PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexey Juravlev (ranked 1717 p4p, 200 weight class) and Paul Starker (ranked 1811 p4p, 213 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Starker's choice of entrance music: Catrin O'Neill - Ar Lan Y Mor. 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.

Juravlev
vs
Starker

182 cm
38
240 lbs
29 - 15 - 1

190 cm
32
265 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

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 29 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Alexey Juravlev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Starker!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starker is looking to clinch but Juravlev is avoiding it.

Starker moves into the clinch.
Starker lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Alexey Juravlev has been cut.
Starker has Juravlev pressed against the cage, preventing Juravlev from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Starker throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Starker throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Starker misses with an elbow strike.
Juravlev avoids the elbow strike from Starker, against the cage.
Juravlev blocks the elbow strike.
Juravlev blocks the elbow strike.
Juravlev lands a hook that snaps the head of Starker backwards.
Juravlev lands a nice knee to the body.
Juravlev is leaning against Starker and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Juravlev lands with a light punch inside.
Juravlev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Juravlev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Juravlev pressing his opponent against the cage.
Starker blocks a body shot from Juravlev.
Starker throws an elbow that misses.

Juravlev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Juravlev cracks Starker with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starker moves to clinch but Juravlev breaks away
and Juravlev counters with a left and a right that stings Starker.
Starker tries to close the distance and clinch but Juravlev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Starker is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Juravlev.
Starker is looking to clinch but Juravlev is avoiding it.

Juravlev tries to keep at a distance but Starker has taken the fight into the clinch.
Juravlev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Starker backwards.
Juravlev blocks an elbow strike from Starker.
With the fighters up against the cage, Starker throws an elbow but misses.
Juravlev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Juravlev displaying some good clinch control by pressing Starker up against the cage.
Starker throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Juravlev misses with a knee strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Juravlev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Starker misses with an elbow over the top.
Juravlev pushes off an throws an elbow but Starker leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Starker as Juravlev tries to tie him up.

Juravlev manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starker tries to clinch up but Juravlev circles away and keeps his distance.
Juravlev was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice cross by Juravlev.
Juravlev swats away the attempt to clinch by Starker.
Juravlev keeps the fight on the outside.
Juravlev catches Starker with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Starker tries to keep at a distance but Juravlev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nice elbow from Starker.
Starker lands an elbow inside.
Juravlev avoids the elbow strike from Starker, against the cage.
Juravlev dodges an elbow strike from Starker.
Juravlev avoids the elbow strike from Starker, against the cage.
Juravlev avoiding damage.
Starker's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Juravlev scores with a shot to the side of Starker's head.
Juravlev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Starker just misses with a elbow thrown towards Juravlev's brow.
Starker pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juravlev lands a nice uppercut.
Juravlev avoids a wild elbow strike from Starker.
Juravlev tries to work over Starker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Juravlev throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Juravlev lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Starker just misses with a elbow thrown towards Juravlev's brow.
Starker lands an elbow that stopped Juravlev in his tracks for a moment.

Alexey Juravlev's cut is getting worse.
Starker throws an elbow but it misses.
Juravlev lands an elbow inside that Starker shrugs off.

Juravlev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Juravlev works Starker's body with a nice hook.
Juravlev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Paul Starker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Juravlev tries to keep at a distance but Starker has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've been informed that Starker has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Starker misses with an elbow strike.
Starker pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Juravlev creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Juravlev blocks an elbow strike from Starker.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice right hand lands inside from Juravlev.
Starker misses with an elbow strike.
Starker looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juravlev lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Juravlev tries to throw a body punch but Starker avoids it by throwing Juravlev back against the cage.
Starker lands a nice elbow.
Juravlev digs a right hand into Starker's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Starker's gas tank.
Starker throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Juravlev blocks an elbow strike from Starker.
Starker looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Starker throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Starker lands an elbow inside that Juravlev shrugs off.
Starker pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Juravlev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Juravlev blocks an elbow strike.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Juravlev working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Juravlev - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Starker just misses with a elbow thrown towards Juravlev's brow.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Juravlev breaks from the clinch.
Starker tries to clinch but Juravlev is having none of it.
Juravlev lands a jab to Starker's midsection.
Juravlev darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexey Juravlev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexey Juravlev's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Starker moves in looking to clinch but Juravlev pushes him off.

Starker closes the distance and pushes Juravlev back into the cage.
Starker throws an elbow but it misses.
Juravlev avoids the elbow strike from Starker, against the cage.
Juravlev lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Starker backwards.

Juravlev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Juravlev with a hook.
Juravlev scores with the left hand. Starker knows he should have avoided that one.
Alexey Juravlev is winning the standup battle so far.
Juravlev connects with a crisp jab.
Juravlev tries to bum rush Starker with a series of wild strikes but Starker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jab by Juravlev.
Paul Starker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Starker wants to clinch.
Starker tries to clinch there but Juravlev circles away.
Juravlev cracks Starker with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
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!
Starker takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Juravlev keeps the fight on the outside.
Starker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Juravlev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Starker moves in looking to clinch but Juravlev pushes him off.
Starker tries to clinch but Juravlev moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starker takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A left lands for Juravlev.

Starker is rocked!
Starker is looking to clinch.
Starker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Juravlev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Juravlev scores with a sloppy right hand. Starker should have avoided that one.
Starker is still on wobbly legs! Can Juravlev finish him?
Juravlev drops Starker with a naaaaasty hook - Starker is in real trouble here! Juravlev dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexey Juravlev!
Alexey Juravlev thanked the fans post fight for their support.
The defeated Paul Starker had this to say: 'I`LL BE BACK@#$%!'.