PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tim Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Desmond Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson has chosen skillet ~ monster as his entrance music. Desmond Nelson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Stark
vs
Nelson

205 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
24
136 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tim Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Desmond Nelson!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Jonathan Paton and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nelson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stark looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Stark sneaks out the side door and pushes Nelson away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Nelson misses with a combination

and Stark counters by clinching up.
Stark just leaning against Nelson, taking a breather.

Nelson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Stark is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Nelson to the mat. Nelson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stark lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stark controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stark landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stark drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nelson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Stark has Nelson in his guard.

Stark looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stark working a defensive guard here.
Nelson throws a strike but Stark rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Stark trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nelson's guard.
Nelson trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark content to stall in guard here.
Stark really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nelson is on top in guard.

Stark is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stark trying to keep a closed guard but Nelson is proving a slippery customer.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson slips nicely into half guard.

Nelson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stark defends it well.
Nelson is trying to control. Stark wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stark is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nelson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nelson's back!
Stark biding his time, controlling Nelson.
Nelson rolls, trying to escape but Stark keeps control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark biding his time, looking for the opening.
Nelson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Stark controlling the positon.

Stark working for the choke.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Stark dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Stark moves into the clinch.

Stark gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Nelson is working an open guard so Stark takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nelson throws a sloppy head kick

and Stark counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Nelson!

Nelson throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch combination from Nelson misses.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nelson enables Stark to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nelson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stark's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Stark with a nice head shot there.

Stark drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Nelson dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stark is controlling Nelson's posture.
Stark is looking to stand back up but Nelson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Stark.
Nelson stops Stark from getting back to his feet.

Stark manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Nelson keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Stark has clasped his hands together around Nelson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We've been informed that Nelson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Stark wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nelson, who protects the arm well.

Stark decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nelson to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses.

Nelson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Nelson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stark is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Stark is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nelson has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Nelson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stark knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Nelson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Stark rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Nelson's guard! Nice work there by Stark!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stark controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stark lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stark is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nelson can do to turn this around?
Stark showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Stark lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Nelson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stark is aware though and is defending well.
Stark trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nelson's guard.

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.
Stark controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Stark decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Nelson, up you get!
Nelson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Stark counters by moving into the clinch.

Stark tightens his grip and picks Nelson up, before dumping him to the ground. Nelson manages to land in guard.
Stark is standing up over Nelson. Nelson looks to escape but Stark dives into side control.

Stark slows the pace down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Stark dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nelson fails to land with a series of punches.

Stark closes the distance and clinches.
Nelson working hard to break the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Stark takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Stark lands a takedown into guard.
Stark will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark is looking to stand up but Nelson won't let him.
Stark controls from within his opponent's guard.
Stark has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Nelson wants to sweep here but Stark controlling him for the moment.
Nelson looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stark's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Stark drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Stark jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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

That's two 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.
Nelson looks to land a right hand but Stark moved out of range.

Nelson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Stark sneaks out the side door and pushes Nelson away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Stark moves into the clinch.

Stark has picked Nelson up - he's going for a ride! Stark dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Nelson has one foot on Stark's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stark gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Stark pulls guard.
Nelson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stark is proving hard to escape from.

Nelson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Stark is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Nelson, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark wanted to stand there but Nelson had control of the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stark accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stark trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nelson's guard.
Nelson being controlled here, momentarily.

Stark gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

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.

Stark darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Stark is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nelson defends it well.
Nelson tries to roll over but Stark keeps him under control.
Nelson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stark.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Stark showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stark, 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

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