PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stalin Starksson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sasa Sladkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Starksson comes into the arena with War is my destiny blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Starksson
vs
Sladkov

150 cm
22
246 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

192 cm
29
240 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Revolution Fatigues

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stalin Starksson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sasa Sladkov!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sladkov misses with a left hand
and Starksson counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Starksson shoots in and gets a takedown into Sladkov's guard.
Starksson throwing strikes but missing.
Starksson wants to control from the top but Sladkov keeps moving.
Starksson looking to pass the guard.
Starksson wants to control from the top but Sladkov keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starksson throws a big right hand that misses.
Starksson throws a big elbow that misses.
Starksson wants to control from the top but Sladkov keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stalin Starksson just wasn't active enough.
Starksson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sladkov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Starksson.
Sladkov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Starksson.
Sasa Sladkov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Starksson throws out a powerful jab.
Starksson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sladkov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starksson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sladkov momentarily.
Sladkov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Starksson throws out the jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sladkov with a hook.
Sladkov misses with a body shot.
Starksson looks to score with a jab to the body but Sladkov is just out of range.
Starksson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Starksson throws a body punch but Sladkov moves out of range.
Starksson scoring well with a low kick there.
Starksson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Starksson throws a right hand that Sladkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Sladkov also avoids with ease.
Sladkov avoids the head kick by Starksson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starksson looks to throw the jab but Sladkov is out of range.
Starksson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sladkov.

Starksson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sladkov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Starksson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Starksson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Starksson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Starksson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starksson trying to pass the guard but Sladkov defending well.
Starksson is working hard here to advance position.
Starksson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Starksson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starksson is just content to waste time from the top position. Sladkov takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stalin Starksson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sladkov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Starksson has a takedown stuffed.
Sladkov misses the jab.
Starksson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Sladkov gets tackled into the cage by Starksson. Starksson maintains the clinch.
Starksson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A bit of stalling here from Starksson.
Starksson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sladkov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A shot in the inside from Sladkov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Starksson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sladkov or not.
Sladkov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Starksson or not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Starksson.
Starksson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sladkov up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Starksson.
Sladkov lands a body punch in the clinch.
Sladkov lands a shoulder strike.
Stalling in the clinch from Sladkov.
Sladkov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Starksson blocks a body shot from Sladkov.
Starksson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sladkov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sladkov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sladkov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Starksson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Starksson misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starksson is trying to drag Sladkov to the mat but Sladkov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stalin Starksson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Starksson tries to work over Sladkov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Starksson wants a takedown but no success here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sladkov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Starksson.
Sladkov blocks a body shot from Starksson.
Starksson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sladkov avoids it.
Sladkov trying to control the position but instead, Starksson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sladkov into the cage.
Sladkov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Starksson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sladkovs head.

Sladkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sladkov closes the distance and pushes Starksson back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starksson wants to take the fight to the mat but Sladkov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Sladkov digs a right hand underneath Starksson's ribcage. Starksson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sladkov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Starkssons head.
Sladkov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sladkov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Starksson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Starksson has Sladkov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sladkov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sladkov lands a hook that snaps the head of Starksson backwards.
Sladkov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Starksson backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sladkov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Starksson or not.
Sladkov lands a nice uppercut.
Sladkov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Starksson is keeping busy.
Sladkov prevents a body shot from Starksson.
Sladkov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Starksson backwards.
Starksson tries to stall but Sladkov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sladkov struggles to land a body shot inside as Starksson controls his hands.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Starksson as Sladkov tries to tie him up.
Sladkov stalling the fight.
A short right from Starksson on the inside.
A short right from Starksson on the inside.
Starksson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Starksson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sladkov misses with a punch on the inside.
Starksson tries a body shot but Sladkov blocks it.
Starksson misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasa Sladkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Starksson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Sladkov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Starksson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sladkov.
Good standup being displayed there by Starksson as he connects with a hook.
Sladkov throws an overhand right that lands on Starksson's shoulder, as Starksson tries to avoid the shot.
Stalin Starksson is winning the standup battle so far.
Starksson cracks the inside of Sladkov's front leg.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Starksson thumps Sladkov with a low kick.
Starksson moves away from the strike by Sladkov.
A lazy left from Starksson finds it's target.
Starksson connects with an inside leg kick.
Sladkov connects with the punch.
Starksson shoots for a double leg takedown but Sladkov sprawls well. He's pushed Starksson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A combination from Starksson does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sladkov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Starksson throws a poor cross that misses
and Sladkov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Starksson scores with a shot to the body.
Stalin Starksson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sladkov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Starksson walks into a left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sladkov keeps the fight on the outside.
Sladkov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Sladkov drives through and clinches with Starksson against the cage.
Sladkov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sladkov lands with a right to the head.
Sladkov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Starksson misses with a punch to the body.
Sladkov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Starksson's elbow.
Starksson misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starksson pushes Sladkov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Starksson lands a nice shot to the body.
Starksson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sladkov tries a body shot but Starksson blocks it.
Starksson has a couple of punches blocked by Sladkov.
Sladkov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Starksson's elbow.
Sladkov is working Starksson over against the cage.
Starksson has a couple of punches blocked by Sladkov.
Sladkov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sladkov misses with some punches.
Sladkov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Starksson keeps control of Sladkov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sladkov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Starksson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sladkov stalling in the clinch but Starksson improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sladkov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sladkov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Starksson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sladkov misses with a punch on the inside.
Starksson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Starksson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sladkov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stalin Starksson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sladkov working aggressively here.
Starksson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sladkov backwards.
Starksson struggles to land a body shot inside as Sladkov controls his hands.
Starksson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Starksson misses with a punch to the body.
Starksson has a couple of punches blocked by Sladkov.

Starksson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sladkov wants to sweep but Starksson has passed to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starksson misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Starksson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Starksson in side control, throwing shots but Sladkov defends.
Starksson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sladkov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sasa Sladkov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sladkov 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sasa Sladkov!