PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Giebelhals (ranked 2600 p4p, 289 weight class) and John Starman (ranked 3300 p4p, 349 weight class). Starman is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by David Bowie - Starman. The key to victory for Tom Giebelhals has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Giebelhals
vs
Starman

170 cm
22
162 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

178 cm
25
165 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tom Giebelhals!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Starman!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Darius Henderson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Starman misses.
Giebelhals lands a leg kick that knocks Starman off balance momentarily.
Giebelhals throws a leg kick that misses.
A jab lands there for Giebelhals.
Giebelhals misses with a body shot
and Starman counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Tom Giebelhals seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Giebelhals is looking to land body kicks.
Despite the aggression on Starman's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Starman bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Giebelhals's head backwards.
Giebelhals is looking to score with low kicks.
Giebelhals misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Starman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Crunch! Giebelhals slams his shin into Starman's torso.
Starman misses the jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Giebelhals. That's going to slow Starman down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Starman loads up on a big right hand but Giebelhals slips the punch.
Giebelhals quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

Starman lands a left and a right that sends Giebelhals crashing to the canvas! Starman dives into mount looking to finish!

Giebelhals is rocked!

It looks like Tom Giebelhals has been cut.
Giebelhals wants to hold on but Starman pushes him away.
Giebelhals slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starman lands with a punch from half guard.
Giebelhals is looking to improve his position.
Giebelhals is refusing to be controlled, as Starman sits in half guard.
Giebelhals is doing well to control the position and prevent Starman from advancing to side control.
Giebelhals has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Starman is working away from the top position though.
Well, if Starman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

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.
Giebelhals controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Starman drops an elbow to the side of Giebelhals's head.
Starman wants to free his trapped foot but Giebelhals is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Giebelhals manages to get to full guard.
Giebelhals pulls Starman in close to prevent any damage.
Giebelhals wants to hit a switch here but Starman passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Giebelhals there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starman lands a heavy elbow.
Starman dominating with strikes here.
Starman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Giebelhals is working to get back to half guard.

