PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kelvin Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derrick King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stark
vs
King

191 cm
19
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kelvin Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derrick King!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King looks for a takedown but Stark sprawls well.

King fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Stark to the ground. King is now in Stark's guard.
King has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stark is proving hard to escape from.
Stark trying to keep a closed guard but King is proving a slippery customer.

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

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

King trying to control the action but Stark is working from the bottom.
Stark trying to control here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. King connects with a nice short shot to Stark's temple.
Stark is looking to control King's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stark avoid being mounted?
King trying to control from half guard but Stark is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King is just content to waste time from the top position. Stark takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

King thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Stark trying to strike off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
King sitting in guard, not really doing much.
King passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stark is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stark is looking to control King's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stark avoid being mounted?

King moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Stark.
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
King laying and praying for a moment but Stark takes advantage and regains half guard.
King trying to control the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick King 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.

King looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Stark!
King working away.
Stark is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked King off and has taken his back!

Stark is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but King has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King trying to control but not successfully.
Stark is trying to stick to King's back but King is turning into Stark. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Stark's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by King.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark wants to sweep here but King controlling him for the moment.
King throwing strikes from guard but Stark blocks nicely.
Stark working a defensive guard here.
Stark will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
King looking to sit in guard and control but Stark gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

King controls Stark momentarily but Stark frees himself.
Stark stops King from standing up.

That's two 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 lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stark keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of King's head.
King is controlling Stark's posture.
Stark postures up.
Stark throws a big elbow that misses.
King working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stark.
Stark postures up in King's guard and throws a big left but King blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stark being controlled here momentarily.
King bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stark's guard.

King engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark striking off his back but it's not causing King any problems.
Stark keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.
Stark trying to keep a closed guard but King is proving a slippery customer.

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

Stark gets tackled into the cage by King. King maintains the clinch.
King has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
King goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stark prevents it.
Stark leaning his opponent against the cage.
King managing to block the knees to the body from Stark.
Stark fails to pull guard.
Stark stops a takedown attempt from King.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stark can't find room to land a body shot as King controls the action.
King drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stark gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kelvin Stark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derrick King.
Stark tries for a takedown. No joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Derrick King will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

King gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Stark counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stark looks to land a combination but King avoids it well.
Stark misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A head kick misses from King.
King fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King shoots in for a double leg but Stark sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Some wild striking there from Stark.

That's one minute gone in the round.

King closes the distance and clinches.

King pulls guard effortlessly.
Stark throwing strikes but missing.
Stark with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stark loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
King trying to keep a closed guard but Stark is proving a slippery customer.

Stark stands and steps away. King gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
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.
Stark misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from King. No joy for Stark on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

King clinches.
Stark is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. King is defending well for now.
King is trying to drag Stark to the mat but Stark just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kelvin Stark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derrick King.
King jumps guard but Stark turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Stark pulls King into guard.
Stark can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as King controls the pace.
Stark not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark is striking from the bottom but King uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
King wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stark keeps working.
Stark avoiding damage under a succession of punches from King.
King content to control rather than advance.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
King wants to stand but Stark has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A head kick misses from Stark.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Stark enables King to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Stark manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Derrick King has got the better of the ground game so far.
King wants to stand but Stark is controlling his posture from full guard.
Stark trying to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Derrick King.
I've got King winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derrick King!