PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mikolaj Zgola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick Starr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zgola
vs
Starr

180 cm
19
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mikolaj Zgola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Patrick Starr!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starr throws a right hand that Zgola ducks under and follows up with a left that Zgola also avoids with ease.

Zgola closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Starr quickly recovers to half guard.
Zgola working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Starr's thigh. Starr counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Starr has Zgola pulled in close to control his posture.
Zgola trying to control the position from guard on top but Starr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Starr is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Zgola presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Starr has Zgola pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zgola manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Starr successfully pulls guard.
Zgola trying to stand up but can't free himself from Starr's guard.
Zgola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zgola tries to stand but Starr is controlling from the bottom.

Zgola stands up and waves to Starr to follow him.
Starr wants to clinch

and Zgola counters with a nice double leg into side control. Starr won't be happy with that.
Zgola trying to control the position but Starr is working away.

Zgola looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zgola lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zgola is chipping away with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zgola trying to control the action but Starr is working from the bottom.
Starr is trying to improve his position.
Starr managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Zgola.
Starr is letting Zgola control him for a moment.
Zgola tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr is looking to regain half guard here but Zgola keeps moving and retains side control.
Zgola is looking to take a break and control but Starr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Starr is trying to improve his position.

Zgola thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Zgola tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starr is looking to regain half guard here but Zgola keeps moving and retains side control.
Starr is not content to let Zgola control the position.
Starr manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Zgola works his way into full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starr tries to hold on but Zgola postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikolaj Zgola dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Starr with a poor takedown
and Zgola counters with a low kick, right behind Starr 's knee.
Zgola tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Starr manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Zgola changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Starr looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Zgola tries to move to mount but Starr blocks the move with his legs.
Zgola cracks Starr with a big right hand but Starr just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Zgola tries to move to full mount but Starr actually manages to regain half guard.
Zgola will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zgola not doing much here.
Starr tries to kick Zgola off in order to stand up. Zgola Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zgola wants to control but Starr is keeping him busy.
Starr looks to move to half guard but instead Zgola has passed into mount! Damn!
Starr is squirming around, avoiding Zgola's attempts to control the action.
Zgola looking to ground and pound but Starr is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zgola is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Zgola controlling the pace for now.
Zgola working Starr over with strikes here.
Zgola tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zgola trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mikolaj Zgola overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Starr is trying to escape the mount.
Zgola has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Starr's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zgola working the ground and pound effectively.
Zgola looking to control and managing it successfully.

Zgola goes for an armbar but Starr turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Starr.
Starr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zgola swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Zgola working for a triangle but Starr defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starr is looking to advance position but Zgola has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zgola is landing with some decent strikes but Starr is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Starr is controlling an arm, preventing Zgola from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zgola looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikolaj Zgola dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Zgola tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Starr paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zgola is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zgola swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Starr counters with a two punch combo.
Starr shoots in and drives through. Zgola sprawls well.
Starr misses with a head kick.
Zgola blocks a head kick by Starr.
Starr lands with a cross.

Zgola shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Starr's guard.
Zgola passes Starr's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Starr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Zgola decides to stand up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Starr lands a right hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr closes the distance and clinches up with Zgola, looking for a takedown. Starr pushes Zgola against the cage but Zgola circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Starr fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mikolaj Zgola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Starr.
Starr has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zgola tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Starr slips a jab and a cross from Zgola.

Zgola closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Starr quickly recovers to half guard.
Starr trying to get back to full guard but Zgola takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Zgola controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zgola wants to control the pace but Starr is squirming around nicely.
Zgola controlling the pace for now.
Starr is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zgola landing strikes, looking to finish!

Zgola is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Starr has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Starr!
Zgola is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zgola manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Starr manages to get himself to full guard.
Starr is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zgola is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zgola trying to stand up but can't free himself from Starr's guard.
Zgola looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Zgola 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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Zgola controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikolaj Zgola showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zgola, 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikolaj Zgola!