PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steven Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryce ODonnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stark's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Karri Koira - Lähe mun kaa . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Stark
vs
ODonnell

172 cm
22
156 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

167 cm
23
156 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steven Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Bryce ODonnell!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ODonnell doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bryce ODonnell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stark tries to clinch up but ODonnell circles away and keeps his distance.
Stark throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
ODonnell loads up on a big right hand but Stark slips the punch.
Stark scores with a hook.
Stark scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Stark avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
ODonnell checks a leg kick nicely.
Stark tries to clinch up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stark is defended easily by ODonnell.
Stark shoots in looking for a takedown. ODonnell tries to sprawl out of it but Stark keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. ODonnell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stark throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
ODonnell is looking to clinch.
ODonnell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stark looks to score with a jab to the body but ODonnell is just out of range.
ODonnell throws a combination that misses
and Stark counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from ODonnell.
Stark shoots in and drives through. ODonnell sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stark throws a head kick that misses.
ODonnell throws a head kick that half lands.
ODonnell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Stark has closed the distance and engaged ODonnell in a clinch.
Stark is trying to pull guard but ODonnell turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
ODonnell throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Stark jumps guard but ODonnell stands there with Stark around his waist. Stark gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
ODonnell struggles to land a body shot inside as Stark controls his hands.
ODonnell landing knees to the head.

It looks like Steven Stark has been cut.
ODonnell looking to slow down the pace here.
ODonnell tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Stark's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables ODonnell to keep the fight standing.
ODonnell lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Stark wants a takedown but no success here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A shot in the inside from ODonnell.
ODonnell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stark.
ODonnell lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Stark tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. ODonnell just stands there and leans against the ropes.
ODonnell tries to land knees in the clinch but Stark avoids the damage to the body.
Stark blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
ODonnell is stalling here.
ODonnell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
ODonnell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stark.
Stark avoiding damage as ODonnell throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bryce ODonnell will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Steven Stark's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

ODonnell lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nice body kick from ODonnell.
Stark is looking to clinch.

Stark looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
ODonnell seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Stark is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Stark trying to move into half guard but instead ODonnell has managed to sweep!
Stark looking to control but ODonnell passes into half guard.

ODonnell is trying to work for a kimura but Stark is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark keeping control of the position.
Stark avoiding damage under a succession of punches from ODonnell.

ODonnell seems to be looking for submissions.

ODonnell seems to be looking for submissions.
Stark is pressing down on ODonnell's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stark controlling ODonnell's posture.
ODonnell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stark is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
ODonnell wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stark manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
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 Steven Stark will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Steven Stark's cut.
That's time! Stark's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stark fails with an attempt to clinch.
ODonnell jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Stark misses with a wild body shot.
Stark tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stark uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from ODonnell.
ODonnell moves in looking to clinch but Stark pushes him off.
Stark lands a slapping body shot.
ODonnell pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Stark drives through with a takedown into ODonnell's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Stark postures up in ODonnell's guard and throws a big left but ODonnell blocks it.
Stark postures up in ODonnell's guard and throws a big left but ODonnell blocks it.
Stark in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stark cracks ODonnell with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark looking to sit in guard and control but ODonnell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
ODonnell working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stark's head.
Stark has ODonnell pulled in close to control his posture.
Stark preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
ODonnell is looking to work some ground and pound but Stark has wrist control.
ODonnell is stalling in the full guard.
ODonnell wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ODonnell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stark looking for a sweep. Not yet Stark, not yet.
Stark pulls ODonnell in to control the position.
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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
ODonnell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stark is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Steven Stark.
Stark moves away from the strike by ODonnell.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stark is trying hard to land a takedown here. ODonnell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

ODonnell clinches with his opponent.
ODonnell is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Steven Stark did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Steven Stark's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

ODonnell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stark.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stark.

Stark tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stark has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
ODonnell is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Stark in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
ODonnell is looking to regain half guard here but Stark keeps moving and retains side control.
ODonnell struggling a bit here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark scores with punches from side control.
Stark throws a strike aimed at the side of ODonnell's head but ODonnell avoids it well.
Stark is trying to ground and pound but ODonnell uses the momentary lack of control by Stark to regain half guard.
ODonnell manages to get to full guard.
Stark trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark throwing strikes from guard but ODonnell blocks nicely.
Stark sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stark trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stark is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Stark trying to control but ODonnell is working from the bottom.
Stark preventing the sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
ODonnell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stark.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Stark had his way with Bryce ODonnell in that round.
The cut man is working on Steven Stark's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

ODonnell tries a head kick but it misses.

Stark closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. ODonnell did well to prevent Stark getting side control.
ODonnell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stark.
ODonnell is staying active underneath Stark, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Stark is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
ODonnell is trying is best to control the position here.
Stark throwing shots but ODonnell is blocking nicely.
ODonnell moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Stark is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stark throwing strikes but missing.
ODonnell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stark manages to get himself to full guard.
Stark bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in ODonnell's guard.
Stark with a flurry of punches that miss.
Steven Stark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
ODonnell trying to keep a closed guard but Stark is proving a slippery customer.
Stark throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark wants to control from the top but ODonnell keeps moving.
Stark stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. ODonnell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stark accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but ODonnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
ODonnell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stark postures up in ODonnell's guard and throws a big left but ODonnell blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Stark showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stark has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Josh West scores the fight for Steven Stark!
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight for Steven Stark!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for Steven Stark!

Steven Stark wins by unanimous decision!
Bryce ODonnell spoke after the fight, saying 'My hats off to my opponent he's great fighter. Thanks to king Arthur and fallen champions. Thank you fans next time you see me I'm gonna get the win.'.