PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lonnie Thug (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cameron Starn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cameron Starn has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Thug
vs
Starn

183 cm
19
192 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lonnie Thug!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cameron Starn!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thug fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Starn sprawls well initially but Thug persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Thug trying to mount his opponent but Starn defends it.
Thug missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Thug looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Starn tries to get to full guard but Thug has control of the leg.
Starn trying to hold on to Thug's head to control him but Thug postures up.
Starn is looking to improve his position.
Thug seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Starn does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Starn is trying to stand.
Starn is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Starn misses with an attempted mid kick.
Starn with a lazy takedown attempt

and Thug counters with a single leg into guard. Starn didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thug's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Starn keeping moving, preventing Thug from controlling successfully.
Starn manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Starn tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Thug avoids a strike by Starn and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Starn's guard! Fantastic escape!
Thug controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Starn is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thug defends well.
Starn keeping full guard, as Thug tries to pass.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Starn keeping moving, preventing Thug from controlling successfully.
Starn trying to keep a closed guard but Thug is proving a slippery customer.
Thug sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thug won't allow Starn to sweep him here.
Thug looking to pass the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Starn throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Starn lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A punch combination from Thug misses.
Starn tries to land a front kick but Thug steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Thug moves away from the strike by Starn.
Thug dodges the punch combination from Starn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Starn with a lazy takedown attempt

and Thug counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Starn fails to pull guard.
Lonnie Thug has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cameron Starn.
Thug misses with a punch on the inside.
Thug looking for a takedown.
Thug can't get the takedown.

Starn pulls guard effortlessly.
Starn wants to stand up but Thug is controlling him.

Starn looking for a guillotine here but Thug defends easily.
Thug might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Starn looks gassed!
Thug stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Starn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Starn can't keep his opponent in guard - Thug advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lonnie Thug dominated that round.
That's time! Thug's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Starn has his takedown stuffed

and Thug counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Thug throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thug sitting in guard here, content to control.
Thug has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thug passes Starn's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Starn looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thug trying to advance position but Starn counters by regaining guard.
Starn is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thug wants to control from the top but Starn keeps moving.
Thug working some strikes from top position.
Thug stays in close to Starn's body and controls the position.
Starn is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Starn seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thug does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Starn is stalling here. Thug is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Starn seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Thug has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Thug working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starn tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Thug has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Starn.
Thug trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Starn doesn't escape.
Lonnie Thug overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Starn staying busy and making it hard for Thug to control.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Thug is trying to stick to Starn's back but Starn is turning into Thug. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Thug's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Starn.
Starn would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Starn drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Thug manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Starn has Thug in his guard.
Thug pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Starn is keeping the position for now.
Thug slips nicely into half guard.
Thug sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Thug throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thug seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Starn does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Thug trying to mount his opponent but Starn defends it.
Starn gets full guard.
Thug stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Starn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thug sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Starn's guard.
Starn wants to control but Thug is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thug is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Thug wants to take a breather but Starn is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lonnie Thug dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Starn misses with a takedown attempt

and Thug counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Starn wants to improve his position but Thug is controlling well.
Thug seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Thug is controlling the pace.
Thug lands strikes from half guard.
Thug landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Thug not doing much here.
Starn is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thug's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thug's back!
Starn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starn struggling to keep hold of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Starn misses with punches from the back.
Thug manages to reverse the position and now he's in Starn's guard. Nice work there by Thug.
Thug pushes down on Starn's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Thug is keen to just control but Starn is a slippery customer.
Thug has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Thug controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thug with a couple of short strikes.
Thug punishing his opponent with strikes.
Starn wants to control but Thug is having none of it.
BOOM! Thug connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Thug scoring with strikes but Starn is staying in there.
Starn keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thug controlling the pace for now.
Thug is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Starn can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Thug controlling from the full mount.
Starn keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Thug controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thug is landing with some decent strikes but Starn is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Lonnie Thug is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thug controlling the pace for now.
Starn can't escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thug lands with some strikes.
Thug controlling the pace for now.
Cameron Starn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Starn is looking to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lonnie Thug showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thug, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:26
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:26
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lonnie Thug!