PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steven Stark (ranked 2017 p4p, 227 weight class) and John Haigh (ranked 2479 p4p, 260 weight class). Stark kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Sledgehammer!. Haigh has chosen Prayer of the Refugee by Rise Against as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Stark
vs
Haigh

172 cm
39
156 lbs
24 - 15 - 0

170 cm
39
158 lbs
34 - 35 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

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 24 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steven Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 35 - 1, fighting out of New York, John Haigh!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stark scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Haigh is trying to get back to full guard.
Stark scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Haigh wants to control but Stark is keeping busy.
Stark has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Haigh is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Stark scores with a couple of nice shots.
Haigh blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stark.
Stark wants to free his trapped foot but Haigh is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Haigh wants to control but Stark is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Haigh has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stark is working away from the top position though.
Stark has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Stark is trying to control the action in half guard but Haigh is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Haigh is looking to control Stark's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Haigh avoid being mounted?
Haigh trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Stark manages to pass to mount!
Stark can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Haigh is looking to escape.
Stark lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haigh wants to control but Stark is having none of it.
BOOM! Stark connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Stark landing punches.
Haigh gets back to half guard.
Haigh keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Haigh trying to hold on to Stark's head to control him but Stark postures up.
Haigh is looking to improve his position.
Haigh manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haigh is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Haigh utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Haigh not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stark looking to pass the guard.
Stark passes Haigh's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Haigh trying to control but Stark postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stark uses his free foot to push down on Haigh's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Haigh.
Haigh is bucking up trying to escape but Stark cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Haigh tries to hold on but Stark postures up.
Haigh is squirming around, avoiding Stark's attempts to control the action.
Stark content just to control the position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haigh manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Stark dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Haigh throws a series of punches but Stark moves out of range.

Stark closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Haigh to the mat! Haigh manages to get full guard.
Haigh working a defensive guard here.
Stark trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Haigh keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.
Stark scoring with some ground and pound.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Haigh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark wants to pass the guard but Haigh is keeping the position.
Haigh trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark scoring with some ground and pound.
Stark tries to free his leg and advance position but Haigh is retaining full guard.
Stark trying to control but Haigh is working from the bottom.
Haigh wants to sweep but no luck.
Stark working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Haigh's head.
Stark is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Haigh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haigh looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stark is in close to Haigh's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Haigh looking to control.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Haigh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark trying to move into half guard but instead Haigh has managed to sweep!

Haigh trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
Stark wants to improve his position but instead Haigh has moved into half guard.
Stark is staying active underneath Haigh, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Haigh is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark wants to improve his position but Haigh is controlling well.
Haigh is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Stark is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Haigh's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Haigh's back!
Haigh rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Haigh has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stark is working away from the top position though.
Haigh wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haigh missing with punches from the bottom.
Haigh is pressing down on Stark's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stark stands up over Haigh, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Haigh is controlling Stark's posture.
Stark trying to control but Haigh is working from the bottom.
Haigh controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haigh wants to improve his position but instead Stark has moved into half guard.
Haigh is refusing to be controlled, as Stark sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Stark dominated that second round.
That's time! Stark's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Haigh scores with a hook.
John Haigh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Haigh tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stark was well out of range. Poor timing from Haigh.
Stark is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Haigh can do to turn this around?

Haigh gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Stark to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Stark prevents Haigh from getting back to his feet.
Stark works over Haigh with some ground and pound from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark postures up.
Stark stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Haigh swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark advances to half guard.
Haigh wants to control but Stark is keeping busy.
Haigh wants to get back to full guard but Stark has mounted him!
Stark looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Haigh tries to hold on but Stark postures up.
Stark can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Haigh is looking to escape.
Haigh wants to hold on but Stark pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haigh is squirming around, avoiding Stark's attempts to control the action.
Haigh can't escape the position.
Haigh tries to hold on but Stark pushes him away.
Stark with good strikes from the mount here!
Haigh regains half guard.
Haigh is looking to improve his position.
Stark is just content to waste time from the top position. Haigh takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Stark postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Steven Stark is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Haigh looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Haigh being controlled here, momentarily.

Haigh is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stark passes Haigh's left leg - he's now in half guard.
John Haigh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stark trying to control the pace.

That's four 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.
Haigh wants to control but Stark is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stark performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Stark tries to pass to full mount but Haigh defends it.
Steven Stark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stark is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Stark!
After the fight, Steven Stark was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
John Haigh spoke after the fight, saying 'Maybe it is time for me to make the move to another weight class.'.