PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alasdair Thacker (ranked 1384 p4p, 191 weight class) and Coyote Starrk (ranked 1326 p4p, 177 weight class). Alasdair Thacker had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Thacker
vs
Starrk

175 cm
31
197 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

187 cm
28
193 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q

RAGS of a RONIN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Alasdair Thacker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Coyote Starrk!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starrk's corner calls for a 1-2. Starrk obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Thacker takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Good standup being displayed there by Thacker as he connects with a hook.
Starrk looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Thacker pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Starrk is looking to chop away at Thacker's legs.
Starrk tried to score with a low kick but Thacker checks it.
A slow jab from Thacker misses its intended target.
Some wild striking there from Starrk.
Thacker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Starrk throws a body shot but no joy.
Thacker throws a shot to the body.
Starrk lands a right hook to the body.
Starrk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Starrk tries a head kick but it misses.
Thacker looks to land a right hand but Starrk moved out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thacker takes one to the side of the head.
Thacker scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thacker drives through and clinches with Starrk against the cage.
Thacker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Starrk misses with some punches.
Thacker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Thacker.
Thacker swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Starrk working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Thacker scores with a nice hook to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Starrk.

Starrk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thacker lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Thacker on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Starrk. Starrk obviously looking to wear him down.
Starrk avoids the body shot from Thacker.

Thacker moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thacker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Starrk prevents a body shot from Thacker.
Starrk swings wildly with an uppercut but Thacker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Starrk throws a punch but it's blocked by Thacker.
Thacker pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thacker pushes Starrk back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thacker displaying some good clinch control by pressing Starrk up against the cage.
Thacker prevents a body shot from Starrk.
Thacker blocks a body shot from Starrk.
Starrk looking to slow down the pace here.
Thacker blocks a body shot from Starrk.
Thacker blocks a body shot from Starrk.
Starrk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thacker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thacker struggles to land a body shot inside as Starrk controls his hands.
A right handed body shot lands from Starrk.
A short right from Thacker.
Thacker lands a left hand.
Thacker lands with a short shot to the head.
Thacker throws a punch but it's blocked by Starrk.
Thacker stalling in the clinch but Starrk improves position.
Thacker lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Thacker tries to work over Starrk's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thacker is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Thacker scores with a hook to the body.
Thacker misses with a punch on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Thacker.
Starrk blocks a body shot from Thacker.
Thacker throws a punch but it's blocked by Starrk.
Thacker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Starrk backwards.
Thacker misses with a body punch.
Thacker lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Starrk doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Starrk misses with a hook to the ribs.
Starrk tries to work over Thacker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thacker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Starrk working aggressively here.
Starrk's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Starrk tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Starrk digs a right hand into Thacker's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thacker's gas tank.
Thacker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Starrk backwards.
Thacker misses with an elbow over the top.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thacker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starrk lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Starrk doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right handed body shot lands from Starrk.
Thacker misses with the head strike.
Thacker blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Starrk swings wildly with an uppercut but Thacker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Starrk tries to work over Thacker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Starrk misses with a short punch on the inside.
Starrk letting Thacker take a breather here.
Starrk swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thacker lands a shoulder strike.
Thacker throws a head punch that misses.
Thacker tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thacker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Starrk doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thacker lands with a short shot to the head.
Nice body punch from Starrk - that landed with a thud.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thacker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alasdair Thacker dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thacker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Starrk was well out of range. Poor timing from Thacker.
Starrk lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Starrk lands a nice looking body shot.
Starrk throws a shot from downtown. Thacker moves away and avoids it.
Starrk lands a jab.
A big left from Thacker misses.
Starrk pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thacker lands a jab to the head.
Starrk throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thacker.
A solid leg kick lands there for Starrk.
Thacker cracks a nice hook into Starrk's ribs.
A solid leg kick lands there for Starrk.
Thacker throws a jab but it's blocked by Starrk.
Starrk misses with a two punch combination.
Coyote Starrk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Starrk tries to score with a low kick but Thacker moves his leg out of the way.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Starrk misses with a body kick.
Thacker has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thacker tries to move into range but Starrk moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Starrk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thacker tries to clinch up.
Thacker throws a lazy right hand but Starrk sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Starrk lands with an overhand left.
Starrk lands a head kick!
Coyote Starrk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Starrk fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Thacker is out of range.
Starrk stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Starrk is looking to slow Thacker down with leg kicks.
Thacker slips a straight right by Starrk.
Starrk's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Thacker connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Starrk scrambles back to his feet.
Starrk takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Thacker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Starrk avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Starrk lands a jab to Thacker's midsection.
Thacker looks to land a combination but Starrk avoids it well.
Starrk throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thacker sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Thacker gets a clinch.
Thacker manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Thacker swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Starrk lands with a short shot to the head.
A short uppercut from Thacker.
Thacker tries to throw a body punch but Starrk avoids it by throwing Thacker back against the cage.
Thacker is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Starrk lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Starrk breaks the clinch.
Starrk throws a head kick but Thacker moves out of range.
Thacker blocks a head kick by Starrk.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thacker misses with a body shot.
Thacker scores with a shot to the body.
Thacker misses with an uppercut.
Good shot there by Thacker.
Starrk avoids the body shot from Thacker.
Starrk throws a head kick but Thacker moves out of range.
Starrk throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Thacker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thacker avoids the body shot from Starrk.
Thacker lands a jab.
Starrk connects with a solid leg kick.
Starrk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thacker tries to clinch up but Starrk circles away and keeps his distance.
Thacker connects with a jab.
Starrk will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starrk looks to score with a jab to the body but Thacker is just out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Thacker on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A combination from Thacker does no damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Starrk lands a head shot.
Starrk swats away the attempt to clinch by Thacker.
Thacker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Starrk manages to avoid it.
Thacker tries to close the distance and clinch but Starrk swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thacker misses with a series of wild punches.
Jab from Thacker.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thacker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Starrk takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Coyote Starrk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Starrk throws a nice outside leg kick.
Starrk throws a low kick, looking for Thacker's leg but Thacker calmly moves out of range.
Thacker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thacker lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Starrk at a distance.
Thacker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Starrk turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Starrk avoids the body shot from Thacker.
Starrk fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Starrk throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Thacker misses its target.
Thacker misses the jab.
Starrk finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Starrk tries to keep at a distance but Thacker has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thacker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thacker lands a left hand that snaps the head of Starrk backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Starrk.
Thacker scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Thacker.
Starrk misses with some punches.

