PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Akira Ito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Endel Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ito
vs
Stark

171 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very confident

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Akira Ito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Endel Stark!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stark closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ito's guard.
Ito looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stark is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stark is stalling in the full guard.
Stark throws an elbow that misses. Ito uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stark's guard. Nice move by Ito!

Ito wants to pass the guard but Stark is keeping the position.
Stark has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ito throwing strikes but missing.
Ito trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ito postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ito stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stark keeping moving, preventing Ito from controlling successfully.
Ito trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ito wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.
Stark wants to sweep here but Ito controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stark pulls Ito in close to prevent any damage.
Ito pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stark is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Ito shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stark napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Stark struggling a bit here.
Stark felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Stark is looking for a sweep.

Ito is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stark has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sloppy strikes there by Ito.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Stark's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stark regains half guard.
Stark is not content to let Ito control the position.
Ito is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Ito looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Stark is holding on to half guard well.

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.

Ito looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ito seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Ito dominated that round.
That's time! Ito's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ito lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stark circles away quickly and effectively.
Stark with the counter takedown but Ito avoids it easily.
Ito throws a body punch but Stark moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stark.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ito looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stark takes a swing at Ito's ribcage but misses.
Ito is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stark can do to turn this around?
Ito fails with a takedown attempt.
Stark ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ito throws a low kick but it's checked well by Stark.
Ito looks for a takedown but Stark sprawls well.
Stark scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ito rushes Stark and presses him up against the cage.
Stark being controlled against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Ito.
Stark is looking for a takedown.
Ito is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Akira Ito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Endel Stark.
Ito working aggressively here.
Ito tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stark misses with a knee to the head.
Ito stops a takedown attempt from Stark.
Ito tries to pull guard but Stark won't allow it.
Ito throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ito struggles to land a body shot inside as Stark controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ito drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stark pulls his leg out and moves away.
Akira Ito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good shot there by Ito.
Stark is looking to clinch but Ito is avoiding it.
Ito throws the left hand but Stark avoids the punch easily.
Ito dodges the punch combination from Stark.
Ito's corner calls for a 1-2. Ito obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Stark blocks a head kick by Ito.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ito.
Ito ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Stark throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ito tries for a takedown but Stark sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ito throws a wild body kick that Stark sees coming a mile off.

Stark pushes Ito up against the cage in a clinch.
Stark scores a nice knee to the body.
Stark working aggressively here.

Ito manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Stark avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stark passes into half guard.
Akira Ito overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ito avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stark.
Stark prevents Ito from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark wants to control but Ito is keeping him busy.
Stark lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Stark is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Stark trying to control the action but Ito is working from the bottom.

Ito actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ito is looking to improve his position.
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 Akira Ito will probably get the nod.
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!

Ito misses with a double jab.
Ito shoots for a takedown but Stark saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ito misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice body punch from Ito.
The fighters circling - Ito throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ito misses the shot to the body.
Stark takes a swing at Ito's ribcage but misses.
Stark throws a big shot that misses.

Stark pushes Ito up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ito can't find room to land a body shot as Stark controls the action.
Ito avoiding damage as Stark throws knees to the body.

Ito breaks the clinch.
Stark misses the shot to the body.
Ito appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Stark checks a leg kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Stark. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Stark.
Stark slips a jab from Ito.
Stark walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Some wild striking there from Stark.
Stark is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ito rather than just go for the knockout.
Ito shoots in but Stark avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Ito. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stark looks to score with a jab to the body but Ito is just out of range.
Ito drops down looking for a counter takedown but Stark sprawls and moves away.
Stark checks a low kick from Ito.
Stark dodges the punch combination from Ito.
Ito walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Stark checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ito takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Stark swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Stark gets caught napping as Ito dives in and scores a takedown. Stark manages to retain guard.
Endel Stark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ito passes Stark's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stark gets back to full guard.
Ito missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stark is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Stark is stalling here. Ito is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Stark seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ito has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on Stark's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark regains half guard.
Stark gets back to full guard.
Stark has Ito pulled in close to control his posture.
Stark trying to control the position.
Ito pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stark is keeping the position for now.
Ito throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four 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.
Stark is trying to control the position but Ito postures up.
Ito throwing strikes but missing.
Ito pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stark is keeping the position for now.
Stark not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ito connects with a couple of short punches.
Ito being controlled here momentarily.
Akira Ito is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Ito thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Ito showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ito, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Ito!