PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Khal Stark (ranked 722 p4p, 91 weight class) and Edvard Grieg (ranked 2082 p4p, 240 weight class). Stark comes to the cage accompanied by Gardenia by KYUSS. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Stark
vs
Grieg

174 cm
38
158 lbs
27 - 23 - 2

167 cm
27
165 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

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 27 - 23 - 2, fighting out of New York, Khal Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edvard Grieg!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Igor Prikhodko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark misses with a two punch combination.
Stark plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Stark misses with a wild combination.
Stark checks the leg kick.
Stark looks to land a combination but Grieg avoids it well.
Stark lands with an overhand left.
Stark takes a swing at Grieg's ribcage but misses.
Grieg throws the left hand but Stark avoids the punch easily.
Stark throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Grieg takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Stark swings away with a body shot that misses
and Grieg counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Grieg scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
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!
Grieg sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Grieg clinches.
Grieg misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Stark gets control of Grieg's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stark will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Grieg throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stark controls Grieg momentarily but Grieg frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grieg won't allow Stark to sweep him here.
Stark has momentary wrist control but Grieg slips an elbow through the middle.
Stark looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've been hearing good reports from Stark's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Grieg being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stark is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stark looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Grieg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stark utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Grieg being controlled here momentarily.
Stark is looking to stand up but Grieg isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stark is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Grieg prevents Stark from getting back to his feet.
Stark working a defensive guard here.
Grieg with a nice head shot there.
Stark trying to control the position.
Grieg is in close to Stark's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stark has Grieg pulled in close to control his posture.
Grieg cracks Stark with a solid left hand.
Grieg loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stark pulls Grieg in close to his closed guard and prevents Grieg from doing any damage or advancing position.
Stark trying to control the position.
Grieg scoring with some ground and pound.
Stark seems keen to control Grieg's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grieg works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Stark is trying to control but can't.
Stark is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Grieg thows a huge punch but Stark dodges it nicely.
Stark is looking to control Grieg's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stark avoid being mounted?
Stark taking some punishment here, with Grieg in his half guard.
Grieg looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stark with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Stark blocking the ground and pound attempt from Grieg.
Grieg looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stark with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Grieg working over Stark with some ground and pound. Stark looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stark wants to control but Grieg is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stark taking some punishment here, with Grieg in his half guard.
Stark trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grieg throwing shots but Stark is blocking nicely.
Stark trying to hold on to Grieg's head to control him but Grieg postures up.
Stark wants to get back to his feet.
Stark on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Grieg prevents Stark from improving his position.
Grieg trying to pass the guard but Stark defending well.
Stark keeping control of the position.
Stark trying to hold on to Grieg's head to control him but Grieg postures up.
Grieg slips a nice elbow through Stark's hands, connecting with Stark's forehead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stark keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Grieg winds up and cracks Stark with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Stark keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Grieg working Stark over with strikes.
Grieg working over Stark with some ground and pound. Stark looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stark wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edvard Grieg dominated that round.
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.

Grieg throws a shot from downtown. Stark moves away and avoids it.
Stark lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Khal Stark is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stark lands a nice hook to Grieg's body. Grieg takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Stark misses with a head kick.
The fighters circling - Grieg throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stark appears to be looking for a big counter.
Grieg takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Stark throws a right hand that Grieg ducks under and follows up with a left that Grieg also avoids with ease.
Khal Stark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice jab there from Stark.
Grieg lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Stark lands a head kick. Grieg smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Nice straight punches there by Grieg. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Grieg.
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!
Grieg avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Grieg appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Stark misses with a wild body shot.
Stark is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Grieg.
Grieg throws a fast counter high kick but Stark manages to duck under it in time.
Stark rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Grieg moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Stark. That snapped Grieg's head back.
Grieg scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grieg throws a right and a left that Stark avoids nicely.
A swing and a miss from Stark.
Stark looks to throw the jab but Grieg is out of range.
Stark throws a series of punches but Grieg moves out of range.
Stark works over Grieg's head and body with a nice combination.
Stark throws a sloppy head kick and Grieg moves out of range easily.
Grieg takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Stark throws a head kick that misses.
Grieg takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A head kick misses from Stark.
Stark misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stark moves into range and connects with a jab.
Stark drops his hands momentarily and Grieg takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stark blocks a jab.
Stark misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stark throws a jab but it's blocked by Grieg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark moves out of range of the strikes.
Stark with a hook.
A slow jab from Grieg misses its intended target.
Stark misses with an uppercut.
Stark is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Grieg changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Grieg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stark tries a head kick but it misses.
Grieg is looking for the big counter here.
Stark throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stark looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stark throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Grieg pushes Stark up against the cage in a clinch.
Grieg lands a right hand that snaps the head of Stark backwards.
Stark throws a punch but it's blocked by Grieg.
Grieg swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Grieg misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stark.
Stark avoiding damage as Grieg throws knees to the body.