Starrk breaks from the clinch.
Thacker is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Starrk throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Thacker on the side of the head.

Thacker clinches with his opponent.
Thacker stalls.
Starrk can't find room to land a body shot as Thacker controls the action.
Starrk tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thacker's elbow.
Starrk lands a body punch.
Thacker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thacker lands with a light punch inside.

Starrk breaks the clinch.
Thacker dodges the punch combination from Starrk.

Thacker rushes Starrk and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starrk can't find room to land a body shot as Thacker controls the action.
Thacker lands an uppercut.
Thacker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Starrk is defending well for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thacker working aggressively here.
Starrk blocks the elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Starrk tries to throw a body punch but Thacker avoids it by throwing Starrk back against the cage.
Thacker is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Thacker lands an uppercut.
Starrk tries to work over Thacker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Starrk tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thacker's elbow.
Thacker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thacker.
Thacker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thacker controlling the action here for a moment.
Alasdair Thacker has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch on the inside from Thacker fails to land.
Thacker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thacker lands with a left to the head.
A hook to the body from Starrk.
Starrk scores with a shot to the side of Thacker's head.
Thacker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thacker blocks a body shot from Starrk.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thacker.
Thacker lands a shot to the body.
Starrk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Starrk tries to work over Thacker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Starrk struggles to land a body shot inside as Thacker controls his hands.
Starrk tries to throw a body punch but Thacker avoids it by throwing Starrk back against the cage.
Thacker trying to land knees to the body.
Starrk pushes Thacker back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Starrk tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Starrk goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thacker lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Starrk or not.
Thacker misses with a body punch.
Thacker lands an uppercut.
Thacker lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thacker blocking some punches.
Starrk has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thacker pushes Starrk back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thacker scores with a shoulder strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Thacker.
Thacker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Starrk backwards.
Starrk takes an elbow to the temple.
Thacker lands an uppercut.

Starrk is rocked!
Thacker dips a shoulder and cracks Starrk with a mighty uppercut! Starrk falls back against the cage and Thacker unloads with a barrage of strikes! Starrk is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Thacker screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alasdair Thacker!
Alasdair Thacker seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.