PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gatekeeper Devil (ranked 22889 p4p, 557 weight class) and Jon Stark (ranked 23952 p4p, 583 weight class). Gatekeeper Devil is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Devil
vs
Stark

210 cm
19
190 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

183 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gatekeeper Devil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jon Stark!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Devil lands a nice looking body shot.

Stark instigates a clinch.

Devil's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Devil has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Gatekeeper Devil has been cut.

Stark looking to score a takedown here. Devil is defending well but Stark drives through and ends up in Devil's guard.

Devil is rocked!
Stark showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Oh Devil is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Devil looking for a guillotine here but Stark defends easily.

Devil is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Devil seems to have got his legs back now.

Devil isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Stark stacks Devil on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Stark!
Stark wants to control but Devil is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!

Stark decides to stand back up.
Stark throws a sloppy head kick and Devil moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stark closes the distance and pushes Devil back into the cage.
I was talking to Devil's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Devil pulls guard successfully.
Stark must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stark content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Devil looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stark slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Stark scoring with punches to the head and body.
Devil will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Stark got a little sloppy there for a moment and Devil has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stark has managed to get both his arms back between Devil's legs - danger averted.
Stark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Devil is keeping the position for now.
Devil really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stark works over Devil with some ground and pound from guard.
Stark is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Devil looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stark passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Stark decides to return to a standing position.

Stark gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Devil lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Stark kicks Devil off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Stark rushes Devil and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Devil manages to break the clinch.

Devil tries to sprawl but Stark drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Stark trying to control the action but Devil is working from the bottom.

Devil is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stark pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devil won't allow Stark to pass to mount.

Devil looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Devil looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Devil is breathing heavily.
Stark landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Stark decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Devil avoids the head kick by Stark.

Stark scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Stark controlling from side mount.

Stark is trying to get an arm triangle but Devil is defending well.
Devil is looking to regain half guard here but Stark keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Devil!
Devil regains half guard.

Devil actively working from the bottom here.
Stark perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Stark passes to full mount!
Stark landing punches.

Stark looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Devil is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Stark dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gatekeeper Devil's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Devil moves in looking to clinch but Stark pushes him off.
Stark changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Stark has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Devil fails with a takedown attempt.
Devil blocks a head kick by Stark.
Stark keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Devil displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stark.
Devil tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stark manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Devil tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Stark defends well and Devil ends up having to push Stark into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Stark on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gatekeeper Devil. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stark shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Devil as he avoids it easily.
Stark slaps away a takedown attempt from Devil, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Devil sets himself, and Stark steps forward looking for the clinch! Devil avoids it this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stark shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Devil is trying to defend but Stark finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Stark takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark moves nicely into side control.
Devil tries to buck Stark off but Stark is having none of it.

Stark stands up.

Stark rushes Devil and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Devil breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Stark shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Devil is trying to defend but Stark finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Stark gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Devil shoots in for a takedown but Stark shows good takedown defense.

Stark closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Devil did well to prevent Stark getting side control.
Stark trying to control the pace.
Stark tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Devil looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stark tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Stark seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Devil is not content to let Stark control the position.

Devil actively working from the bottom here.
Stark trying to mount his opponent but Devil defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Stark prevents Devil from improving his position.

Stark postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Devil to stand up.
Devil fails with the takedown.
Devil sets himself, and Stark steps forward looking for the clinch! Devil avoids it this time.
Devil wants to clinch.
Stark darts in looking for a takedown but Devil gets double underhooks and turns Stark into the cage.
Devil shoots in for a double leg but Stark sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Stark drives through with a takedown into Devil's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Stark avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stark is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stark gets to his feet. Devil looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Stark gets a clinch.
Stark has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Devil is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Stark breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Devil wants to clinch.
Jon Stark seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stark misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Devil fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Stark closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Devil did well to prevent Stark getting side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Stark showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gatekeeper Devil's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Devil shoots for a takedown but Stark saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Stark drives through with a takedown into Devil's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Stark is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Devil throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Stark escapes and throws Devil's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Stark stands up.
Devil tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stark sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Devil somewhat.

Stark shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stark sitting in guard here, content to control.

Devil has his foot on Stark's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stark works his way back into a safe position though.
Stark is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Devil is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stark slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Stark is continuing to stall.

Devil looking for a guillotine here but Stark defends easily.

Stark stands up and waves to Devil to follow him.
Devil wants to clinch.
Gatekeeper Devil is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stark throws a head kick that Devil semi-blocks.

Stark changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Devil looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Stark is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Devil looks calm but he's in trouble here. Stark gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Devil is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Stark lets go of the hold and Devil can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jon Stark!
Jon Stark thanked the fans post fight for their support.