PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Glen Starner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergey Keosayan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Starner comes to the cage accompanied by Guano Apes - Open your eyes. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Starner
vs
Keosayan

172 cm
38
165 lbs
31 - 18 - 0

169 cm
24
166 lbs
9 - 5 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Conviction
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Glen Starner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergey Keosayan!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keosayan fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Starner on the side of the head.
Keosayan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Starner throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Starner scores with a takedown into Keosayan's guard.
Starner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Keosayan is keeping the position for now.
Starner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Keosayan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Starner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starner with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Starner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keosayan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Keosayan is trying to keep Starner in close.
Keosayan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Keosayan controls Starner momentarily but Starner frees himself.
Starner trying to control the position from guard on top but Keosayan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Starner throws a big right hand that misses.
Starner throwing strikes from guard but Keosayan blocks nicely.
Keosayan trying to keep a closed guard but Starner is proving a slippery customer.
Starner wants to control from the top but Keosayan keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Keosayan is adopting a defensive guard.

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

Keosayan gets the takedown into side control.
Keosayan trying to control the position but Starner is working away.
Starner struggling a bit here.
Keosayan advances nicely into full mount.
Keosayan content just to control the position here.
Keosayan tries to control but Starner wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starner is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Starner is in all sorts of trouble here.
Keosayan wants to control the pace but Starner is squirming around nicely.
Starner is working to get back to half guard.
Keosayan trying to control but Starner is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starner is desperately trying to improve his position but Keosayan has a good base and remains in mount.
Starner in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Keosayan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Keosayan working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Starner takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Starner keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Keosayan tries to control but Starner wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Starner is in all sorts of trouble here.
Starner is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Keosayan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Keosayan, right into the meat.
Starner on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Keosayan. Keosayan obviously looking to wear him down.
A slapping leg kick lands for Keosayan.
Starner chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Keosayan can pounce on him.
Keosayan tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Starner is able to avoid easily.
Keosayan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Keosayan is looking to land body kicks.
That kick from Keosayan tenderised Starner's leg. Starner is trying to keep his angry face on.
Starner throws an overhand right that lands on Keosayan's shoulder, as Keosayan tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starner connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Keosayan. Starner shrugs it off though.
A good leg kick by Keosayan.
Keosayan scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keosayan throws the kick towards the body but Starner avoids it.
Starner tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Starner crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Keosayan - the referee stops the clock and Starner gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Keosayan. Starner manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Starner scores with a hook.
A nice leg kick lands there from Keosayan.
Keosayan tries a low kick but Starner avoids it.
Starner appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A jab from Starner misses.
Sergey Keosayan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Starner uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Keosayan.
Starner chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Keosayan can pounce on him.
Keosayan pushes Starner away with a front kick.
Keosayan throws a wild body kick that Starner sees coming a mile off.
Nice uppercut there from Starner.
Starner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Keosayan.
Keosayan connects with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Keosayan feints and then cracks Starner's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Starner down.
Starner has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Keosayan.
Keosayan swinging wildly here.
Starner changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Keosayan slips a jab from Starner.
Starner cracks Keosayan with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

It looks like Sergey Keosayan has been cut.

Starner drives through with a takedown into Keosayan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Starner cracks Keosayan with a solid left hand.
Starner postures up in Keosayan's guard and throws a big left but Keosayan blocks it.
Starner with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Keosayan keeping moving, preventing Starner from controlling successfully.
Keosayan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Keosayan keeping moving, preventing Starner from controlling successfully.
Keosayan trying to keep a closed guard but Starner is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Starner wants to control from the top but Keosayan keeps moving.
Starner with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Starner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Keosayan wants to sweep here but Starner controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Starner with a nice head shot there.
Starner advances to half guard.
Keosayan trying to control but Starner postures up.
Keosayan on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Keosayan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Starner.
Keosayan is looking for a sweep. Starner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Keosayan regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Starner.
Starner wants to control from the top but Keosayan keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sergey Keosayan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sergey Keosayan'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. This is the final round!

Keosayan defending well as Starner loads up on a big left hand.
Starner blocks a head kick by Keosayan.
Keosayan scores with a crisp jab that stopped Starner in his tracks.
Starner keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Keosayan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Starner is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Keosayan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Keosayan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Keosayan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Starner takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keosayan lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Keosayan connects with an inside leg kick.
Keosayan misses with a body punch

and Starner counters with a nice double leg into side control. Keosayan won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keosayan is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Starner off and has taken his back!

Starner defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Keosayan's arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starner is in bad spot here.
Keosayan is punishing Starner with strikes - can he finish him?!

Keosayan is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Starner has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Keosayan not allowing Starner to control his hands.

Starner showing good submission defense here.
Keosayan controls the action.
Glen Starner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sergey Keosayan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keosayan trying to control momentarily.
Keosayan has good solid back control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starner tries to escape the position.
Starner is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Keosayan.
I really don't envy Starner right now.
Starner is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Keosayan.
Sergey Keosayan has got the better of the ground game so far.
I really don't envy Starner right now.
Keosayan has good solid back control here.
Keosayan's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Starner tries to escape but Keosayan has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Keosayan is riding his opponent, not letting Starner buck him off.
Starner manages to reverse the position and now he's in Keosayan's guard. Nice work there by Starner.
Keosayan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Starner throwing strikes from guard but Keosayan blocks nicely.
Keosayan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Keosayan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Keosayan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Keosayan 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Keosayan!
Sergey Keosayan seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.