PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jan Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuki Ito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Stark
vs
Ito

183 cm
18
300 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

220 cm
19
300 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jan Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuki Ito!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Stark misses.
Stark looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Ito shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ito scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ito is trying to control the action in half guard but Stark is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ito has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ito is controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ito is looking to advance position but Stark won't allow it.
Stark pushes Ito off looking to stand but Ito dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ito looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Stark really is a fat lump.
Ito throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ito stands up and beckons Stark to join him on the feet.
Ito connects with a body shot.

Ito is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stark's half guard.
Stark is in trouble now - Ito has advanced to mount!
Stark is bucking up trying to escape but Ito cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Stark might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ito sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ito thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Stark wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ito sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Ito stands up from mount. Strange move.
Stark misses with a double jab.
Ito works Stark's body with a nice hook.
Ito tries to clinch up.
Stark circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ito bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ito stuffs the takedown attempt from Stark. Stark gets slowly back to his feet.

Ito closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ito is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Stark can't fight it off and eventually Ito manages to take the fight to the floor. Stark looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stark wants to stand and escape but Ito is having none of it.
Ito works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ito is looking to stall here but Stark recovers full guard.
Stark wants to stand and escape but Ito is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuki Ito dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jan Stark'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.

The fight stays on the outside here - Ito looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Ito shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ito was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ito tries to control but Stark wriggling away.
Ito lands with some strikes.
Ito sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Stark squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ito dominating with strikes here.
Stark really wants to buck Ito off and get back to his feet.
Ito content just to control the position here.
Ito works his way to his opponent's back.

That's two 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.
Stark looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Ito throwing sloppy strikes.

Stark manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Stark lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ito circles away quickly and effectively.
Ito will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stark looks to throw the jab but Ito is out of range.
Ito scores with a body shot.
Stark shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ito pinned against the cage. Ito gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stark tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ito was well out of range. Poor timing from Stark.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ito shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ito scores with a one two! Stark had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Ito tries for a takedown but Stark circles away easily

and Stark counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ito won't be happy with that.
Jan Stark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazuki Ito.
Stark landing a few strikes.
Ito tries to buck Stark off but Stark is having none of it.
Stark working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Ito manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ito prevents Stark from standing back up.
Ito is taking a breather. Stark says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ito is trying to control the action in half guard but Stark is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ito prevents Stark from standing back up.

Stark kicks off Ito and gets to his feet.
Ito with a poor takedown
and Stark counters with a straight right hand.
Stark throws a nice head kick!
Ito has his takedown stuffed

and Stark counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Stark dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jan Stark's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ito throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Stark counters with a nice leg kick.
Stark swinging wilding here.
Ito lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Stark backs up against the cage.

Stark gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stark is looking to stand up but Ito isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stark manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ito counters with a three punch combo that has Stark backing up. Stark nods at Ito to acknowledge the strikes.
Ito fails with the takedown
and Stark counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ito has his takedown stuffed
and Stark counters with a two punch combo.
Ito clinches but Stark breaks the clinch

and Stark counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Stark trying to control but Ito is working from the bottom.
Ito trying to keep a closed guard but Stark is proving a slippery customer.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Ito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ito 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 content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ito 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.
Stark with a flurry of punches that miss.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stark misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ito counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Stark lands a nice looking body shot.
Stark tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ito was well out of range. Poor timing from Stark.
Stark is looking to wear down Ito with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ito wants to clinch
and Stark counters with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark misses with a combination

and Ito counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Ito gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Ito misses with a takedown attempt
and Stark counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ito thinking.
Jan Stark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazuki Ito.
A right-left combo lands from Ito.
Ito shoots and misses
enabling Stark to counter with a crisp jab.
Ito gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Stark decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ito's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stark throwing strikes from guard but Ito blocks nicely.
Stark wants to control from the top but Ito keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ito is on top in guard.
Ito wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.
Ito is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kazuki Ito has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Stark has his feet on Ito's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jan Stark.
I think Stark has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

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