PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hax Molloway (ranked 1593 p4p, 1726 weight class) and Brandon Stark (ranked 232 p4p, 241 weight class). Hax Molloway could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Brandon Stark's chin.

Molloway
vs
Stark

185 cm
27
184
16 - 11 - 0

176 cm
46
181
25 - 33 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
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 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hax Molloway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 33 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brandon Stark!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark throws a body punch but Molloway moves out of range.
Molloway tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Stark manages to circle out of the way.
Brandon Stark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Molloway wants to clinch.
Stark is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Molloway.
Molloway changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Molloway avoids the body shot from Stark.
Molloway wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Stark takes a swing at Molloway's ribcage but misses.
Stark lands a really nice looking cross but Molloway seems unphased.
Stark keeps the fight on the outside.
Stark works the jab nicely.
Stark steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Molloway.
Stark blocks a leg kick.
Molloway misses with a looping left.
Stark scores with a body shot.
Stark is looking to score with low kicks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stark takes a swing at Molloway's ribcage but misses.

Molloway tries to sprawl but Stark drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Stark seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Molloway does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molloway is pressing down on Stark's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stark is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Molloway looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stark is one step ahead there.
Stark stands and throws Molloway's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Stark tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stark has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Stark looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stark looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stark is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Molloway knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Molloway tries to bench press Stark off him but Stark keeps the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Molloway is working hard here to advance position.

Stark is trying to get an arm triangle but Molloway is defending well.
Molloway manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molloway trying to control the action but Stark is working from the bottom.
Stark gets full guard.
Molloway in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Molloway looking to sit in guard and control but Stark gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Molloway trying to keep a closed guard but Stark is proving a slippery customer.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Molloway is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Molloway escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stark gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark trying to control but Molloway is working from the bottom.
Molloway looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stark stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Molloway swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Molloway is trying to keep Stark in close.
We've been hearing good reports from Molloway'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.

Molloway isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Stark stacks Molloway 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 working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Stark works to advance to full mount. Molloway defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Stark dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stark throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Stark scores with a hook to the body. Molloway takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Stark has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Molloway tries to clinch
and Stark counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Stark is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Molloway rather than just go for the knockout.
Stark tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Molloway was well out of range. Poor timing from Stark.
Molloway wants to clinch.

Molloway tries to sprawl but Stark drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Stark seems to be working for a kimura but Molloway defends the submission attempt.

Stark is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Molloway defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Molloway trying to control but Stark postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Molloway is defending against the submission attempts here by Stark.

Stark is trying to work for a kimura but Molloway is defending well.

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

Stark is looking for a kimura but Molloway is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stark to get the leverage.

Molloway looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Stark seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are battling for position here. Molloway manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Stark wants to control from the top but Molloway keeps moving.
Molloway can't keep his opponent in guard - Stark advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Molloway trying to control here.
Stark tries to pass to full mount but Molloway defends it.
Molloway gets full guard.

Molloway throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stark trying to control but Molloway is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Molloway is keeping the position for now.
Stark wants to control from the top but Molloway keeps moving.
Molloway wants to sweep here but Stark controlling him for the moment.
Molloway keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.

Molloway escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stark gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Molloway is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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 pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Molloway is keeping the position for now.
Molloway is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Stark got a little sloppy there for a moment and Molloway has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stark has managed to get both his arms back between Molloway's legs - danger averted.
Stark looking to pass the guard.
Brandon Stark has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Molloway is trying to control the position but Stark postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Molloway doesn't manage to clinch there - Stark circles away.

Stark shoots in and gets a takedown into Molloway's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Stark showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Molloway tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stark swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stark swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stark throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Molloway.
Stark lands a body shot.

Molloway moves into range and clinches up with Stark.

Molloway is fighting off a takedown attempt but Stark is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Molloway to the mat. Molloway regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Molloway is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stark is aware though and is defending well.
Stark sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Molloway's guard.
Stark controlling the pace.

Stark seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Molloway is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Brandon Stark!
After winning the bout, Brandon Stark thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.