PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Chong Starbowski (ranked 3892 p4p, 421 weight class) and Riley Johnson (ranked 21025 p4p, 619 weight class). Starbowski comes to the ring accompanied by Traditional Thai 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.

Starbowski
vs
Johnson

175 cm
27
183 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

186 cm
25
185 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chong Starbowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Riley Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starbowski misses with a shot to the body
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Starbowski.
Johnson now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

Starbowski rushes Johnson and presses him up against the ropes.
Starbowski misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Johnson.
Starbowski throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johnsons head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Starbowski.
Johnson lands with a light punch inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Starbowski breaks the clinch.
Starbowski throws a hook but Johnson avoids it easily.
Johnson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Johnson ducks right into an uppercut from Starbowski.
A head kick misses from Starbowski.
Starbowski looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starbowski moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Starbowski moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Starbowski throws a head kick that misses
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Starbowski lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Starbowski scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Johnson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Starbowski digs a good hook to Johnson's body.

Starbowski moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Starbowski.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Johnson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Starbowski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson slips under a jab from Starbowski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starbowski throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Johnson misses.
Starbowski throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson throws out a counter right but Starbowski avoids it with no problem.
Starbowski throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson is looking for the big counter here.
Starbowski misses with a body kick.
Starbowski misses with a head kick.
Starbowski closes the distance looking to clinch
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - Starbowski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chong Starbowski dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Starbowski swings away with a body shot that misses
and Johnson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Chong Starbowski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Starbowski throws a leg kick which misses Johnson's front leg but catches the back leg as Johnson tries to avoid it.
Johnson moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnson throws out a counter right but Starbowski avoids it with no problem.
Starbowski throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Johnson is rocked!

It looks like Riley Johnson has been cut.

Starbowski has taken the fight to the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Starbowski fails to land.
Starbowski blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Johnson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Johnson misses with a body punch.

Starbowski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A leg kick checked by Johnson.
Johnson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Johnson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Johnson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Chong Starbowski is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson moves out of range as Starbowski throws a body kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Johnson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starbowski throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson throws a counter combo.
Starbowski throws a left and a right that both miss
and Johnson counters with a stiff right hand.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Starbowski.
Starbowski throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
Starbowski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Starbowski pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Starbowski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Johnson! But no joy.
Starbowski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Starbowski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
It seemed like Johnson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Johnson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Starbowski gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Starbowski bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Johnson's head backwards.
Johnson is still on wobbly legs! Can Starbowski finish him?

Starbowski closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Starbowski lands a nice uppercut.
Johnson is trying to break free.

Starbowski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Starbowski looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Starbowski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice shot lands for Starbowski.
Starbowski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Starbowski throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Starbowski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chong Starbowski dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Riley Johnson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Starbowski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Starbowski throws a jab when Johnson was well out of range.
Johnson appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Starbowski tries a head kick but it misses.
Riley Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice uppercut there from Starbowski.
Starbowski throws a head kick that misses
and Johnson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ohhhhhhhhhh, brutal head kick from Starbowski! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Chong Starbowski!
A very excited looking Chong Starbowski made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.