Starman looking to secure an arm triangle but Giebelhals defends it well.
Starman looking to control but Giebelhals is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Giebelhals sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Giebelhals is refusing to be controlled, as Starman sits in half guard.
Giebelhals tries to get to full guard but Starman has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Starman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Giebelhals is refusing to be controlled, as Starman sits in half guard.
Giebelhals is concentrating on defense, preventing Starman from advancing position.
Starman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Starman prevents Giebelhals from improving his position.
Starman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Giebelhals with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Starman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Giebelhals's cut.
That's time! Giebelhals's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Giebelhals goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A nice side step and Starman releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Starman crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Giebelhals - the referee stops the clock and Starman gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Giebelhals. Starman manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Starman looks to land a left hand but Giebelhals moved out of range nicely.
Giebelhals lands a nice leg kick that just misses Starman's sensitive parts.
John Starman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Giebelhals throws a push kick but Starman slaps the foot to one side.
Giebelhals lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Giebelhals keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Starman.
Giebelhals gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Starman counter with a right hand.
Giebelhals throws a leg kick which misses Starman's front leg but catches the back leg as Starman tries to avoid it.
Giebelhals walks into a jab.
Giebelhals connects with an inside leg kick.
Starman misses with a double jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Giebelhals fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Giebelhals turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Giebelhals connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giebelhals throws a head kick that Starman semi-blocks.
Starman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Giebelhals will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A little jabbing left from Starman on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Starman throws a hook but Giebelhals blocks it.
As Starman looks to move away, Giebelhals throws a big counter combo but Starman just gets out of the way.
Starman has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Giebelhals.
Giebelhals lands a nice leg kick that just misses Starman's sensitive parts.
Giebelhals lands a front kick.
Starman misses with a hook. Giebelhals ducked under it nicely.
Giebelhals feints and then cracks Starman's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Starman down.
Starman slips a straight right by Giebelhals.
Starman throws a hook but Giebelhals avoids it easily.
It appears Giebelhals was looking to counter with a kick there.
Starman's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A swing and a miss from Starman.
A slapping leg kick lands for Giebelhals.
Giebelhals with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Starman takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Giebelhals thows a left - swing and a miss!
Giebelhals fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Starman is out of range.
Giebelhals is looking to slow Starman down with leg kicks.
Giebelhals lands a nice leg kick that just misses Starman's sensitive parts.
Giebelhals takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Starman throws a series of strikes that have Giebelhals backpedaling.
Giebelhals lands with a nice body kick.
Starman misses with a hook. Giebelhals ducked under it nicely.
Starman might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Starman sizes up Giebelhals with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Starman misses with a two punch combination.
Giebelhals gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Giebelhals explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giebelhals throws a head kick but Starman moves out of range.
Tom Giebelhals is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Starman misses with a series of wild punches.
Starman walks forward, straight into a front kick from Giebelhals.
Starman throws a big shot that misses.
Giebelhals dips to his left and cracks Starman with an uppercut!
Giebelhals misses with a low kick.
Starman has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Giebelhals.
Giebelhals moves out of range as Starman strikes.
Giebelhals scores with a leg kick.
Starman on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nice body punch from Giebelhals.
Decent striking displayed by Starman there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Starman checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Starman misses with a left hand
and Giebelhals counters with a good, hard body kick but Starman shrugs it off.
Giebelhals swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Starman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Giebelhals looks to throw a body kick
and Starman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Starman takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Starman avoids the head kick by Giebelhals.
Starman looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Starman crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Giebelhals - the referee stops the clock and Starman gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Giebelhals. Starman manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Giebelhals lands with a thumping leg kick.
Giebelhals cracks Starman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Giebelhals moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Giebelhals throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Giebelhals lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Giebelhals slips under a jab from Starman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Giebelhals dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tom Giebelhals's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Giebelhals throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Giebelhals throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
You can see that Starman has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks
Giebelhals misses with a wild body shot.
Starman chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Giebelhals can pounce on him.
Starman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Giebelhals.
Giebelhals connects with a high kick.
Giebelhals lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Starman stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Giebelhals.
Starman throws a lazy right hand but Giebelhals sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Giebelhals takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Starman misses with a straight right.
Giebelhals looks to score with a jab to the body but Starman is just out of range.
Starman misses with a hook. Giebelhals ducked under it nicely.
Giebelhals chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starman throws a hook but Giebelhals blocks it.
Starman checks the leg kick nicely there.
Giebelhals steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Starman.
Giebelhals cracks Starman with an open hand slap.
Giebelhals scoring well with a low kick there.
Giebelhals thows a leg kick but Starman checks it

and Starman counters with a single leg into guard. Giebelhals didn't expect that.
Giebelhals tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Giebelhals is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Starman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starman is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Giebelhals wants to get back to his feet but Starman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Starman trying to control but Giebelhals is working from the bottom.
Giebelhals has control of Starman's left arm, preventing Starman from doing any damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Starman throwing strikes but missing.
Giebelhals keeping moving, preventing Starman from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Starman walks into a straight right hand from Giebelhals.
Giebelhals is looking to slow Starman down with leg kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giebelhals cracks the inside of Starman's front leg.
Starman throws a body punch but Giebelhals moves out of range.
Starman dips to his left and cracks Giebelhals with an uppercut!
Starman looks to throw the jab but Giebelhals is out of range.
Giebelhals scores with a leg kick.
Starman moves out of range of the body kick.
Giebelhals slips a jab from Starman.
Starman moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Giebelhals steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Starman.
Starman takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Starman on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Giebelhals. Giebelhals obviously looking to wear him down.
Starman displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A good leg kick by Giebelhals.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Giebelhals is predictable there

and Starman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Starman wants to pass the guard but Giebelhals is keeping the position.
Giebelhals is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Starman stopping the sweep attempt from Giebelhals.
Giebelhals wants to improve his position but instead Starman has moved into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Starman lands a nice short elbow.
Giebelhals works his way to full guard. Good work.
Starman with a nice head shot there.
Starman keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Giebelhals's head.
Starman scoring with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tom Giebelhals.
I think Giebelhals 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Giebelhals!
The defeated John Starman had this to say: 'Come on not again!'.