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TWGC 18 (265lbs, D2): St Petersburg Qualifier - Round 1 PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight Tycoon World Grappling Championship rules bout between Blake Starks (ranked 9111 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Kantola (ranked 6230 p4p, 0 weight class). Starks comes to the cage accompanied by Fire Fire. Ari Kantola acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of London, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 1 losses; Blake Starks! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Los Angeles, with a TWGC record of 1 wins and 2 losses; Ari Kantola!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Kantola clinches.
Starks has Kantola pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Starks pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kantola tumbling to the mat - Starks dives into Kantola's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Starks (2) vs (0) Kantola
Starks sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kantola pulls Starks in close to prevent any damage.
Kantola lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Starks (2) vs (2) Kantola
Starks escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kantola gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starks is controlling Kantola's posture.
Starks 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.
Kantola not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola looking to pass the guard.
Kantola being controlled here momentarily.
Kantola pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Starks is keeping the position for now.
Starks wants to sweep here but Kantola controlling him for the moment.
Kantola stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Starks swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kantola controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Starks working a defensive guard here.
Kantola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola is pushing down on Starks's leg trying to pass to half guard. Starks is fighting to maintain full guard but Kantola has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kantola is taking a breather. Starks says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Starks has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Kantola's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Kantola prevents Starks from improving his position.
Starks trying to control here.
Kantola controlling the action here.
More stalling from Kantola.
Starks is looking to improve his position.
Kantola is taking a breather. Starks says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Starks wants to improve his position but Kantola is controlling well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola controlling the action here.
Kantola frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Starks (2) vs (5) Kantola
Kantola controlling the pace for now.
Starks is looking to get to half guard.
Kantola takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kantola trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Starks tries to reverse the position but Kantola maintains control.
Starks is squirming around, avoiding Kantola's attempts to control the action.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starks working to try and regain half guard.
Starks tries to lock up and control but Kantola gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Starks sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Starks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kantola trying to pass the guard but Starks defending well.
Kantola controlling the action here.
My spies in 3Band MMA ($500/week) inform me that Kantola has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Kantola trying to pass the guard but Starks defending well.
Kantola performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Starks is in trouble now - Kantola has advanced to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Starks (2) vs (8) Kantola
Starks sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Starks wants to improve his position but Kantola is controlling well.
Kantola is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Starks trying to control here.
Kantola prevents Starks from improving his position.
Starks manages to get to full guard.
Starks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kantola defends it easily.
Starks seems keen to control Kantola's posture.
Kantola wants to pass the guard but Starks is keeping the position.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Starks trying to keep a closed guard but Kantola is proving a slippery customer.
Starks pulls Kantola in close to prevent any damage.
Kantola tries to free his leg and advance position but Starks is retaining full guard.
Kantola content to stall in guard here.
Kantola pushing down on Starks's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kantola in particular looking to stall.
Starks is trying to get back to full guard.
Kantola controlling the pace.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Starks is looking to control Kantola's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Starks avoid being mounted?
Starks wants to improve his position but Kantola is controlling well.
Kantola wants to lay and pray for a moment but Starks keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kantola trying to control the pace.
Kantola passes to full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Starks (2) vs (11) Kantola
Kantola tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Kantola wants to control the pace but Starks is squirming around nicely.
Starks tries to hold on but Kantola postures up.
Kantola controlling from mount.
Kantola prevents Starks from getting the reversal.
Starks tries to lock up and control but Kantola gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kantola looking to control and managing it successfully.
Starks is desperately trying to improve his position but Kantola has a good base and remains in mount.
Starks regains half guard.
Kantola is looking to advance position but Starks won't allow it.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kantola works his way into full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Starks (2) vs (14) Kantola
Kantola content just to control the position here.
Starks is trying desperately to improve position.
Kantola controlling from mount.
Kantola avoids the attempt from Starks to control.
Kantola sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kantola with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Kantola prevents Starks from getting the reversal.
Kantola controlling from mount.
Starks has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Kantola's lack of action.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kantola in particular looking to stall.
Starks is controlling Kantola's trapped leg to prevent Kantola from advancing to side control.
Kantola is looking to take a break and control but Starks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Starks has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kantola is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Kantola with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Starks wants to improve his position but Kantola is controlling well.
Starks trying to control from the bottom.
Starks is trying to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kantola in particular looking to stall.
Let's hope that Kantola has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Starks wants to improve his position but Kantola is controlling well.
Kantola content to control rather than advance.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Starks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Well, if Kantola is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kantola wants to lay and pray for a moment but Starks keeps working.
Starks is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Starks has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kantola is working away from the top position though.
Kantola looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Starks tries to get to full guard but Kantola has control of the leg.
Kantola wants to lay and pray for a moment but Starks keeps working.
Kantola looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kantola perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Starks tries to roll over but Kantola keeps him under control.
Starks is controlling Kantola's trapped leg to prevent Kantola from advancing to side control.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Starks is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kantola's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kantola's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Starks (6) vs (14) Kantola
Kantola is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Kantola keeps trying to improve his position.
Kantola is keeping busy.
Kantola is really stuck here.
Starks is looking for the choke from the back position but Kantola is controlling his hands well.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Starks not allowing Kantola to control his hands.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Starks is not going to allow Kantola to sit and survive in this position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kantola wins on points by 14 to 6.
Ari Kantola spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant. |
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