PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hans Diaz (ranked 9189 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackson Starling (ranked 8413 p4p, 0 weight class). Jackson Starling looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Diaz
vs
Starling

158 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
22
280 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hans Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jackson Starling!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Russell Pearce and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diaz tries to keep at a distance but Starling has taken the fight into the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Starling lands a right hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.

It looks like Hans Diaz has been cut.

Starling jumps into guard, dragging Diaz to the mat.
Diaz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Diaz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Starling is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Diaz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz throws a big elbow that misses.
Diaz throws a big elbow that misses.
Starling avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Starling is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Starling pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Starling looks winded!
Starling is looking to stand up but Diaz isn't so interested in that idea.
Diaz 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.
Starling avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Starling is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Diaz is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Diaz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Diaz is looking to work some ground and pound but Starling has wrist control.

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

Starling closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Diaz's guard.
Diaz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Diaz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Diaz is really struggling to control Starling but he's trying to hold on to the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Starling accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Diaz is trying to keep Starling in close.
Starling missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Diaz is pulling down on Starling's head. It's preventing any offense from Starling, at least for the moment.
Diaz trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Starling throws a combination that misses
and Diaz counters with a one-two to the body.

Starling drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Diaz could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Diaz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Diaz sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Starling sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Diaz defending well though.
Diaz trying to hold on to Starling's head to control him but Starling postures up.
Diaz wants to improve his position but Starling is controlling well.
Diaz works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starling preventing the sweep.
Diaz is trying to control the position but Starling postures up.
Starling throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.
Diaz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Starling decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Diaz avoids the head kick by Starling.
Diaz is looking for a counter combo.

Diaz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz prevents Starling from escaping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Starling dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hans Diaz's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Starling dives in and scores a takedown into Diaz's guard.
Diaz wants to sweep but no luck.
Diaz controlling the position.
Starling lands a couple of elbows.
Diaz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Starling controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Starling avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Starling postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Starling is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Starling throws a big elbow that misses.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Starling chips away with some ground and pound.
Starling keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Diaz 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.
Starling trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Starling clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Starling turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Starling has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diaz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Starling decides to pull guard.
Diaz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Starling wants to stand but Diaz is controlling the position.

Starling manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Diaz gets a clinch.
Diaz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Starling walks away with a smile on his face. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Starling gets a takedown into half guard.
Starling missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Starling wants to take a breather but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz is looking to improve his position.
Diaz is trying to maintain the position but Starling is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Starling is thwarting Diaz's attempts to control the position.
Starling drops an elbow to the side of Diaz's head.
Jackson Starling has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Starling has control of the leg.
Starling scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Starling looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Diaz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Starling is thwarting Diaz's attempts to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Starling with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Diaz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Starling showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hans Diaz's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Starling moves into the clinch successfully.

Starling pulls guard.
Starling wants to stand but Diaz is controlling the position.
Diaz chips away with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starling wants to stand but Diaz is controlling the position.
Starling takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz postures up in Starling's guard and throws a big left but Starling blocks it.

Starling uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Diaz pushes Starling up against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz tries a knee to the head but Starling blocks it.
Diaz connects with a knee to the head.
Diaz fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Starling jumps into guard, dragging Diaz to the mat.
Starling wants to get back to his feet but Diaz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Diaz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Starling wants to get back to his feet but Diaz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is standing up over Starling. Starling looks to escape but Diaz dives into side control.
Starling tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Diaz is punishing Starling with strikes - can he finish him?!

Diaz patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starling is trying to stand back up.
Diaz tries to get the hooks in deep but Starling pushed the leg off.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diaz lands an elbow to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hans Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Starling has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jackson Starling!