Grieg pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark controls from within his opponent's guard.
Grieg doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Grieg throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Grieg keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.
Stark stopping the sweep attempt from Grieg.
Grieg tries to strike from the bottom.
Grieg trying to strike off his back.
Grieg manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stark manages to get himself to full guard.

Stark pulls Grieg in close to his closed guard and prevents Grieg from doing any damage or advancing position.
Grieg won't allow Stark to get back to his feet.
Stark is trying to control the position but Grieg postures up.
Grieg postures up and lands a big shot to Stark's brow.
Grieg stops Stark from standing up.
Grieg postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Edvard Grieg has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grieg throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stark works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Grieg loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stark looking for a sweep. Not yet Stark, not yet.
Grieg working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Stark wants to stand but Grieg is controlling the position.
Stark is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Stark is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Grieg sees it coming and defends easily.
Grieg gets back to full guard.
Stark stopping the sweep attempt from Grieg.
Stark is looking to work some ground and pound but Grieg has wrist control.

Stark thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Grieg manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stark manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grieg landing some decent shots from guard.
Grieg scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Khal Stark will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Grieg will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stark jabs Grieg right on the nose. Grieg blinks but takes it well.

Grieg instigates a clinch.
Grieg misses with an elbow strike.
Grieg tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stark trying to land knees to the body.
Grieg makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Stark lands a right hand that snaps the head of Grieg backwards.
Grieg lands a nice uppercut.
Grieg struggles to land a body shot inside as Stark controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Grieg pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stark blocks an uppercut.
Grieg takes an elbow to the temple.
Grieg tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Stark's elbow.

Stark wants the takedown. Grieg is fighting it off but Stark persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Grieg's guard against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stark working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grieg thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Grieg has momentary wrist control but Stark slips an elbow through the middle.
Stark throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stark is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Grieg manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stark manages to get himself to full guard.

Stark is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grieg lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Grieg looking to pass the guard.
Stark looking to control.
Stark is controlling Grieg's posture.
Grieg is working Stark over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Stark is adopting a defensive guard.
Grieg preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark is working hard here to advance position.
Stark is trying to keep Grieg in close.
Grieg is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Grieg works over Stark with some ground and pound from guard.
Grieg is in close to Stark's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stark seems keen to control Grieg's posture.
Grieg landing with the ground and pound.
Grieg throws a big elbow that misses.
Grieg connects with a couple of short punches.
Grieg landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Grieg postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Grieg keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stark's head.
Stark wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Grieg stands up over Stark, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Grieg lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Stark is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grieg with a nice head shot there.
Grieg postures up and lands a big shot to Stark's brow.
Grieg stands up over Stark, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grieg throws a big elbow that misses.
Grieg lands a couple of elbows.

Stark wriggles free and stands up.
Stark misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Grieg tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Stark waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Grieg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stark stuns Grieg with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Khal Stark is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Grieg throws a looping overhand right but Stark ducks down to avoid it.
Stark misses with a looping left.
And Grieg tries to counter it with a takedown but Stark pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Grieg throws a quick inside leg kick.
Stark tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Grieg is able to avoid easily.
Stark wants to slow Grieg down by chopping away at his legs.
Grieg looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Stark throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Grieg pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Stark misses the target.
Stark throws a body punch but Grieg moves out of range.
Grieg misses the shot to the body.
Stark takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Stark throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big right from Stark misses.
Grieg misses with a body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edvard Grieg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Grieg 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edvard Grieg!
Edvard Grieg decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
The defeated Khal Stark had this to say: 'Thanks to all the fans!'.