PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Emre Hussain (ranked 2102 p4p, 1481 weight class) and John Starman (ranked 241 p4p, 178 weight class). Starman has chosen David Bowie - Starman as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Hussain
vs
Starman

171 cm
36
158
29 - 13 - 0

178 cm
30
165
18 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Emre Hussain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Starman!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starman lands with a shot to the body.
Starman throws a lazy right hand but Hussain sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Starman defending well as Hussain loads up on a big left hand.
Emre Hussain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Starman tries to clinch but Hussain moves out of range.

Starman closes the distance and clinches.

Hussain breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Starman has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Hussain is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Good exchange - Hussain coming out on top.

Hussain clinches.
Starman lands with a right to the head.
Hussain can't break the clinch.
Starman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Starman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hussain takes the fight into the clinch.
Hussain tries to break the clinch but Starman is controlling the position.
Starman misses with some punches.
Starman is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hussain is defending well.
Hussain is trying to push Starman away but Starman has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Starman.
Starman misses with a punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Starman is working Hussain over against the cage.
Starman lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hussain backwards.
A frustrated look appears on Hussain's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Starman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starman just misses with a punch to the body.
Starman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hussain was well out of range. Poor timing from Starman.
Hussain avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hussain throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Starman sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Starman has closed the distance and engaged Hussain in a clinch.
I was talking to Hussain's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Starman struggles to land a body shot inside as Hussain controls his hands.

Hussain escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hussain looks to land a left hand but Starman moved out of range nicely.
Starman looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Starman slips a straight right by Hussain.
Hussain with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Starman looks to score with a jab to the body but Hussain is just out of range.
Hussain throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hussain avoids the body shot from Starman.
Nice defenses there by Hussain.
Starman takes a swing at Hussain's ribcage but misses.
Starman throws a series of punches but Hussain moves out of range.
Starman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hussain.
Starman lands a glancing blow to the side of Hussain's head.
Hussain uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Starman.
Starman's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hussain under the eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Starman works the jab nicely.
A jab lands there for Hussain.
Hussain throws a body punch but Starman moves out of range.
Hussain wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Starman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hussain's waist but Hussain gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Starman off to one side.

Hussain clinches up against the cage.

Hussain breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hussain throws a body shot but no joy.

Hussain closes the distance and clinches.
Hussain is trying to break the clinch but Starman has him pressed against the cage.
Starman digs a right hand underneath Hussain's ribcage. Hussain let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Starman struggles to land a body shot inside as Hussain controls his hands.
Hussain is trying to break the clinch but Starman is controlling him.
Hussain has had enough of the clinch but Starman keeps him there for the moment.
Starman presses Hussain against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Starman manages to break the clinch.
Hussain takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Starman takes a swing at Hussain's ribcage but misses.
Hussain motions for Starman to come forward. Hussain throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hussain throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starman throws a lazy right hand but Hussain sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hussain half committed to a counter leg kick.
Hussain keeps the fight on the outside.
Starman fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hussain lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Hussain lands a jab to the nose.
Hussain avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hussain appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hussain misses with a left hand

and Starman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Starman trying to control but Hussain is working from the bottom.
Hussain is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Starman is controlling him.
Starman controls from within his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Starman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hussain is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Starman is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Starman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Starman is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hussain lands a jab.
Hussain throws an off balance right hand
and Starman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hussain with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Starman to score with a decent uppercut.
Starman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Starman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hussain.
Hussain jabs at Starman's body.
Starman cracks a nice hook into Hussain's ribs.

Starman has closed the distance and engaged Hussain in a clinch.
Hussain can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Starman dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Starman moves into the clinch.
Hussain is trying to force a seperation but Starman has the dominant position.
Starman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Starman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Starman throws a hook but Hussain blocks it.
Starman throws an overhand right that lands on Hussain's shoulder, as Hussain tries to avoid the shot.
Hussain moves out of range of the strikes.
Hussain cracks Starman with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A jab from Starman finds it's way through Hussain's defenses.
Starman slips under a jab from Hussain.
Starman looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Starman is looking to clinch.
Starman fails to land with a series of punches.
Hussain tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A looping hook to the body misses from Starman. Hussain does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hussain works the jab nicely.
Starman misses with a hook. Hussain ducked under it nicely.
Hussain lands a jab.
Starman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hussain manages to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Starman avoids a kick to the body.
Starman lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hussain.
Starman just misses with a punch to the body.
Hussain looks to throw the jab but Starman is out of range.
Starman misses with a straight right.
Hussain connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Starman takes one on the button.
Starman slips under a jab from Hussain.
Starman let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Starman wants to clinch up but Hussain keeps it at a distance.
Hussain is looking to clinch but Starman is avoiding it.
Starman tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Donk. Starman catches Hussain right on the button with a cross.
Hussain swats away the attempt to clinch by Starman.
Starman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Starman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Starman blocks a jab.
Hussain misses with a hook. Starman ducked under it nicely.
Hussain misses with a hook. Starman ducked under it nicely.
Hussain scores with a punch to the head.
Emre Hussain is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Starman connects with a looping right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hussain tries to clinch up.
It seemed like Starman was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hussain is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A punch combination from Starman misses.
Starman scores with a sloppy right hand. Hussain should have avoided that one.
Hussain uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Starman.
Hussain moves in looking to clinch but Starman pushes him off.
Starman lands a really nice looking cross but Hussain seems unphased.
Starman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hussain instigates a clinch.
Starman lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hussain backwards.
Hussain is trying to break the clinch but Starman is controlling him.
Starman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hussain prevents a takedown attempt there.
Starman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Starman struggles to land a body shot inside as Hussain controls his hands.
A nice right hand lands inside from Starman.

