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stark working Arabi over with strikes.
Stark working Arabi over with strikes.

Arabi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stark wants to lay and pray for a moment but Arabi keeps working.
Arabi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Arabi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Arabi won't allow Stark to pass to mount.
Stark prevents Arabi from improving his position.

Arabi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Stark tries to pass to full mount but Arabi defends it.
Stark wants to control but Arabi is keeping him busy.

Arabi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stark tries to pass the half guard into mount. Arabi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Stark is working for a submission of some sort.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Arabi looking for submissions off his back.
Stark is trying to control the action in half guard but Arabi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Arabi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Stark sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Arabi defending well though.
Arabi trying to hold on to Stark's head to control him but Stark postures up.
Stark drops an elbow to the side of Arabi's head.

Stark is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Arabi has managed to free his arm - good work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Stark lands a nice short elbow.
Stark lands strikes from half guard.

Arabi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Arabi tries to roll over but Stark keeps him under control.
Arabi is looking to get back to full guard here but Stark has managed to pass to side control instead.
Arabi is looking for a sweep.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Arabi takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arabi is looking for a sweep.
Arabi is working to avoid the ground and pound but Stark connects with a decent elbow.

Arabi is rocked!
Arabi is trying to get back to half guard.
Arabi is still in real trouble! Can Stark finish him?
Stark looks up at the clock and then as Arabi takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Stark smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Arabi is looking for a sweep.
Stark cracks Arabi with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! Stark immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Arabi is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by Stark!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Steven Stark!