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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Derek Safo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Decon Starian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Safo's entrance music is Up Your Speed by Sway DaSafo. A fine choice. Starian comes into a darkened arena with his song building. I need a hero kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 186 cm
29
179 lbs
17 - 8 - 0 |
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179 cm
24
180 lbs
9 - 5 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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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
17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Derek Safo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Decon Starian!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Columbo Gatti and Jonathan Paton.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Safo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Starian eats them both and turns towards Safo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Starian misses with a wild body shot.
Starian misses with a straight left.
Safo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Safo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Starian uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Safo.
Safo throws a leg kick which misses Starian's front leg but catches the back leg as Starian tries to avoid it.
Safo misses with a wild combination.
Safo lands a slapping body shot.
Starian throws a looping overhand right but Safo ducks down to avoid it.
Starian lands with a cross.
Safo tries to score with a low kick but Starian moves his leg out of the way.
Safo clobbers Starian with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Starian moves away from the strike by Safo.
Starian shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Safo is trying to defend but Starian finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Starian is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Safo trying to control from the bottom.
Safo keeping hold of Starian's head, controlling as best he can.
Starian tries to pass to full mount but Safo defends it.
Starian passes to side control.
You can see the frustration on Safo's face as Starian controls the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Safo is trying to control Starian's posture but Starian avoids it.
Starian is staying tight to Safo's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Starian trying to control the action but Safo is working from the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Starian scoring well with a low kick there.
Safo throws a big shot that misses.
Safo is looking to slow Starian down with leg kicks.
Starian throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Safo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Good exchange - Starian coming out on top.
Starian misses with a wild body shot.
Safo tries to clinch but Starian is having none of it.
Starian scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Safo's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Safo duly obliges.
Starian throws an overhand right that lands on Safo's shoulder, as Safo tries to avoid the shot.
Starian throws a leg kick but Safo checks it.
Derek Safo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Starian with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Safo throws a chopping leg kick but Starian manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Safo blocks a low kick nicely.
Safo looks to score with a jab to the body but Starian is just out of range.
Starian misses with a low kick as Safo jumps back.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Safo instigates a clinch.
A short left from Starian.
Safo lands with a short shot to the head.
Safo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Starian throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Starian.
Safo misses with a punch to the body.
Safo can't find room to land a body shot as Starian controls the action.
Starian lands a nice uppercut.
Safo is stalling here.
Safo throws a head punch that misses.
Safo can't find room to land a body shot as Starian controls the action.
Starian wants to take the fight to the mat but Safo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Safo can't find room to land a body shot as Starian controls the action.
Safo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Starian wants a takedown but no success here.
Starian tries to throw a body punch but Safo avoids it by throwing Starian back against the cage.
Safo misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Decon Starian will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Safo digs a good body shot into Starian's ribs.
Safo scores with a sloppy right hand. Starian should have avoided that one.
Safo blocks a jab.
Safo misses with a low kick as Starian jumps back.
Safo connects with a leg kick. Starian looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Starian avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Starian throws a one two combo.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Safo.
Safo pushes Starian up against the cage in a clinch.
Safo lands a hook that snaps the head of Starian backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Starian turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Starian tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Safo wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Safo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Safo is trying to escape the position but Starian is controlling the position.
Safo can't do much from the bottom here.
Starian tries to move into full mount but can't pass Safo's legs.
Starian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Safo keeps working.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Safo tries to buck Starian off but Starian is having none of it.
Safo trying his best to control but Starian has mounted him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Safo can't escape the position.
Starian tries to control but Safo wriggling away.
Safo working to try and regain half guard.
Starian wants to control the pace but Safo is squirming around nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Safo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Safo is working hard here to advance position.
Safo is squirming around, avoiding Starian's attempts to control the action.
Safo taking shots to the head.
Safo is trying desperately to improve position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starian swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Safo is now in Starian's guard. A big mistake from Starian there, giving up the dominant position!
Starian is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Safo defends well.
Safo trying to control but Starian is working from the bottom.
Starian is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starian looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Safo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Derek Safo will probably get the nod.
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 crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Safo checks a low kick from Starian.
Safo takes a swing at Starian's ribcage but misses.
Starian throws an overhand right that lands on Safo's shoulder, as Safo tries to avoid the shot.
Starian lands with a kick to the temple. Safo shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
It looks like Derek Safo has been cut.
Starian looks to score with a jab to the body but Safo is just out of range.
Safo cracks Starian with an open hand slap.
Safo throws a low kick, looking for Starian's leg but Starian calmly moves out of range.
A nice combination there by Safo.
Safo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Safo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Safo lands a nice looking body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Safo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Safo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Starian.
Safo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Safo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
No joy there for Safo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Safo misses its intended target.
Safo scores with a nice strike.
Starian staying out of range there.
Safo wants to clinch up but Starian keeps it at a distance.
Starian throws a big shot that misses.
Safo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Safo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Starian fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Safo avoids it really well and circles away.
Starian takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Safo avoids the head kick by Starian.
A lazy left from Safo finds it's target.
Safo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Starian with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Safo to score with a decent uppercut.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starian throws a looping overhand right but Safo ducks down to avoid it.
Safo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Starian. That did some damage!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Safo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Starian tried to score with a low kick but Safo checks it.
Starian scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Safo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Starian circles away quickly and effectively.
Starian throws a big shot that misses.
Starian's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Safo throws a leg kick but Starian sees it coming and moves out of range.
Derek Safo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Safo just misses with a punch to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Safo.
Safo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Safo wants it to stay on the feet.
Safo connects with an inside leg kick.
Safo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Starian has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Starian there as he acknowledges the shot.
Starian dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starian misses with a jab to the body
and Safo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Safo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Starian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Safo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Safo is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A jab from Safo misses.
Derek Safo is winning the standup battle so far.
Some bone on bone action there as Starian checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Starian thows a body shot but no joy.
Nice takedown defense from Safo. No joy for Starian on that attempt.
Derek Safo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Decon Starian.
Safo connects with a leg kick. Starian looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Safo tries to move into range but Starian moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Safo connects with a looping right hand.
Safo works over Starian's head and body with a nice combination.
Starian tries to move into range but Safo moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
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!
Nice straight punches there by Safo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Safo.
Starian lands with an uppercut that bounces Safo off the cage and back into range.
Starian slips under a jab from Safo.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Safo catches Starian with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Safo moves into range and clinches up with Starian.
Safo misses with a punch on the inside.
Safo misses with the head strike.
Safo tries a body shot but Starian blocks it.
Safo lands a body punch in the clinch.
Starian scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Safo can't find room to land a body shot as Starian controls the action.
Safo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Safo takes a shot to the head.
Starian blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Starian tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Safo taking a breather.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Starian changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Safo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Safo misses the shot to the body.
And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Safo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Safo 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:28
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Derek Safo!
A less than humble Derek Safo misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
88% |
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