PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Link Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Dias de Santa Rita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Link Stark has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Stark
vs
Dias de Santa Rita

183 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

174 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Link Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rodrigo Dias de Santa Rita!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Santa Rita throws a combination that misses

and Stark counters by moving into the clinch.

Stark manages to break the clinch.
Santa Rita avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Santa Rita misses with a double jab
and Stark counters with a straight right hand.
Santa Rita swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Stark counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Santa Rita has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Stark escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Stark!

Stark tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Stark decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Santa Rita throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Stark counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stark sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Stark sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Santa Rita defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santa Rita actively working from the bottom here.

Santa Rita is defending against the submission attempts here by Stark.

Santa Rita looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Santa Rita wants to get back to full guard but Stark has mounted him!
Stark trying to control but Santa Rita is having none of it.
Santa Rita tries to reverse the position but Stark maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Stark controlling the pace for now.
Santa Rita is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Santa Rita looks gassed!
Stark wants to control the pace but Santa Rita is squirming around nicely.

Stark stands up from mount. Strange move.
Stark has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Santa Rita swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Stark counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stark.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santa Rita working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stark doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stark manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Santa Rita throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Stark escapes and throws Santa Rita's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Stark working the head with strikes.
Stark trying to control the action but Santa Rita is working from the bottom.

Stark decides to stand back up. Stark steps back and let's Santa Rita get back to his feet.
Stark swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stark lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Santa Rita backs up against the cage.

Stark closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark misses with the head strike.
Stark tries for a takedown. No joy.
Santa Rita is looking to break free of the clinch but Stark has double underhooks.
Stark is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Stark escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Santa Rita throws a combination that misses

and Stark counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Santa Rita's guard now.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Santa Rita is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Santa Rita is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Santa Rita looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Santa Rita has an active guard here but Stark has managed to pass into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Link Stark dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Santa Rita misses with a wild combination.
Rodrigo Dias de Santa Rita seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santa Rita misses with a two punch combination.

Stark scores with a takedown into Santa Rita's guard.

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

Santa Rita looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stark not doing much here.

Stark escapes and gets back to his feet.
Link Stark is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Rita misses with a series of wild punches.

Stark closes the distance and clinches.

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

Stark scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Santa Rita trying to remain calm as Stark controls from the top position.
Santa Rita taking a bit of punishment here - Stark scoring with strikes.
Santa Rita tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Stark wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Stark moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Stark wants to control but Santa Rita is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Rita gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Stark is trying to control. Santa Rita wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stark wants to pass the guard but Santa Rita is defending well.

Santa Rita looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stark working Santa Rita over with strikes.

Santa Rita looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stark looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark is trying to control the action in half guard but Santa Rita is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Santa Rita manages to get to full guard.
Stark is looking to stand up but Santa Rita won't let him.

Santa Rita working for a triangle but Stark defends it easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Stark is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Santa Rita has escaped the position, nice work there.
Santa Rita regains half guard.
Santa Rita gets full guard.

Santa Rita looking for a guillotine here but Stark defends easily.

Santa Rita looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Stark has picked Santa Rita up and slammed him! Santa Rita can't keep hold of the triangle and Stark manages to pass to side control!
Santa Rita tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Stark presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Link Stark dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Santa Rita. No joy for Stark on that attempt.
Santa Rita showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stark.
Santa Rita lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Santa Rita misses with a double jab

and Stark holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Santa Rita tries to break the clinch but Stark is controlling the position.

Stark escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stark misses with a takedown attempt - Santa Rita sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stark closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Santa Rita throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Santa Rita!
Santa Rita misses with a double jab

and Stark counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santa Rita wants to improve his position but Stark is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Rita is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Stark seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Santa Rita does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Stark is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Santa Rita doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Stark.

Santa Rita looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Well, if Stark 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.

Santa Rita looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Stark pushes past his half guard into mount!

Stark stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Stark avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stark avoids a punch combination nicely.
Santa Rita throws a left and a right that both miss

and Stark counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Santa Rita can't keep his opponent in guard - Stark advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Stark trying to control the action but Santa Rita is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santa Rita actively working from the bottom here.
Link Stark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stark wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santa Rita keeps working.

Santa Rita looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stark is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santa Rita can do to turn this around?

Stark wants to work for an arm triangle but Santa Rita is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Stark throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stark wants to take a breather but Santa Rita is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Santa Rita falls off balance throwing a combination
and Stark counters with a three punch combo that has Santa Rita backing up. Santa Rita nods at Stark to acknowledge the strikes.
Santa Rita rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stark moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Santa Rita fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Santa Rita throws a series of strikes that have Stark backpedaling.
Stark shoots for a takedown but Santa Rita saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Link Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santa Rita throws a right and a left that Stark avoids nicely.
Santa Rita rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stark moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stark throws a right hand that Santa Rita ducks under and follows up with a left that Santa Rita also avoids with ease.
Stark fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Santa Rita checks it well.
Santa Rita throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Stark counters with a stiff right hand.
Santa Rita rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stark moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A punch combination from Santa Rita misses.
Horrible takedown by Stark or perhaps it was just good defense by Santa Rita which made him look bad.
Rodrigo Dias de Santa Rita has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Link Stark is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santa Rita throws a combination that misses
and Stark counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Santa Rita misses with a double jab

and Stark moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Link Stark showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stark has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Link Stark!