PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Endel Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Clinton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stark
vs
Clinton

170 cm
18
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Self confident

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Endel Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sami Clinton!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stark, as that shot connected.
Clinton moves forwards but Stark connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Clinton walks into a straight right hand from Stark.

Clinton tries to keep at a distance but Stark has taken the fight into the clinch.
Clinton goes for a takedown attempt but Stark pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Stark instigates a clinch.

Stark breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark lands a jab to Clinton's midsection.
Endel Stark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stark throws a shot to the body.
Clinton misses with a jab to the body
and Stark counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Clinton misses with a looping left.
Clinton avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Clinton misses with a lunging right hand
and Stark counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Stark misses with an attempted mid kick.

Stark scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Clinton is trying to get back to full guard.
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.
Clinton moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Clinton working for a triangle but Stark defends it easily.
Stark wants to control from the top but Clinton keeps moving.
Clinton wants to hit a switch here but Stark passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Clinton there!
Stark controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Clinton bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clinton postures up in Stark's guard and throws a big left but Stark blocks it.
Stark wants to sweep but no luck.
Clinton postures up in Stark's guard and throws a big left but Stark blocks it.
Clinton trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clinton preventing the sweep.
Stark is working hard here to advance position.
Stark has Clinton pulled in close to control his posture.
Clinton wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Clinton tries to free his leg and advance position but Stark is retaining full guard.
Clinton with a flurry of punches that miss.
Clinton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Clinton throws a big right hand that misses.
Clinton trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
Clinton won't allow Stark to sweep him here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Stark lunges at Clinton with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Clinton's hand.
Stark tries to clinch there but Clinton circles away.
Clinton feints the counter takedown.
Clinton misses with a straight right.
Stark misses with the combination.
Clinton changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Endel Stark dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Clinton throws an overhand right that lands on Stark's shoulder, as Stark tries to avoid the shot.
Stark takes a swing at Clinton's ribcage but misses.
Stark tries to clinch up but Clinton circles away and keeps his distance.
Stark tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Clinton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stark listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Clinton misses with a body shot.
Stark defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Clinton.
The fighters circling - Clinton throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clinton takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Stark wants to clinch up but Clinton keeps it at a distance.
Clinton darts in looking for a takedown but Stark gets double underhooks and turns Clinton into the ropes.
Clinton misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clinton shoots in for a double leg but Stark sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Endel Stark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sami Clinton.
Clinton shoots in looking for a takedown. Stark tries to sprawl out of it but Clinton keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Stark manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stark steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clinton.
Stark fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Clinton on the side of the head.
Stark fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Clinton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stark as he jumps to the side.
Stark jabs Clinton to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Stark scores with a nice right hand.
Clinton fails with the takedown.
Stark tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Clinton manages to circle out of the way.
A shot to the liver by Stark. Beautiful body shot.
Stark throws a leg kick that is checked

and Clinton counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stark controls Clinton momentarily but Clinton frees himself.
Stark is trying to hold Clinton in close to prevent damage but Clinton has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Clinton there.
Clinton throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stark moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Clinton stays in close to Stark's body and controls the position.

Clinton drops back looking for a leg! Stark is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stark manages to kick Clinton off! Clinton jumps back into Stark's guard.
Clinton throwing strikes from guard but Stark blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Clinton throwing strikes but missing.
Clinton throwing strikes but missing.
Clinton working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stark's head.
Stark trying to keep a closed guard but Clinton is proving a slippery customer.
Stark is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Clinton can do to turn this around?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clinton pushes down on Stark's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Clinton wants to work for an arm triangle but Stark is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sami Clinton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A jab from Clinton misses.
Stark tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Clinton manages to circle out of the way.
Stark tries to clinch but Clinton is having none of it.
Stark tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Clinton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Stark has closed the distance and engaged Clinton in a clinch.

Stark pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stark changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Stark tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Clinton takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Stark tries to clinch but Clinton is having none of it.

Stark has closed the distance and engaged Clinton in a clinch.
Clinton tries to score a body lock takedown but Stark shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clinton is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stark working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Stark lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Clinton backwards.
Stark looking to stall.

Stark's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Clinton swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Clinton drops his hands momentarily and Stark takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Clinton moves out of range of the body kick from Stark.
And Clinton tries to counter it with a takedown but Stark pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Clinton lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Stark at a distance.
Stark walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Clinton checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Stark steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clinton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Clinton misses with an uppercut.
As Clinton tries to get set, Stark tries to push him back and clinch up but Clinton manages to avoid the attempt.
Stark wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stark uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Clinton.
Clinton misses with a looping left.
Stark throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stark displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Clinton throws out the jab.
Stark lands a slapping body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clinton misses with a lunging right hand
and Stark counters with a leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Stark.
Stark scores with a push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Clinton takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Endel Stark is winning the standup battle so far.
Clinton throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Stark fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Clinton.
Clinton swings for the body but Stark moves out of range.
Stark wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Clinton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stark.
Clinton with the counter takedown but Stark avoids it easily.
Clinton tried to score with a low kick but Stark checks it.
Stark lands a right hook to the body.
Stark scores with a shot to the body.
Clinton looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark looks to score with a jab to the body but Clinton is just out of range.
Stark throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Clinton with the counter takedown but Stark avoids it easily.
Stark throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Clinton with the counter takedown but Stark avoids it easily.

Clinton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
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!
Clinton landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Clinton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Clinton creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Stark sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Clinton working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Stark tries to bench press Clinton off him but Clinton keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Endel 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

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