PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alston Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Remember The Name. 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
Smith

184 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alston Smith!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith lands with a kick to the temple. Stark shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Stark shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stark throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stark tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.

Smith tries to sprawl but Stark drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Stark slows the pace down in half guard.
Smith tries to roll over but Stark keeps him under control.
Stark content to control rather than advance.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stark.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Stark takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stark looking to pass the guard.
Smith is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stark controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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 shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stark is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Stark circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Stark sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stark tries to counter with a takedown but Smith is quick to defend against it.
Michael Stark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alston Smith.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
As Smith looks to move away, Stark throws a big counter combo but Smith just gets out of the way.
Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stark defends it nicely.
Smith looks winded!

Smith tries to keep at a distance but Stark has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stark is defending well.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stark gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Stark decides to pull guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stark is on top in guard.

Stark works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Stark trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stark content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Stark decides to return to a standing position.
Stark works Smith's body with a nice hook.

Stark has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Stark pulls Smith into guard.
Smith being controlled here momentarily.
Smith trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Stark dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stark throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Danga de danga de dang - Stark scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Alston Smith has been cut.
Michael Stark is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith avoids the head kick by Stark.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Stark sprawls well.
Stark fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stark is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Smith walks into a straight right hand from Stark.
Stark fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stark somewhat.
Stark doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stark as he avoids it easily.
Michael Stark is winning the standup battle so far.

Stark moves into the clinch.
Smith keeps control of Stark as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stark pinned against the cage. Stark gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Michael Stark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alston Smith.

Stark gets a clinch.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Stark.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smith is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Stark tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Stark drops back down to his feet.
Smith tries to pull guard but Stark forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Stark.
Stark tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stark gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to pull guard but Stark holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Stark goes for a takedown attempt but Smith pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Stark closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Smith fails to land.
Smith letting Stark take a breather here.

Stark gets control of Smith's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stark will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Stark preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stark has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Stark's legs - danger averted.
Stark looking to control.
Stark looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Stark wants to stand up but Smith is controlling him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Stark dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alston Smith's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Stark rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Smith is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Stark to keep the fight standing.
Smith tries to break free but Stark pushes him back against the cage.
Stark tries for a takedown. No joy.
Smith has Stark pressed against the cage, preventing Stark from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Smith tries to stall but Stark uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark controlling the action here for a moment.
Smith tries to stall but Stark uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Smith has Stark pushed against the cage.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Stark.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stark just stands there and leans against the cage.
Smith is looking to take this one to the mat.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Stark is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stark throws a series of strikes that have Smith backpedaling.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith lands a nice looking kick to the body. Stark takes a step back to recover.
Stark throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stark off to one side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith tries to clinch up but Stark circles away and keeps his distance.
Stark tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stark dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Stark, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Stark has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Stark lands an uppercut.
Smith lands with a short shot to the head.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Stark pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Stark saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith dives in for a single leg takedown but Stark sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Stark rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stark is trying to break the clinch but Smith is controlling him.
Stark has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smith has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Stark after a bit of a struggle.

Stark gets control of Smith's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stark will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stark manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Stark has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smith uses from the top position.
Stark pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Alston Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Stark is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Stark showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stark has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Michael Stark!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Michael Stark!
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight for Michael Stark!

Michael Stark wins by unanimous decision!