PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hioron Papastopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khal Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Papastopoulos comes into the arena with Spectrum - Florence + The Machine (remix Calvin Harris) blaring out of the sound system. Khal Stark has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Papastopoulos
vs
Stark

170 cm
23
148 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

174 cm
23
138 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hioron Papastopoulos!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Khal Stark!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Franklyn Lucas and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Papastopoulos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stark swivels and escapes.
Stark misses with a left hand
and Papastopoulos cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stark takes a jab right on the kisser.
Papastopoulos misses with a takedown attempt - Stark sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stark wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Horrible takedown attempt by Papastopoulos or perhaps it was just good defense by Stark, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hioron Papastopoulos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stark throws a chopping leg kick but Papastopoulos manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Papastopoulos decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Stark kicks Papastopoulos off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Papastopoulos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stark swivels and escapes.
Papastopoulos throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stark.
Papastopoulos has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Midnight MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Stark throws a jab but it's blocked by Papastopoulos.
A shot to the liver by Stark. Beautiful body shot.
Stark throws a body punch but Papastopoulos moves out of range.
Papastopoulos throws a nice looking combination but Stark bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A nice side step and Stark releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A telegraphed right hand from Stark misses the target.
Papastopoulos swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Papastopoulos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Papastopoulos dives in and scores a takedown into Stark's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papastopoulos looking to sit in guard and control but Stark gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Stark trying to control but Papastopoulos is working from the bottom.
Stark postures up in Papastopoulos's guard and throws a big left but Papastopoulos blocks it.
Stark must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Papastopoulos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stark is controlling him.
Stark slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Papastopoulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark won't allow Papastopoulos to get back to his feet.
Stark looking to pass the guard.
Stark with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Papastopoulos tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Papastopoulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Papastopoulos is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Papastopoulos wants a takedown.
Papastopoulos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Stark breaks the clinch.
Stark fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Papastopoulos just misses with a punch to the body.

Papastopoulos darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Papastopoulos is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark is looking to escape.
Papastopoulos throws a strike but Stark avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Papastopoulos is fighting to break Stark's control of his arms but Stark is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Stark looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stark is striking from the bottom but Papastopoulos uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
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!
Stark keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Papastopoulos prevents Stark from standing back up.
Stark told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Papastopoulos looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Khal Stark 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.

Papastopoulos bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stark walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Papastopoulos checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Stark misses with a hook.
Hioron Papastopoulos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stark fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Papastopoulos manages to avoid it.
Stark swings for the body but Papastopoulos moves out of range.
Papastopoulos attempts a counter takedown but Stark avoids it well and moves away.
Papastopoulos on the wrong end of a nice hook.

It looks like Hioron Papastopoulos has been cut.
Papastopoulos dives in for a single leg takedown but Stark sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Papastopoulos uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stark.
Papastopoulos shoots in for a double leg but Stark sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stark! But no joy.
Stark misses with an uppercut. Papastopoulos saw that one coming.
Papastopoulos takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Papastopoulos forces Stark back against the cage and clinches.

