PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Sazelona (ranked 6770 p4p, 635 weight class) and John Starman (ranked 5482 p4p, 569 weight class). John Starman is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sazelona
vs
Starman

182 cm
25
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
168 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

WarHorse Fightwear
Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Alex Sazelona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Starman!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Phil Schofield and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Starman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sazelona's half guard.
Starman working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sazelona tries to roll over but Starman keeps him under control.
Starman lands strikes from half guard.
Sazelona trying to control from the bottom.
Sazelona works his way to full guard. Good work.

Starman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sazelona has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Starman has managed to get both his arms back between Sazelona's legs - danger averted.

Sazelona has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Starman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Starman might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Sazelona has control of Starman's left arm, preventing Starman from doing any damage.
Starman landing with the ground and pound.
Starman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sazelona is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two 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.
Sazelona looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Starman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Sazelona is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Starman trying to control the position from guard on top but Sazelona is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Starman lands a couple of digs.
Starman is working Sazelona over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Sazelona looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Starman trying to control the position from guard on top but Sazelona is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sazelona looking for a guillotine here but Starman defends easily.
Starman lands a couple of elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Starman lands a couple of elbows.
Sazelona working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starman scoring with some ground and pound.
Starman is pushing down on Sazelona's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sazelona is fighting to maintain full guard but Starman has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sazelona is looking for a sweep. Starman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Starman lands with a punch from half guard.
Starman is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Starman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Starman lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ground and pound from Starman.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Starman takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Starman dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Starman tries to clinch up.
Starman lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
No luck for Sazelona with that takedown attempt.
Starman looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sazelona will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sazelona.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Sazelona. 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.
Sazelona tries to score a power double leg takedown but Starman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sazelona somewhat.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Starman! But no joy.
Sazelona shoots in for a double leg but Starman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sazelona gets caught napping as Starman dives in and scores a takedown. Sazelona manages to retain guard.
Starman looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Starman stands up over Sazelona, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Starman is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Starman cracks Sazelona with a solid left hand.
Starman working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sazelona's head.
Starman trying to control but Sazelona is working from the bottom.
Sazelona is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Starman stands up over Sazelona, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Starman scoring with punches to the head and body.
Starman is working Sazelona over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sazelona keeping moving, preventing Starman from controlling successfully.
Starman working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sazelona's head.
Starman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Starman stopping the sweep attempt from Sazelona.
Starman is working Sazelona over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Sazelona had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Starman defends it easily.
Starman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sazelona. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Starman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Starman is sitting in close to Sazelona's body. Sazelona has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Starman is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Starman is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Sazelona.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Alex Sazelona!