PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Robb Stark (ranked 2648 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Ambe (ranked 2210 p4p, 0 weight class). Rick Ambe is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Stark
vs
Ambe

180 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
184 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Robb Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rick Ambe!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, David Hoff and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ambe looks for the body kick but Stark saw that one coming.
Stark avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Ambe shoots in and bounces Stark off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ambe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ambe wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.
Ambe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ambe is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Stark wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Ambe manages to pass to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ambe content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ambe.
Stark on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ambe keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ambe looks to land a strike but Stark avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Stark wants to get back to his feet but Ambe is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ambe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ambe is in close to Stark's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ambe controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ambe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stark's head.
Ambe throws an elbow that misses. Stark uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ambe's guard. Nice move by Stark!

Stark definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ambe holds on and takes a little breather.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ambe is on top in guard.

Ambe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ambe sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ambe is looking to work some ground and pound but Stark has wrist control.
Ambe showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ambe distracts Stark with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ambe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ambe landing some decent shots from guard.
Ambe works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ambe looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ground and pound from Ambe.
Ambe trying to pass the guard but Stark defending well.
Stark knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ambe on the ground.
Ambe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ambe controlling the action here.
Stark wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Ambe dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ambe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A nice inside leg kick there by Stark. That's going to slow Ambe down.
Stark misses with a head kick.
Ambe looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Danga de danga de dang - Stark scores with a four punch combination!
Stark finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ambe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stark swivels and escapes.
Stark defending well as Ambe loads up on a big left hand.
Ambe tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stark sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ambe somewhat.
Stark misses with a head kick.
Stark sizes up Ambe with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

A jab-cross combination lands for Stark and sends Ambe crashing to the mat! Stark follows him down to the mat - Ambe regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Ambe is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ambe is looking to get back to full guard here but Stark has managed to pass to side control instead.
Ambe is still in real trouble! Can Stark finish him?
Ambe is looking to reverse the position.
Ambe struggling a bit here.
Ambe tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stark stands up.
Ambe seems to have recovered his senses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stark delivers a nice body kick.
Stark lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ambe backs up against the cage.
Ambe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Ambe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stark. Ambe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Robb Stark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stark throws a sloppy head kick and Ambe moves out of range easily.
Ambe is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Ambe decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Ambe.
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!
Ambe tries to pass to full mount but Stark defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ambe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ambe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ambe is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ambe controlling the pace.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ambe connects with a nice short shot to Stark's temple.
Ambe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ambe working the head and body with strikes.
Ambe slips a nice elbow through Stark's hands, connecting with Stark's forehead.
Stark has hold of Ambe's hands but Ambe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rick Ambe has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ambe controlling the action here.
Ground and pound from Ambe.
Ambe scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ambe working Stark over with strikes.
Ambe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ambe scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ambe in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ambe working the head and body with strikes.
Ambe scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ambe seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ambe working Stark over with strikes.
Ambe controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robb Stark dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stark slips a straight right by Ambe.
Stark throws a body shot but no joy.
Stark lands a head kick. Ambe smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ambe's coach down at Island Sparring was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ambe's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Stark tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ambe was well out of range. Poor timing from Stark.
Stark throws a head kick that misses.
Stark fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Ambe feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ambe's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ambe chips away with some ground and pound.
Ambe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stark has momentary wrist control but Ambe slips an elbow through the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ambe lands a couple of digs.
Ambe controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ambe is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ambe postures up in Stark's guard and throws a big left but Stark blocks it.
Ambe showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ambe with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ambe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ambe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ambe throwing strikes but missing.
Ambe stands up over Stark, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ambe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ambe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ambe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ambe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ambe makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Stark can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ambe controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Ambe 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Robb Stark is winning the standup battle so far.
Stark uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ambe.
Stark pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stark slips under a jab from Ambe.
Ambe throws a jab but it's blocked by Stark.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Stark enables Ambe to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Stark manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ambe stays in close to Stark's body and controls the position.
Ambe stands up over Stark, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Stark can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ambe controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Ambe.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ambe stops Stark from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Ambe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ambe has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Ambe!