PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bert Starius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ikki De Fenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De Fenix has chosen Bleak as his entrance music. Bert Starius could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ikki De Fenix's chin.

Starius
vs
De Fenix

180 cm
24
230 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
275 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bert Starius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ikki De Fenix!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Fenix throws a jab but it's blocked by Starius.
De Fenix has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Starius throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

De Fenix dives in and scores a takedown into Starius's guard.
De Fenix postures up.
Starius keeping moving, preventing De Fenix from controlling successfully.
De Fenix must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Starius is trying to control the position but De Fenix postures up.
De Fenix stopping the sweep attempt from Starius.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Fenix stands and throws Starius's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Starius prevents De Fenix from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starius is trying to escape the position but De Fenix is controlling the position.
Starius is looking for a sweep.
Starius struggling a bit here.

De Fenix tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no De Fenix has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
De Fenix controlling from side mount.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Starius is looking for a sweep.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A decent looking cross lands there for Starius.
De Fenix throws a leg kick that misses.
De Fenix tries to land a front kick but Starius steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
De Fenix misses with the body kick
enabling Starius to counter with a crisp jab.
Starius lands a straight punch to the body, keeping De Fenix at a distance.

Starius darts in and clinches De Fenix up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Fenix blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Starius blocks a body shot from De Fenix.
Starius tries a body shot but De Fenix blocks it.
De Fenix gets through Starius's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
De Fenix has Starius pressed against the cage.
De Fenix throws a head punch that misses.
De Fenix scores with a shoulder strike.
De Fenix blocks a punch to the side of the head.
De Fenix stalling.
Starius misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Starius doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
De Fenix avoids the elbow strike from Starius, against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
De Fenix has a couple of punches blocked by Starius.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Fenix struggles to land a body shot inside as Starius controls his hands.
De Fenix pressing his opponent against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by De Fenix as Starius tries to tie him up.
De Fenix's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
De Fenix misses with a hook to the ribs.
Starius is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
De Fenix digs a right hand underneath Starius's ribcage. Starius let out a lung full of air as it connected.
De Fenix blocks a punch to the side of the head.
De Fenix is pressed up against the cage. Starius has hold of a leg and is looking to drag De Fenix down to the mat. De Fenix avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De Fenix clobbers Starius with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Bert Starius is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
De Fenix waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Starius.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Starius cracks De Fenix with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikki De Fenix dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Starius looks to score with a jab to the body but De Fenix is just out of range.
De Fenix thuds a left hand into Starius's body.
De Fenix ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
De Fenix throws a front kick aimed at Starius's knee but Starius avoids it well.
Starius is looking to counter punch.
De Fenix tries to land a leg kick but Starius saw it coming and moves away.
De Fenix throws a hook but Starius avoids it easily.
Starius tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but De Fenix was well out of range. Poor timing from Starius.
De Fenix scores with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Starius lands a body shot.
De Fenix avoids the body shot from Starius.
Starius throws a predictable looking body shot
and De Fenix counters with a low kick, right behind Starius 's knee.
Ikki De Fenix seems to be getting the better of the standup.
De Fenix thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Starius if he has to take too many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starius fakes high and swings low for a body shot but De Fenix manages to avoid it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

De Fenix shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. De Fenix showed some decent athleticism there.
Starius is refusing to be controlled, as De Fenix sits in half guard.
De Fenix stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starius blocking the ground and pound attempt from De Fenix.
Starius tries to get to full guard but De Fenix has control of the leg.
De Fenix trying to pass the guard but Starius defending well.
De Fenix working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Starius's thigh. Starius counters though and makes it back to full guard.
De Fenix tries to free his leg and advance position but Starius is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starius keeping moving, preventing De Fenix from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Starius checks a low kick from De Fenix.
De Fenix throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
De Fenix connects with a solid leg kick.

De Fenix closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Starius struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
De Fenix in side control, throwing shots but Starius defends.
Starius regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starius won't allow De Fenix to pass to mount.
De Fenix passes to full mount!
De Fenix trying to control but he's not successful this time.
We've been hearing good reports from Starius's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De Fenix is trying to control here but Starius has managed to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikki De Fenix showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

De Fenix keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Starius lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
De Fenix turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
De Fenix throws the left hand but Starius avoids the punch easily.
De Fenix keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Starius lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
De Fenix takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
De Fenix thumps Starius with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

De Fenix scores with a takedown into Starius's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
De Fenix trying to control but Starius is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Fenix pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Starius is keeping the position for now.
Starius looking to control.
Starius keeping moving, preventing De Fenix from controlling successfully.
Ikki De Fenix has got the better of the ground game so far.
De Fenix tries to free his leg and advance position but Starius is retaining full guard.
De Fenix is still trying to improve position.
Starius keeping moving, preventing De Fenix from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
De Fenix pulls out of a head kick attempt.

De Fenix lands a high kick to the side of Starius's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! De Fenix dives into guard, looking to finish.

It looks like Bert Starius has been cut.

Starius looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Starius is controlling De Fenix's posture.
De Fenix slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The strikes coming from De Fenix are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Fenix is looking to take a break and control but Starius is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Starius is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Starius can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
De Fenix is trying to move to mount but Starius reverses beautifully and ends up in De Fenix's guard.
Bert Starius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
De Fenix pulls Starius in close to prevent any damage.
De Fenix looking to hit a scissor sweep but Starius is one step ahead there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De Fenix bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Starius's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ikki De Fenix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well De Fenix has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ikki De Fenix!
An out of breath Ikki De Fenix thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.