PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johan Hanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Starks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Hanson
vs
Starks

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johan Hanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leon Starks!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Edson Gomes and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Starks.
Starks wants to clinch
and Hanson counters with a three punch combo that has Starks backing up. Starks nods at Hanson to acknowledge the strikes.
Hanson needs to keep his hands up - Starks had a free shot at his head there.
Starks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Starks dodges the punch combination from Hanson.
A punch combination from Hanson misses.
Hanson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Starks backs up against the cage.
Starks misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice cross by Starks.
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!

Hanson has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hanson manages to break the clinch.
Starks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hanson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leon Starks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Starks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hanson.
Starks shoots in for a takedown but Hanson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Starks does it's job there.
Starks falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hanson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hanson swinging wildly here.
Hanson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hanson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Starks was well out of range. Poor timing from Hanson.
Starks fails to land with a series of punches.
Starks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Starks scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hanson in his tracks.
Starks avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johan Hanson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hanson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starks gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hanson lands with a hook. Starks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Starks.
No joy there for Hanson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Starks shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hanson sprawls well. Hanson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Starks gets slowly back to his feet.
Johan Hanson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Starks.
A punch combination from Starks misses.
Starks has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Hanson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hanson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Some wild striking there from Starks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Starks.
Starks looks winded!
Starks wants to stand but Hanson is controlling his arm.

Hanson sneaks out the side door and pushes Starks away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Starks tries to clinch up
and Hanson counters with a series of strikes. Starks will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hanson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hanson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Starks throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hanson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Hanson forces Starks back against the cage and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Starks is trying to push Hanson away but Hanson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hanson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Starks has him pressed against the cage.

Hanson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Starks looks for the body kick but Hanson saw that one coming.
Starks moves in looking to clinch but Hanson pushes him off.
Starks misses with a body kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Starks swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hanson counters with a left and a right that stings Starks.
Hanson tries to bum rush Starks with a series of wild strikes but Starks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hanson throws a series of punches but Starks moves out of range.
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 Johan Hanson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hanson rushes Starks and presses him up against the cage.

Starks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Starks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Starks throws a leg kick but Hanson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Starks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Starks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Starks shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hanson sprawls well. Hanson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Starks gets slowly back to his feet.
Starks misses with a head kick.
Hanson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Starks looks to throw the jab but Hanson is out of range.
Starks is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanson misses with a wild combination.
Starks fails with a takedown attempt.
Hanson looks to land a combination. Starks sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Starks dodges the punch combination from Hanson.

Starks has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hanson tries to pull guard but Starks forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hanson has had enough of the clinch but Starks keeps him there for the moment.
Starks wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanson wants to take the fight to the mat but Starks manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Hanson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hanson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Hanson wriggles free and stands up.
A swing and a miss from Starks.
Starks swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hanson counters with a left and a right that stings Starks.

Starks closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hanson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Starks throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hanson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Starks missing with a left hand there. Hanson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Some wild striking there from Hanson.

Hanson darts in and clinches Starks up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanson is looking to break free of the clinch but Starks has double underhooks.
Hanson is working for takedown but Starks is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan Hanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hanson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Starks gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Starks is trying to force a seperation but Hanson has the dominant position.
Starks tries to pull guard but Hanson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Starks is trying to pull guard but Hanson has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starks keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hanson's efforts to push away.
Starks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hanson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Starks is defending well.
Hanson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Hanson jumps guard and drags Starks to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starks wants to get up but he can't break Hanson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Starks wants to stand and escape but instead Hanson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Hanson stands and steps away. Starks gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Hanson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hanson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hanson counters with a one-two to the body.
Hanson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Starks fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hanson is out of range.
Johan Hanson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hanson rushes Starks and presses him up against the cage.
Hanson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Starks tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hanson smiles and moves away.
Starks misses with a double jab.

Starks gets tackled into the cage by Hanson. Hanson maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanson prevents Starks from breaking the clinch.

Hanson pulls guard.

Hanson kicks Starks off and gets to his feet.
Starks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hanson.
Starks looks to clinch
and Hanson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Starks will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Starks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Starks will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Starks with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hanson to score with a decent uppercut.
Hanson throws a right hand that Starks ducks under and follows up with a left that Starks also avoids with ease.

Starks tries to keep at a distance but Hanson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Starks is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hanson as Starks tries to tie him up.
Hanson is trying to pull guard but Starks turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hanson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hanson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan Hanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Starks prevents Hanson from breaking the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Starks is trying to break the clinch but Hanson has him pressed against the cage.
Starks wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Starks pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Starks looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hanson is looking to break free of the clinch but Starks has double underhooks.
Hanson tries for a takedown but Starks manages to get underhooks.
Starks is trying to break the clinch but Hanson has him pressed against the cage.

Starks manages to break the clinch.
Hanson misses with the combination.
Hanson throws a nice looking combination but Starks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Starks shoots in looking for a takedown. Hanson tries to sprawl out of it but Starks keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hanson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Starks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A lazy left from Starks finds it's target.
Starks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hanson as he avoids it easily.
Hanson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hanson.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hanson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Leon Starks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hanson jumps into guard, dragging Starks to the mat.
Johan Hanson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Hanson manages to escape and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johan Hanson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hanson 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johan Hanson!