PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fabio Grazie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Starr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grazie comes to the cage accompanied by Randy Edelman, Trevor Jones - Promontory. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Grazie
vs
Starr

177 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
202 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fabio Grazie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johny Starr!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Starr has taken the fight to the clinch.
Grazie is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Starr pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Starr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Starr with a hook.
Grazie slips a jab and a cross from Starr.
Starr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grazie.

Starr gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Starr keeping full guard, as Grazie tries to pass.
Starr is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Grazie stops Starr from standing up.

Grazie has gone for a leg lock! Starr slips out almost immediately though and dives into Grazie's guard.
Starr controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grazie wants to control the position but Starr says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Grazie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Starr pulls his head out easily.
Grazie is trying to get back to full guard.

Grazie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two 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.
Starr wants to stand up but Grazie is controlling the position.

Grazie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Grazie is breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Starr misses with a series of wild punches.
Starr scores with a kick to the body.
Starr scores with a jab.
Starr lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Starr.

Grazie is rocked!
Starr moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Oh Grazie is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Starr will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Starr moves into the clinch successfully.
A short body shot lands from Starr as the two fighters clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Starr.
Grazie seems to have got his legs back now.
Starr makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr cracks Grazie with a right hand to the side of the head.
Grazie shoots in but no luck this time.
No joy there for Starr, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Grazie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabio Grazie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Grazie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Grazie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Starr keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Grazie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Starr is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Grazie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grazie swings around for an armbar but Starr sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Grazie's guard.
Starr has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Grazie is proving hard to escape from.
Grazie keeping moving, preventing Starr from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grazie keeping full guard, as Starr tries to pass.
Grazie looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Starr dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Grazie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Starr pinned against the cage. Starr gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Starr rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Grazie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Starr!
Grazie closes the distance and clinches up with Starr, looking for a takedown. Grazie pushes Starr against the cage but Starr circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Grazie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabio Grazie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Starr throws a quick inside leg kick.
Starr lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Grazie backs up against the cage.
Grazie misses with a takedown attempt - Starr sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Grazie.
Grazie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Starr is fending him off so far but Grazie persists. Nope, Starr circles away and we're back to standing.
Starr cracks the inside of Grazie's front leg.
Grazie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Grazie shoots in looking for a takedown. Starr tries to sprawl out of it but Grazie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Starr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Starr connects with the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grazie shoots in but Starr avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Starr lands a glancing blow to the side of Grazie's head.

Starr darts in and clinches Grazie up against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Starr.
A nice right hand lands inside from Starr.
Knees in the clinch landing for Starr.
A right hook to the body lands for Starr.

Starr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Grazie has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Starr lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Starr does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Starr stuffs the takedown.
A clash of legs there as Grazie blocks the low kick.
Starr just misses with a punch to the body.
Starr tries to bum rush Grazie with a series of wild strikes but Grazie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Starr tries to clinch up.
Grazie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Starr swivels and escapes.
Johny Starr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Decent striking displayed by Starr there.

Starr instigates a clinch.

Starr manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grazie shoots in but Starr avoids the takedown attempt easily.
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!
Starr stuffs the takedown.
Starr works over Grazie's head and body with a nice combination.
Grazie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Starr's waist but Starr gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Grazie off to one side.
Grazie has a takedown stuffed.

Starr moves into the clinch.
Grazie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Starr smiles and moves away.
Starr thuds a left hand into Grazie's body.

Starr forces Grazie back against the cage and clinches.
Starr lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A right hand to the body from Starr.
Starr lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Grazie tries to pull guard but Starr won't allow it.
Starr makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Starr breaks the clinch.
Grazie looks for a takedown but Starr sprawls well.
Starr lands a really nice looking cross but Grazie seems unphased.
Starr stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grazie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Starr but Starr pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Horrible takedown by Grazie or perhaps it was just good defense by Starr which made him look bad.
Johny Starr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Grazie takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Starr punishes Grazie's body with a nice straight punch.
Grazie looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Grazie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Starr as he avoids it easily.
Starr throws a leg kick that misses.
Grazie stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Starr.
Starr misses with a low kick.
Grazie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Grazie fails with a takedown attempt.

Grazie tries to keep at a distance but Starr has taken the fight into the clinch.
Starr lands a nice uppercut.
A short left from Starr.
Grazie looking for a takedown.

Starr breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Starr fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Grazie, pushing him back against the cage.
Starr lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

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

Starr pushes Grazie up against the cage in a clinch.
Grazie tries to score a body lock takedown but Starr shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A right hand to the body from Starr.
A nice right hand lands inside from Starr.
Nice body punch from Starr - that landed with a thud.
Starr lands a right hand.
Starr prevents a takedown attempt there.
Starr is pressed up against the cage. Grazie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Starr down to the mat. Starr avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Grazie looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Starr throws a head kick but Grazie moves out of range.
Grazie dodges the punch combination from Starr.

Grazie feints and as Starr raises his hands in defense, Grazie changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grazie trying to control but Starr is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grazie looking to pass the guard.
Grazie passes Starr's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Starr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Grazie or perhaps it was just good defense by Starr which made him look bad.

Starr has taken the fight to the clinch.
Starr lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Grazie.
Grazie tries to score a body lock takedown but Starr shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Starr working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A hook to the body from Starr.

Starr manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Starr as Grazie shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabio Grazie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grazie stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Starr.
Grazie shoots in but no luck this time.
Starr throws a series of punches but Grazie avoids them all with ease.
Horrible takedown by Grazie or perhaps it was just good defense by Starr which made him look bad.
Starr throws a nice outside leg kick.
Grazie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Starr rushes Grazie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Starr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Starr lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Starr working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Grazie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Starr breaks the clinch.

Grazie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grazie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Starr is just riding it out for now. Grazie eventually gives up the hold.

Grazie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Starr trying to control here.

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

That's two 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.

Grazie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Grazie tries to pass to full mount but Starr defends it.

Grazie seems to be looking for submissions.

Grazie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grazie is working for a kimura but Starr is defending it quite comfortably.
Grazie works his way into side control.
Fabio Grazie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Grazie tries for a kimura but Starr is defending well.

Grazie goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Starr has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Grazie but great work by Starr.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grazie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Fabio Grazie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Grazie is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Starr is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Grazie tries to reverse the position but Starr maintains control.
Starr content just to control the position here.
Grazie flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

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 Fabio Grazie.
I think Starr has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johny Starr!