Stark manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark lands a jab to the nose.
Papastopoulos slips under a jab from Stark.
Papastopoulos half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Nice defenses there by Papastopoulos.
Stark has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stark swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Papastopoulos counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Papastopoulos dives in for a single leg takedown but Stark sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hioron Papastopoulos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papastopoulos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stark moves away.
Papastopoulos lands a jab to Stark's midsection.
Papastopoulos throws a combination. Stark tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Papastopoulos throws a series of strikes that have Stark backpedaling.
A swing and a miss from Stark.
Stark throws a jab when Papastopoulos was well out of range.
Papastopoulos throwing a counter right hand but Stark manages to avoid it.
Stark changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Stark looks to land a combination but Papastopoulos avoids it well.
Papastopoulos fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stark tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stark misses the jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stark looks to land a right hand but Papastopoulos moved out of range.
Stark throws a low kick but Papastopoulos moves out of range easily.
Stark keeps the fight on the outside.
Papastopoulos connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nice shot by Stark.
Stark thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stark throws a leg kick but Papastopoulos sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark tries a head kick but it misses.
Papastopoulos chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Stark can pounce on him.
Papastopoulos moves out of range as Stark strikes.
Papastopoulos seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Papastopoulos slips a straight right by Stark.
Papastopoulos takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Papastopoulos shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Stark manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Papastopoulos scoring with some ground and pound.
Papastopoulos lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Papastopoulos trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
Papastopoulos is working Stark over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Papastopoulos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stark works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Papastopoulos avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papastopoulos missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stark looking to hit a scissor sweep but Papastopoulos is one step ahead there.
Papastopoulos is looking to work some ground and pound but Stark has wrist control.
Stark trying to keep a closed guard but Papastopoulos is proving a slippery customer.
Papastopoulos content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Papastopoulos landing with the ground and pound.
Papastopoulos chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papastopoulos stopping the sweep attempt from Stark.
Papastopoulos throws a big right hand that misses.
Stark thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Stark wants to get back to his feet but Papastopoulos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Papastopoulos postures up and lands a big shot to Stark's brow.
Hioron Papastopoulos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Papastopoulos wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.
Papastopoulos with a flurry of punches that miss.
Papastopoulos postures up in Stark's guard and throws a big left but Stark blocks it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
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 Hioron Papastopoulos will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hioron Papastopoulos's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stark lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Papastopoulos circles away quickly and effectively.
Stark misses the shot to the body.
As Stark looks to move away, Papastopoulos throws a big counter combo but Stark just gets out of the way.

Papastopoulos gets a clinch.

Papastopoulos is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Stark can't fight it off and eventually Papastopoulos manages to take the fight to the floor. Stark looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Papastopoulos with a nice head shot there.
Papastopoulos throwing strikes from guard but Stark blocks nicely.
Papastopoulos throws a strike but Stark rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Papastopoulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Papastopoulos is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Stark presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Papastopoulos breaks the clinch.
Papastopoulos misses with a few strikes there.

Papastopoulos clinches up with Stark and pushes him back against the cage.
Papastopoulos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stark prevents it.
Papastopoulos tries to break free but Stark pushes him back against the cage.

Stark breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Papastopoulos slips under a jab from Stark.
Khal Stark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Papastopoulos throws a body punch but Stark moves out of range.
Stark throws a head kick that misses.
Papastopoulos is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Stark.
Stark connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Papastopoulos's hands.
Papastopoulos scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Papastopoulos avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Stark throws a sloppy head kick and Papastopoulos moves out of range easily.
Papastopoulos takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Papastopoulos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stark! But no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papastopoulos doesn't manage to clinch there - Stark circles away.
Khal Stark seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Papastopoulos throws a combination. Stark tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Papastopoulos avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Papastopoulos moves into the clinch successfully.
Papastopoulos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stark pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stark lands a body shot in the clinch.
Stark pressing his opponent against the cage.
Papastopoulos is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stark is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hioron Papastopoulos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Papastopoulos looking for a takedown.
Stark tries to work over Papastopoulos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stark lands a hook to the side of the head.

Papastopoulos is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papastopoulos has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Stark after a bit of a struggle.
Papastopoulos is looking to take this one to the mat.
Stark lands an uppercut.
Oh Papastopoulos is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Stark scores with a shot to the side of Papastopoulos's head.
Papastopoulos has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Stark after a bit of a struggle.

Stark's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stark throws out a leg kick but Papastopoulos moves out of range and Stark only half commits.
Papastopoulos is looking for a counter combo.
Stark tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Papastopoulos was well out of range. Poor timing from Stark.
Stark tries to land a leg kick but Papastopoulos saw it coming and moves away.
Papastopoulos seems to have got his legs back now.
Papastopoulos walks into a jab.
Stark fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Stark drops Papastopoulos with a straight right hand, right on the button! Stark follows him down to the mat and pounds him out with hammerfists until the referee jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Khal Stark!
Khal Stark is the new bantamweight champion!
Khal Stark thanked the fans post fight for their support.