Hussain manages to break the clinch.
Hussain misses with a hook. Starman ducked under it nicely.
Hussain connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Starman momentarily.
Hussain lets loose with a powerful body kick. Starman will feel that in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starman blocks the body kick.
Starman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hussain lands the left hand.

Hussain gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Hussain breaks from the clinch.
Hussain misses with a wild body shot.
Starman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hussain.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hussain. That's going to slow Starman down.
Hussain takes one on the chin but seems OK.
John Starman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Starman lands with a good body shot.
Hussain works the jab nicely.
Starman lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hussain drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hussain leaves Starman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hussain tried to counter with a leg kick but Starman avoided it.
Hussain throws a leg kick which misses Starman's front leg but catches the back leg as Starman tries to avoid it.
Starman takes a jab right on the kisser.
Starman is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain cracks Starman with a good jab.
Starman connects with a single shot there.
Starman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hussain is looking to land body kicks.
Starman drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hussain defends it well.
Hussain connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hussain throws an overhand right that lands on Starman's shoulder, as Starman tries to avoid the shot.
Hussain misses the jab.
Starman cracks Hussain with a good jab.
A jab from Hussain misses.

Starman forces Hussain back against the cage and clinches.

Hussain breaks from the clinch.
Starman ducks under a wild hook from Hussain.

Hussain moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Starman scores with a shoulder strike.
Starman tries to work over Hussain's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Starman pushes Hussain back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Starman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Starman scores with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Starman will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from Hussain misses the target.
Starman has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Starman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hussain manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hussain lets loose with a powerful body kick. Starman will feel that in the morning.
Starman goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Starman ducks under a wild hook from Hussain.
Starman throws a big shot that misses.
Hussain fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Starman looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Starman throws a body shot but no joy.
Hussain takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hussain tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Starman was well out of range. Poor timing from Hussain.
Hussain swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Starman has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Hussain.
Starman takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Starman moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hussain avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hussain misses with a looping right.
Starman throws a jab but it's blocked by Hussain.
Starman throws a body shot but no joy.

Hussain fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Starman, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hussain breaks the clinch.
Starman throws a nice looking combination but Hussain bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Starman drives through and clinches with Hussain against the cage.
Hussain wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hussain avoids the elbow strike from Starman, against the cage.
Starman pushes Hussain back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hussain has had enough of the clinch but Starman keeps him there for the moment.
Hussain prevents a body shot from Starman.
Starman lands a nice shot to the body.
Hussain has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Starman keeps control of Hussain as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hussain wants to break the clinch but can't.
Starman wants to stall.
Starman throws a punch but it's blocked by Hussain.

Hussain breaks the clinch.

Starman closes the distance and clinches.

Hussain escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hussain scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Emre Hussain has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starman lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Starman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hussain can't break the clinch.

Starman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Starman digs a good body shot into Hussain's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hussain moves away from the strike by Starman.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Hussain escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Starman connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hussain. Hussain circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Starman looks to land a left hand but Hussain moved out of range nicely.
Starman lands a glancing blow to the side of Hussain's head.
Starman fails to land with a series of punches.

Starman clinches.

Hussain pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Starman misses.
A good leg kick by Hussain.
Hussain fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Starman manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Starman as he checks the leg kick.
Hussain is looking to land body kicks.
Starman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hussain is looking to counter punch.
Starman misses with a looping right.
A low kick lands for Hussain.
Starman misses with a straight left.
Hussain takes a swing at Starman's ribcage but misses.
Starman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hussain.
A little jabbing left from Starman on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Nice uppercut there from Starman.
Starman slips a jab from Hussain.
Hussain throws the left hand but Starman avoids the punch easily.
Starman throws a hook but Hussain avoids it easily.
Starman misses with a looping left.
Starman swinging wildly here.
Starman tries to close the distance and clinch but Hussain swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Starman moves away from the strike by Hussain.

Starman clinches up with Hussain and pushes him back against the cage.
John Starman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hussain looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hussain breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hussain bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hussain misses with a hook. Starman ducked under it nicely.
Nice uppercut lands for Starman. That snapped Hussain's head back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A swing and a miss from Starman.
Starman displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hussain throws out the jab.
Starman fails to land the takedown.
Hussain looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Starman scores with a sloppy right hand. Hussain should have avoided that one.
Hussain throws a body punch but Starman moves out of range.
Starman smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hussain throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Starman lands a lovely overhand right.
Starman stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Starman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hussain breaks the clinch.
Hussain keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Starman.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Starman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Starman has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Starman!
A very excited looking John Starman made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.