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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Neculai Costel (ranked 1865 p4p, 207 weight class) and Khal Stark (ranked 1761 p4p, 199 weight class). Costel comes to the cage accompanied by Ain't No Sunshine. Stark has chosen Gardenia by Kyuss as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 165 cm
28
140 lbs
21 - 9 - 0 |
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174 cm
31
158 lbs
15 - 10 - 2 |
Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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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
21 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Neculai Costel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
15 - 10 - 2, fighting out of New York, Khal Stark!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Stark manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Costel working some strikes from top position.
Costel trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Costel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Costel won't allow Stark to sweep him here.
Costel 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.
Costel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stark is trying to control the position but Costel postures up.
Stark is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costel is controlling Stark's trapped leg to prevent Stark from advancing to side control.
Costel 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.
Costel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Costel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Costel wants to improve his position but Stark is controlling well.
Stark wants to take a breather but Costel is having none of it.
Costel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stark is working away from the top position though.
Stark throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Costel looking for submissions off his back.
Stark is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Costel defends it well.
Stark trying to control the action but Costel is working from the bottom.
Costel trying to hold on to Stark's head to control him but Stark postures up.
Costel is defending against the submission attempts here by Stark.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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 missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Stark trying to mount his opponent but Costel defends it.
Costel is trying to control but can't.
Stark is looking to take a break and control but Costel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Costel looking for submissions off his back.
Costel wants to control but Stark is keeping busy.
Stark wants to lay and pray for a moment but Costel keeps working.
Stark thows a huge punch but Costel dodges it nicely.
Stark is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Costel tries to roll over but Stark keeps him under control.
Costel looking for submissions off his back.
Stark wants to free his trapped foot but Costel is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Costel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stark is working away from the top position though.
Stark is looking for a kimura here.
Costel trying to control from the bottom.
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 is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Costel has managed to free his arm - good work.
Costel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Costel looking for submissions off his back.
Costel looking for submissions off his back.
Stark is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Stark has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Costel sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stark is working for a submission of some sort.
Costel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Stark misses with a few strikes there.
Stark is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Stark is looking to score with low kicks.
Khal Stark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Costel has closed the distance and engaged Stark in a clinch.
Costel wants a takedown.
Stark is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Costel has hold of one of Stark's legs. Stark is fighting the takedown attempt but Costel gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Neculai Costel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Costel wanted to stand there but Stark had control of the position.
Costel lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stark tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stark is trying to control the position but Costel postures up.
Stark 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.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark is trying to control the position but Costel postures up.
Stark wants to hit a switch here but Costel passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Stark there!
Stark is trying to escape the mount.
Costel working Stark over with strikes here.
Costel working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Costel is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Stark can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Stark can't escape the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costel is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Stark has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Costel punishing his opponent with strikes.
Costel trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Costel sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Stark tries to hold on but Costel postures up.
Costel lands with some strikes.
Costel landing punches.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costel controlling the pace for now.
Stark is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Costel fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Costel lands a big shot there that rocks Stark but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Costel avoids the attempt from Stark to control.
Costel landing shots from mount.
Costel lands with some strikes.
Stark is wriggling around trying to escape.
Costel looking to finish Stark with some ground and pound. This is bad for Stark!
Costel working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Costel looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costel unloading with bombs!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
BOOM! Costel connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Costel breaks from Stark's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Stark is rocked!
Stark wants to hold on but Costel pushes him away.
Costel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stark can do to turn this around?
Stark is trying to escape the mount.
Costel landing strikes from the mount.
Stark in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Stark takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Costel putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Costel looking to finish Stark with some ground and pound. This is bad for Stark!
Costel pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Stark is still in real trouble! Can Costel finish him?
Stark tries to hold on but Costel postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Neculai Costel dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
Costel shoots for a double leg takedown but Stark sprawls well. He's pushed Costel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stark seems to have recovered his senses.
Stark is looking to clinch.
Stark bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stark shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Stark misses with a head kick.
Stark throws an overhand right that lands on Costel's shoulder, as Costel tries to avoid the shot.
No joy there for Stark, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Costel is looking to slow Stark down with leg kicks.
Costel clinches up with Stark and pushes him back against the cage.
Costel wants a takedown.
Stark throws a head punch that misses.
Stark prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neculai Costel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costel gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Stark regains guard.
Stark keeping moving, preventing Costel from controlling successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Costel is really struggling to control Stark but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Stark looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Costel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Costel trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
Stark is pulling down on Costel's head. It's preventing any offense from Costel, at least for the moment.
Costel is pushing down on Stark's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stark is fighting to maintain full guard but Costel has managed to sneak the leg through.
Stark tries to get to full guard but Costel has control of the leg.
Stark won't allow Costel to pass to mount.
Stark wants to control but Costel is keeping busy.
Costel trying to control the action but Stark is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Costel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Costel is looking to take a break and control but Stark is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stark keeping control of the position.
Costel landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Costel is working for a kimura but Stark is defending it quite comfortably.
Costel is nestled in close to Stark, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Costel trying to mount his opponent but Stark defends it.
Stark is trying to control but can't.
Stark wants to sweep but Costel has passed to side control!
Stark tries to bench press Costel off him but Costel keeps the position.
Stark can't do much from the bottom here.
Stark takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Costel working the ground and pound.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costel tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Costel has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Costel is chipping away with strikes.
Costel lands a nice forearm strike.
Costel decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Costel throws a right and a left that Stark avoids nicely.
A jab from Costel misses.
Costel missing with a left hand there. Stark was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Costel lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Stark misses with a straight right.
Costel throws a big counter combination but Stark scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Costel darts in looking for a takedown but Stark gets double underhooks and turns Costel into the cage.
Stark moves into the clinch successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Costel is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stark pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stark misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that's the end of the fight!
Neculai Costel showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Costel has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neculai Costel!
During a confident post fight interview, Neculai Costel thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
The defeated Khal Stark had this to say: 'Thanks to everyone!'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
41% |
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