PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jordan Nace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Link Stark (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.

Nace
vs
Stark

173 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 Amsterdam, Jordan Nace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Link Stark!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark slips a jab and a cross from Nace.
Jordan Nace seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nace misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nace fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Nace shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Stark is trying is best to control the position here.
Nace thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nace lands strikes from half guard.
Nace is thwarting Stark's attempts to control the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nace lands a nice short elbow.
Stark wants to control but Nace is keeping busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stark manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Stark manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Stark can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nace is looking to escape.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nace tries to reverse the position but Stark maintains control.
Stark tries to control but Nace wriggling away.
Stark sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nace is looking to improve his position but Stark isn't that keen on the idea.

Stark stands up from mount. Strange move.
Some wild striking there from Nace.
Nace takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nace loads up on a big right hand but Stark slips the punch.
Nace doesn't manage to clinch there - Stark circles away.

Stark closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stark lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stark passes Nace's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Stark is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Stark seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nace does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stark looks gassed!
Stark prevents Nace from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark trying to control the pace.
Nace trying to control but Stark postures up.
Stark is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Nace throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Stark passes to full mount!
Nace tries to reverse the position but Stark maintains control.
Nace throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Stark looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Stark controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nace gets back to half guard.
Nace punching from the bottom.
Nace is looking to control Stark's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nace avoid being mounted?
Stark seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Stark wants to control but Nace is keeping him busy.

Stark is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nace tries to get to full guard but Stark has control of the leg.
Stark wants to take a breather but Nace is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Link Stark dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nace falls off balance throwing a combination

and Stark counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nace's guard now.
Stark sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nace's guard.
Stark blocks the strikes from Nace.
Nace wants to get back to full guard.
Stark blocks the strikes from Nace.
Nace moves into full guard.
Nace bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stark's guard.
Nace in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nace trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stark has his hands on Nace's head, controlling the position.
Nace 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nace postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Stark throws his legs up looking for a submission but Nace uses it to pass to side control.
Nace creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Nace working the body and head with strikes.
Stark can't do much from the bottom here.
Nace works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Nace creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Nace working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nace grinds an elbow into Stark's temple.
Nace is putting a hurting on Stark here, landing some big shots from side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nace throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horrible takedown by Stark or perhaps it was just good defense by Nace which made him look bad.
Nace throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nace swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stark shoots in but Nace avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stark.
Jordan Nace has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Link Stark.
Nace misses with a takedown attempt

and Stark counters with a takedown into side control.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nace is trying to get back to half guard.
Stark controls the position.
Nace is trying to control Stark's posture but Stark avoids it.
Nace is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Stark has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Stark scores with punches from side control.

Stark stands up.
Nace wants to clinch but Stark slips to the side

and Stark counters with a single leg into guard. Nace didn't expect that.
Link Stark has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nace controls Stark momentarily but Stark frees himself.
Stark slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nace bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stark's guard.

Stark is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stark controls Nace momentarily but Nace frees himself.
Nace wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.
Nace throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nace wants to pass the guard but Stark is keeping the position.
Stark lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nace!
Nace throwing hammer fists to the chest of Stark. What's that going to do exactly?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Link Stark showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nace misses with a combination

so Stark counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Stark working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nace keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.
Nace is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Stark wants to control from the top but Nace keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stark slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nace looking for a sweep. Not yet Nace, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nace fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stark sprawls well initially but Nace persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Nace is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stark is just riding it out for now. Nace eventually gives up the hold.
Stark trying to control from the bottom.
Stark is looking for a sweep. Nace is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stark has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nace is working away from the top position though.
Stark wants to improve his position but Nace is controlling well.
Nace scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Stark wants to control but Nace is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark is looking to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nace throws a combination that misses

so Stark counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Nace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Nace is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stark looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Stark content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stark must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Stark wants to control from the top but Nace keeps moving.
Nace striking from his own guard.
Nace wants to sweep here but Stark controlling him for the moment.
Stark stays in close to Nace's body and controls the position.

Nace had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Stark is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Nace Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Stark's back instead.
Stark rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Nace wants to work for an arm triangle but Stark is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

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.
Stark is trying to maintain the position but Nace is very close to passing his half guard.

Nace is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stark doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nace.
Stark is looking for a sweep. Nace is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stark is trying to control but can't.
Nace missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Stark is trying to maintain the position but Nace is very close to passing his half guard.
Jordan Nace has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Link Stark is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stark blocks a head kick by Nace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Link Stark comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stark winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Link Stark!